Clare Museum in a National Context

Since Clare Museum opened to the public in October 2000
it has developed links with other regional museums and
national institutions. The museum is part of the
Local Authority Museums Network (LAMN) and is one of
twelve local authority-run museums in Ireland.
The others are:

• Carlow County Museum, College Street, Carlow.
• Cavan County Museum, Ballyjamesduff.
• Cork Public Museum, Fitzgerald Park, Cork.
• County Museum, Dundalk, Jocelyn Street, Dundalk.
• Donegal County Museum, High Road, Letterkenny.
• Galway City Museum, Spanish Arch, Galway.
• Kerry County Museum, Denny Street, Tralee.
• Limerick City Museum, Istabraq Hall, City Hall, Limerick.
• Monaghan County Museum, Hill Street, Monaghan.
• Tipperary County Museum, Mick Delahunty Square, Clonmel.
• Waterford Museum of Treasures, Waterford city.

LAMN facilitates co-operation between its constituent members in areas of mutual interest, including funding for projects and joint exhibitions.

In 2002, the Museum became a designated building under the National Cultural Institutions Act 1997, allowing it to hold archaeological objects that under the National Monuments (Amendment) Act 1994 are the property of the state. This has been a significant development for the museum as archaeological objects found in Clare that otherwise could have been sold abroad, lost or stored way from the county are now accessible in the locality where they were found for the benefit of local people.

The museum has a strong relationship with the National Museum of Ireland and this is reflected by the large long-term loan of objects from its Irish Antiquities and Irish Folklife Divisions. These collections constitute the backbone of the Riches of Clare exhibition at the museum.

Booleybrien Collection on loan from the National Museum of Ireland

More recently, Clare Museum became a participant in the Museum Standards Programme for Ireland, a national accreditation scheme for the Irish museum sector spearheaded by the Heritage Council. The accreditation scheme will be of enormous benefit to the museum as it will:

• Raise professional standards to internationally recognised levels.
• Provide training for staff.
• Help to increase access to museum collections.
• Provide a framework for a more efficient and inclusive service for users.
• Provide greater value for money to the taxpayer.

The Museum is also a member of the Irish Museums Association, which serves the needs and represents the ideals of Irish museums in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

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