Clare Museum in a National Context

There are currently nine county museums in the Republic of Ireland (Donegal, Monaghan, Cavan, Louth, Cork, Tipperary South, Kerry, Limerick and Waterford) and the tenth local authority museum has now been provided by Clare. The establishment of Clare Museum is in line with the National Heritage Council's policy to see a systematic development of local authority based county museum structures. Ennis Urban District Council and Clare County Council are extremely pleased that Clare has contributed to the creation of a national professional framework for the preservation of the county's material culture.

Clare Museum will have an acquisition policy dedicated to the collection, storage, recording, interpretation and display of historic and archaeological objects that are not only of local significance but may also be of national importance. As a designated museum under the National Cultural Institutions Act (1997), Clare Museum has received recognition in legislation as a repository for archaeological artifacts in Clare. These artifacts can be collected by the Curator, who is a designated person under the National Monuments Act (1994). Artifacts collected by the Curator under the Act will form a material archive that would otherwise be sold abroad, lost or stored outside the county, while also providing the museum with artifacts that can be used for temporary exhibitions and future development.

National Museum of Ireland Collection

Clare Museum has been very fortunate in securing a loan of objects from the National Museum of Ireland for display in The Riches of Clare - its people, places, treasures. This collection of artifacts is one of the largest long-term loans ever granted to a regional museum and its importance to The Riches of Clare exhibition should not be underestimated.

Archaeological objects from the Irish Antiquities Division include artifacts from the Mesolithic to the Medieval Period, some of which has been only recently excavated. The Irish Folklife Division has contributed traditional domestic and farming implements including one of only eight flax hackles in existence. Also on display are some of the Geology specimens donated by Earth Science Division.

Many of these objects are on public display for the first time and it is a reflection of the rich cultural heritage of this county that this loan is made up entirely of artifacts and specimens with provenance in County Clare.

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