Mayo items feature in major new national exhibition
Karen Hoban, daughter of Mary Staunton, whose tea set is on display in the galleries. Picture: Julien Behal Photography
The Changing Ireland Galleries was officially launched at the National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks recently, marking the biggest expansion of public galleries at the National Museum of Ireland in over two decades. Highlights include key objects from Co Mayo, which feature prominently throughout the exhibition.
Among the objects from Co Mayo is part of a silver-plated tea set gifted to Mary Staunton when she was legally obliged to resign due to the Irish Marriage Bar in 1972 - a symbol of the gendered employment restrictions of the era, with deep personal significance as Staunton lived in Ballydavock and later Curragh, Castlebar. Mary’s daughter, Karen Hoban, also from Westport, was present at the opening of the display.
Other featured objects include the suit worn by Mary Robinson for her 1990 presidential inauguration, designed by Louise Kennedy; a Crolly Doll with its original box made by Gaeltarra Éireann in the early 1960s; a teddy bear by Erris Bears, also a Gaeltarra Éireann brand, c.1953, produced in the factory at Elly Bay, Co Mayo; and a wooden teacher’s cane from Boradruma, mid-20th century. Each object representing aspects of daily life, education, and craftsmanship in the county.
With capital funding from the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport’s Decade of Centenaries Programme, and working in partnership with the Office of Public Works, the new galleries open following a full refurbishment of a part of Collins Barracks that had been untouched since the departure of the Defence Forces almost 30 years ago.
The Changing Ireland Galleries feature hundreds of political, social and cultural objects from the Museum’s 20th and 21st century collections - extraordinary and everyday artefacts that have borne witness to the last 150 years. On entering the galleries, visitors are invited to reflect on the objects and consider the question 'Cad Is Ann Éire Dar Leat?' – 'What Is Ireland to You?'
In keeping with the Museum’s desire to develop dynamic and engaging exhibits, the new galleries have been meticulously designed to accommodate regular changes in the display, giving the public unprecedented access to the collection and supporting the long-term conservation of the objects.
Enabling greater inclusivity, a range of perspectives and different voices will be invited through co-curated projects, video interviews, and artistic interventions. New commissions, including poetry by Paula Meehan, are woven through 426 square metres of interconnected rooms, offering a lyrical dimension to the galleries.
The Changing Ireland Galleries at the National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks is now open. Admission is free.
