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Using material from the Museum’s Collection, Newry and Mourne Museum has opened a new temporary exhibition focusing on the Partition of Ireland and it’s impact on society in the local area in the years afterwards. Visitors to the exhibition will see how the Newry and Mourne area was affected by the events that shaped modern Ireland including Partition, the War of Independence, the Treaty negotiations, the Boundary Commission and the Land Commission.
Included in the artefacts on display are a selection of papers from the Éamon Donnelly Collection. Donnelly, who was from County Armagh and whose family lived in Newry, was a leading anti-Partitionist and acted as the election agent for Michael Collins in the 1921 general election. Among the items in the exhibition are a description of Michael Collins which was issued for circulation by the Royal Irish Constabulary in 1921 and telegrams sent to Éamon Donnelly by his eldest daughter, Eleanor, reporting on the polling, count and result of the 1925 election when Donnelly won the Armagh seat.
The Reside Collection at the Museum contains a number of draft pro-Partition submissions made to the Boundary Commission in 1924. Many of these submissions emphasised the economic links between south Armagh and south Down with Northern Ireland. Such an argument can be seen in the submission from The Newry and Bessbrook Tramway Company, which was chosen for display, which highlights the importance of business with the Port of Belfast.
Related to the Boundary Commission is the ‘Not an Inch’ cup presented to Sir James Craig, Prime Minister of Northern Ireland by the Unionists of Newry and the Orangemen of Newry No.9 District ‘as a token of their appreciation of his unswerving stand on the boundary’. The cup is on loan from National Museums Northern Ireland until March 2022. Also on display, is a photograph taken outside Newry Town Hall, marking the visit of Sir James Craig in February 1927 to meet with members of Newry Urban District Council and other local public bodies.
Through a series of maps and other documents mainly from the Reside Collection, the exhibition also covers the local impact of the Land Acts in the 1920s. One of the maps on display is of the townland of Cornamucklagh in north county Louth, which was prepared after the passing of the 1923 Irish Land Act. Part of the estate of Captain Roger Hall of Narrow Water, the map shows tenancies which were vested for sale under the Act. Another document details land to be sold to tenants under the 1925 Northern Ireland Land Act in the townland of Altnaveigh, owned by the Earl of Kilmorey.
The exhibition also makes reference to culture and sport which were important aspects of life in the Newry area in the 1920s. A football jersey and cap are included which belonged to Frank McEvoy, from Chapel Street in Newry, who played for teams such as Newry Town, Dundalk and Glentoran in the 1920s. Cultural life is explored through material relating to Newry Musical Feis, which was set up in 1928, Irish language and bands in the area.
In addition to the exhibits, there isan interactive for younger visitors comprisinga jigsaw of the Newry region. By assembling this, they will see how some of the townlands mentioned in the exhibition became part of either Northern Ireland or the Irish Free State.
Entry to the exhibition is free and runs until 27thAugust 2022. A booklet with articles commissioned by leading historians in this field complements the exhibition. The exhibition and booklet has been supportedwith funding from TheExecutive Office (TEO), via Newry, Mourne & Down District Council’s Good Relations Plan and the National Lottery Shared History Fund.
The Museum is currently offering free tours of the exhibition galleries on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 11.00 am. These must be booked in advance by calling our Education Officer at 0330 137 4422.
Newry and Mourne Museum is open Tuesday – Saturday 10.00 am – 4.30 pm. Please call 0330 137 4422 or email museum@nmandd.org for further information.
