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A new exhibition celebrating life in the 1980s is opening at the Down County Museum in Downpatrick on 17 April, offering visitors a chance to step back in time to one of the most iconic decades of the 20th century.
Partying Down in the 1980s will feature an array of artefacts, images and nostalgia from the decade, reflecting both the global trends of the era and the everyday realities of life in County Down during the Troubles. Entry is free.
The exhibition was opened by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Philip Campbell, who said: "We have all seen footage of what life was like in the 1980s and now there is an opportunity to get up close and personal with an array of memorabilia from this decade."
Downpatrick’s Market Street in the 1980s which
appeared in local newspapers.
Among the highlights on display will be an iconic Ford Sierra Cosworth car, a 1984 Skyway BMX bicycle, film posters from Downpatrick's former Grand Cinema on Market Street, and posters and records from local bands including Rosetta Stone and Preacher John. Adverts from local womenswear retailers will also feature, reflecting how global fashion trends such as the shoulder pad craze, popularised by the hit US television series Dynasty, made their mark locally.
The exhibition also touches on the broader cultural landscape of the decade, from the Rubik's Cube and Pac-Man to cinema releases such as ET and Back to the Future, alongside Laura Ashley's influence on home décor and the Punk revolution. The decade also saw the first mobile phone calls made in the UK.
Councillor Campbell said the exhibition was not only for those who lived through the period. "The exhibition will be a step back in time, not only for those who lived through this period, but for today's younger generation to get a flavour of what life was like when their parents and grandparents were shaping their own futures as they navigated a rapidly changing world," he said.
Cllr Campbell also highlighted the wider value of the Council's museum offering. "Our museums in Downpatrick and Newry are a vital resource and in the last year attracted more than 23,000 visitors, providing a window to the past through exhibitions and activities. They play an invaluable role for us all to connect with our history," he said.
The Partying Down in the 1980s exhibition opens at 10am on 17 April. The Down County Museum is open Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 4.30pm, and admission is free.
