Publications | Down Survey | 2003 Issue Contents

The Friends of Down County Museum: A brief record of the year
Kenneth L Dawson

The Friends of Down County Museum exists to promote further the good name of the museum and support its efforts to communicate the story of Down in its national and global contexts. The Friends have provided funding for the erection of exhibitions as well as the maintenance and storage of the artefacts that have made it into the collections.

The Friends Committee is elected annually to work with the curator and his staff and to plan events that are centred on the museum. In the past year, a number of social events have been organised and it is hoped that these provided opportunities for friendship and the absorption of knowledge. The year began with the annual dinner which was held at the Enniskeen Hotel in Newcastle. The Newcastle Glee Singers provided the entertainment and the musical items added much to the conviviality of the evening. Two wine tasting events were also staged at the museum and while the numbers involved were relatively low, this did not reduce the enjoyment of the experience as a range of wines were sampled and commented on. Thanks are due to Safeway in Downpatrick for sponsoring and running the first evening and to Raymond Crea, himself a Friend of the Museum who shared with us his passion and expertise for wine in May.

The annual outing is always well supported and this year was no exception. The outing took place on 28 June. An unexpectedly bright and warm day served as a necessary backdrop to an outdoor walk around the Moravian village of Gracehill. This was led by local historian Alex Blair, whose interesting and well-informed delivery was much appreciated by the large group. Following coffee, a guide from the Environment and Heritage Department conducted the group around Dunluce Castle. A memorable day ended with a fine meal at the Causeway Hotel. In August a fascinating evening was spent at Clifton St cemetery in Belfast, where the Chairman of the Friends and Ballynahinch historian, Horace Reid, took a capacity crowd around the graves of some of Belfast's leading inhabitants and some leading United Irish figures including Henry Joy McCracken, William Drennan, Thomas McCabe and Mary Ann McCracken. In September, the

museum's Keeper of Collections, Lesley Simpson, showed committee members around the museum stores, highlighting the work that was carried out with funds provided by the Friends. This was a timely reminder of both the vital work carried out by the Friends and also of the superb work done by Lesley and Madeline McAllister in preserving the artefacts making them available for exhibitions.

The annual lecture of the Friends took place on 26 November when Dr Maurice Hayes entertained and enthralled the audience with his talk entitled "Ramblings around the Rafters". As we go to press, arrangements are being put in place for a Christmas Time family quiz to be held at the museum on 10 December.

As well as our social events, the Friends of the Museum have continued to support the ongoing work of the museum and significant money was appropriated for items such as a digital camera, film scanner and shelving as well as facilitating the development of new exhibitions. Friends' assistance made the Sea of Life exhibition a success and also enabled a new display on Thomas Russell to be created.

In concluding this brief survey of the year, I would like to record my thanks to the hardworking committee, the curator Mike King for his willingness in supporting the Friends and also to Linda McKenna and Dolores McAleese, without whose help the Friends would function much less efficiently.

To all readers of the Down Survey who are not Friends of the Museum, please considering joining and playing your part in maintaining the position of this institution at the forefront of museum work in Ireland and beyond.

Ken Dawson is Chairman of the Friends of Down County Museum. Further information on the work of the Friends and membership details are available from staff at the museum,

One of the houses at the Gracehill Moravian settlement.