Publications | Down Survey | 2003 Issue Contents

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This year's edition of the Down Survey focuses on the gaol's most famous prisoner, Thomas Russell, and on the rebellion of 1803. The bi-centenary of the trial and execution of Russell was marked by the museum with a comprehensive programme of events and activities. Thousands of people from this area and from further afield came to these events to learn more about one of the most prominent founders of the Society of United Irishmen. In the wider community, other groups and organisations also remembered the "man from God knows where" with events such as talks, drama and publications. The high regard in which Russell is held locally was evinced by the large numbers of people of all ages attending these events.

One of the final events of the bi-centenary years may provide one of the most long-lasting legacies. In October 2003, the Hearts of Down erected a plaque to Russell on the wall of the gaol. This will remind visitors to the museum, and all those passing by the Mall, of Russell's links with our historic building and may also provide a stimulus to some to find out more about the life and times of the man.

The rest of 2003 saw many other events take place. Our major temporary exhibition, The Sea of Life was opened in March 2003. In advance of its opening another maritime display was launched. Featuring a fascinating range of ethnographic items, including model boats, from the Ulster Museum, Seven Seas, really did include items from all over the world. Both of our major sea- themed exhibitions attracted thousands of visitors. Many members of our local fishing communities appreciated The Sea of Life for its contribution to upholding the heritage of an industry and way of life, which, sadly, suffered many setbacks during 2003. Other exhibitions this year included a centenary celebration of the first ever sustained, powered flight, by the Wright Brothers. Photographs by the museum's own Alien Thompson combined with the paintings by local artist, David Pentland and the models of Cyril Leathers, to conjure up the wonder of early flight.

Regular family themed events continued to be extremely popular during the year with entertainment provided on St Patrick's Day, Easter Monday and Halloween. The annual Viking festival included re-enactments for schools and a lecture, as well as the by now well established children's parade. Living history continued to be popular and arts and crafts activities for children were always booked up. A new "Harry Potter" themed day was one of the big hits of the autumn programme!

The museum's website was launched during the year and has already had many "visitors". In addition to providing information on the museum's exhibitions, events and facilities, the site includes a section dedicated to the collections and a special section on Thomas Russell and several on-line resources. The on-line resources are the database of prisoners transported to New South Wales from the old gaol of Down, maritime photographs from the museum's archive and articles from the Down Survey. It is hoped to build up on-line resources over the next couple of years to include children's activities and more collections-related items. You can access the museum's website at www.downcountymuseum.com.

All of the museum's achievements in the fields of exhibitions, events and special programmes were reflected in a substantial increase in visitor figures. At the end of October 2003 visitor figures had already surpassed the total for the calendar year 2002 by several thousand.

A major addition to the collection was a sculpture by FE McWilliam, "Peace A". The purchase of this was funded by the National Art Collections Fund in an important new initiative by them, which is supported by the Esmee Fairbum Foundation and directed at museums in Northern Ireland. A watercolour and farming medal were acquired at the Moume Park, Kilkeel sale. The Haverty Trust gave us a watercolour by Les Jones, the third such gift from this Trust. Gifts from members of the public included books, documents, cameras, ZX Spectrum computer, surveying equipment, photograph album relating to Hastings Monumental Stone Works, Masonic items, postcards, a mobile phone and many more. Care of the museum's collections was considerably enhanced this year by the refurbishment of the large objects store and re-fitting of the garage to become a store for stone, ceramics and domestic objects. This programme is being funded by the Northern Ireland Museums Council and the Friends.

As always, the museum is indebted to the Friends of Down County Museum for their unflagging support and assistance. In addition to financial support for the publication of the yearbook, the Friends continue to help the museum to fund exhibitions, collections care projects, events and other materials. Apart from this kind of practical and much needed assistance, members of the Friends are always on hand to lend their own expert advice to us on a variety of topics.

The new year will commence with a major new exhibition on County Down and the First World War. The exhibition, which will combine eduction panels from the Somme Centre with items from our own collections, will provide an evocative and thought-provoking analysis of this cataclysmic event. Accompanying the exhibition will be a complementary programme of schools and public activities.

Looking beyond the next few months, the next couple of years will see major new developments for the museum. It is hoped that our bid for a large Heritage Lottery Fund grant to create universal access to the Governor's Residence will be successful and that work on this project will commence in autumn 2004. The new exhibition areas created here will result in displays which will contain many more objects than are currently on show and include much more challenging interpretations of key points in our history. The Governor's Residence will be closed to the public for the duration of the work but the other buildings will remain open. New temporary exhibitions and an even more packed events programme will, it is hoped, more than make up for this.

As we go to press we can announce another Museum of the Year Award for the museum, this time for the Thomas Russell programme in the Best Access and Outreach Initiative category. Our website also received a commendation in the Best Publication category. These were announced at the Museum of the Year Awards ceremony in Dublin on 25th November 2003.

Finally all of the staff at the museum would like to extend their thanks to all visitors, service users and supporters, in the local community and beyond, whose interest in. and appreciation of, local history and culture make it a pleasure to work here.

Linda McKenna
Community Education Officer
November 2003