Galway City Museum has announced the latest additions to its exhibitions. In 2024, the Museum was awarded €15,000 through the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media’s Regional Museum Exhibitions Scheme. This funding has enabled the Museum to commission a stunning 3D model of a 16th-century Tower House, now on display as part of the Keepers of the Gael exhibition.
The model, created by renowned modelmaker Kate Galvin of Presentation Models, is based on the Tower House at Kilclooney, Miltown, Co. Galway, dating back to circa 1500 AD. Visitors can now experience this intricate model up close and gain insight into what daily life might have been like in a 16th-century Gaelic home.
The Kilclooney Tower House is historically significant, not only as a residence but also as a focal point for the Uí hUigínn family, known for their bardic school where poets were trained. This model adds a new and innovative dimension to the Keepers of the Gael exhibition, which explores Gaelic society and culture in Ireland between 1200-1600 AD. It offers an engaging experience for visitors of all ages, particularly children, young people, and those with limited literacy, allowing them to connect more deeply with Ireland’s rich Gaelic heritage.
A new look at the Battle of Aughrim
The Museum is also now showing a powerful new photographic exhibition titled The Battle of Aughrim, which presents the work of acclaimed photographer Nic Dunlop. Over a span of six years (2016-2022 ), Dunlop captured evocative images of the site of the historic Battle of Aughrim, fought on July 12, 1691. This pivotal battle between the Irish army of James II and the combined forces of William III marked the end of the Jacobite wars, and its aftermath continues to resonate in Irish history.
The exhibition is thoughtfully paired with excerpts from Richard Murphy’s poignant poem, The Battle of Aughrim, adding an emotional and artistic depth to the photographs. Visitors are invited to explore this powerful exhibition, which spans both the internal and external Temporary Exhibition spaces at Galway City Museum. It will run until mid-July 2025.
In reflecting on the experience of photographing the site, Dunlop said that photojournalism relies on drama and people.
“At Aughrim, I was faced with the challenge of the ordinary, empty fields, a patch of bog and a landscape devoid of people. For weeks I wandered across those fields, one foot in the present, the other in 1691.
“With Richard Murphy’s poem The Battle of Aughrim as my guide, I photographed it in winter to better reflect the aftermath, and every image is informed by what happened that fateful day.”
Galway City Museum is open Tuesday to Saturday, 10am – 5pm (galleries closing at 4:45pm ). Opening hours will extend to Sundays, 12pm – 5pm from Easter. Admission is FREE. Funded by Galway City Council. See GalwayCityMuseum.ie to learn more.
