NI museums begin to reopen after months of lockdown

By Q Radio news

While many indoor visitor attractions re-opened yesterday - some of our biggest museums are only opening their doors today. 

Belfast's Ulster Museum, Transport Museum, and Omagh's Ulster American Folk Park are among those now back in action. 

However, the Ulster Folk Museum won't be making a return until the 12th of June - following the completion of on-site operational activity.

Here's National Museums NI's Chief Executive, Kathryn Thomson: 

Niamh Baker, Curator of Ulster Museum’s Collecting the Past / Making the Future : Marking Centenaries 2021, a new major exhibition that explores the impact and legacy of the last 100 years while encouraging visitors to reflect on the future.

As with museums elsewhere, venues in Northern Ireland are reopening cautiously.

One of the first venues to reopen yesterday was  Belfast’s Linen Hall Library. 

The institution is welcoming visitors back with a new cafe established in collaboration with the Writers Cafe Group, which will serve light snacks – as well as luxuries like champagne granola and caviar breakfast – in decor inspired by Irish mythology and folklore.

The Siege Museum in Derry-Londonderry is also open, when visitors will be able to view its permanent displays on the history of the Siege of Londonderry and of the Associated Clubs of the Apprentice Boys of Derry.

Enniskillen Castle’s two museums, Fermanagh County Museum and the Inniskillings Museum, have also  resumed tours.

National Museums Northern Ireland (NMNI) is reopening three of its sites today  Ulster Museum in Belfast, Ulster Transport Museum in Cultra and the Ulster American Folk Park in Omagh.

In Magherafelt, Seamus Heaney HomePlace will open its doors tomorrow (Wednesday).

Visitors will be able to see the venue’s Seamus Heaney Exhibition, which explores the world of the poet, and the people and places that inspired him.

The Museum of Free Derry will reopen on Thursday telling the story of Bloody Sunday, the campaign for civil rights and the Battle of the Bogside.

Also reopening on the 27th of  May is Titanic Belfast.