1.0 INTRODUCTION Kildare County Council in association - Kildare.ie

AUDIT OF MUSEUMS AND PUBLIC COLLECTIONS IN COUNTY KILDARE 2006 

1.0 INTRODUCTION 

Kildare County Council in association with The Heritage Council has commissioned this Audit of 

Museums and Public Collections in County Kildare to gain an overview of the sector in the 

county. The Audit also aims to assess the extent of museum collections in the county and the 

services offered by the participating organizations. An important aspect of the survey is the 

analysis of the needs and aspirations of these organizations and to suggest ways in which the 

Council can facilitate the development and progress of these important institutions. 

Fifteen organizations have participated in this Audit of Museums and Heritage Venues which 

range from small private collections on display to the public to larger collections which are of 

national and international importance. Some organizations may not have strong heritage 

collections but facilitate a living heritage as a venue for drama societies and local community 

groups to come together. Others form local and regional interpretive centres displaying the history 

and heritage of the county in graphic displays, supplemented by some important heritage objects. 

The Audit has identified a great variety of collections with objects which are of local, regional, 

national and in some instances international significance. Some collections themselves are of 

international significance. 

It is intended that the information gathered through this Audit will facilitate the development of 

policies within Kildare County Council, and its Heritage Office, for the care and welfare of 

important aspects of the county’s heritage. 

It is also envisaged that this Audit will contribute to a fuller understanding of the diversity of the 

county’s heritage objects on public display. It may encourage the development of a co-ordinated 

approach to the support and training required by many of the organizations. helping them to work 

co-operatively for the long-term benefit of the whole sector. Such a network would support and 

complement the objectives of the Heritage Council’s Museum Standards Programme for Ireland. 

This Audit was prepared between June and September 2006. 

CHARLES DUGGAN ARHITECTURAL HERITAGE ADVISOR 1


2.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 

Fifteen out of sixteen museums identified by Kildare County Council have participated in the Audit 

of Museums and Public Collections. 

The geographical spread of museums is largely determined by access to primary routes or 

national roads. Five museums are based in major urban centres while two are based in smaller 

village settings. Five of the participating organizations are based in a rural setting and a further 

two, while in a rural setting, are set within historic demesnes at the fringes of major urban centres. 

Proximity of national roads does not suggest greater access provided to organizations. In many 

cases the opening of national roads has been detrimental to visitor numbers. 

Eight organizations are commercial Limited Companies governed by boards of directors or 

committees. One forms part of Kildare County Council’s Library Service. One organization is a 

non-governmental organization with charitable status. One organization is owned by the Church 

of Ireland and governed by a vestry committee. Two organizations form part of state-bodies. One 

organization is owned and governed by a college forming part of the National University of 

Ireland. 

Of the 13 historic properties and/or gardens open to the public in County Kildare under Section 

482 of the Finances Consolidation Act, 1997, only Lodge Park Walled Garden and Steam 

Museum forms part of this Audit. Other properties not availing of Section 482, but may be, in part, 

open to the public, are not included in this Audit and have not been quantified. Section 482 

properties are included in the appendices at the end of the 

The Museums and Public Collections in County Kildare cover a wide variety of subject matter 

which is broadly representative of the sector nationally. The objects within collections represent 

the following subjects: 

Applied Arts 

Archaeology 

Military 

Scientific 

Genealogy 

Agriculture 

Folk life 

Fine Art 

History 

Archives 

Library 

Maritime 

Natural history 

Ecclesiology 

Science 

Intangible history 

The activities, research and periodicals of the County Kildare Archaeological Society (CKAS) 

should be acknowledged for the contribution the Society has made to primary research activity on 

the history and archaeology of County Kildare. The Societies journal, The Journal of the County 

Kildare Archaeological Society, first published in 1891 includes fifteen volumes. It is probably the 

single most important collection of material relating to all aspects of County Kildare’s heritage and 

which, to a greater extent, covers the main subjects of the previous paragraph. This volume 

would enhance the collection of many of the organizations participating in this audit. 



3. KEY FINDINGS 

• Fifteen museum organizations and public collections participated in this Audit, while fourteen 

actually completed the questionnaire. 

• One of the fifteen museums in County Kildare is not generally open to the public. 

• The Audit has identified that funding is a universal issue affecting the participating 

organizations, whether the organization be a small largely privately funded operation or 

managed by a national or semi-state body. 

• Among many of the smaller organizations there is an openness and flexibility to learn from 

and co-operate with each other. 

• A fuller understanding of the diversity of the county’s heritage objects on public display may 

encourage the development of a Kildare Museums / Collections Network. Such a network 

could provide support, training and advice for the county’s museums and heritage centres, 

helping them to work co-operatively for the long-term benefit of the whole sector. Such a 

network would support and complement the objectives of the Heritage Council’s Museum 

Standards Programme for Ireland. 

• In the absence of a Regional County Museum there is no repository for the care and 

presentation of individual artifacts and collections as they arise. 

• There are a number of prevailing themes that emerge in many of the museum heritage 

centres. These include the following themes: 

- Revolutionary Nationalism (1798, 1916, etc.) 

- Early Christian History 

- Saint Brigid 

- The Boglands and Peat industry 

- Military History and the Curragh 

- Folk life 

- The Famine 

- Quaker Life 

- Equestrian history 

- Gordon Bennett 

- Ernest Shackleton 

- Sporting History and Influential Figures 

• Aspects of regional history which are largely ignored are as follows: 

- The Grand Canal and the industries it supported 

- Archaeological sites 

- Architectural Heritage 

- Historic Families and Genealogy 

- Industrial Heritage 

- Agricultural History 

• Most organizations are reluctant to accept donations of objects of local or regional interest 

owning to difficulties arising from limited storage space and curatorial experience in dealing 

with such objects. 



• Three (four when the Military Museum collection is included) are of International relevance. 

Three are of National relevance. Thirteen of the museum collections can be said to be of 

regional and local relevance. 

• 86.6% of museums were established after 1970. The intervening 36 years has seen the 

establishment of a wide variety of organizations, each forging an individual mandate towards 

the sharing of knowledge and artifacts of interest to the county and the country as a whole. 

• One of the fifteen museums participating in this survey is a member of the Irish Museums 

Association (IMA). 

• Six museums or organizations organized events specifically to coincide with Heritage Week 

2006. 

• Five organizations have collections policy. It is not clear from the survey if the collections 

policies are formally adopted in articles of association or management structures. 

• Generally speaking, folk life and local history form the principal focus of museums and 

heritage centres in County Kildare. 

• The extent of documentation of collections is varied. Seven collections are not catalogued at 

all. Four collections are completely catalogued, 35% of one collection is documented and 

catalogued, and two museums have between 70% and 99% of the collections catalogued 

and documented. 

• Six museums are open Monday-to-Friday and also at weekends. Six museums are open 

Monday-to-Friday only. Eight museums are open during normal business hours, i.e. from 9- 

10am and 4-5.30pm. One museum is open only during the morning only and one museum is 

open in the afternoon only. One museum is not open to the public. 

• Eight museums are open all year though some have more limited opening hours during the 

off-peak season. Five museums are closed during the off-season period. 



4.0 METHODOLOGY 

The Audit was divided into three phases. The first phase involved the development of a 

questionnaire the purpose of which was to allow participating organizations audit their own 

operations, providing an opportunity to self-evaluate the strengths and weaknesses. The 

questionnaires were returned and subsequently audited. The results of this audit form the basis of 

this report. The questionnaire was interrogative and aimed to look at each organization under the 

following headings: 

• Management and staffing structure: 

• Education and outreach facilities 

• Development 

• Public Relations 

• Opening hours 

• Visitor numbers 

• Services 

• Funding and grant aiding 

• Fundraising 

• The Collection, collection policy and documentation 

• Conservation 

• Storage facilities 

• Other facilities such as café/shop/toilets/reading room 

• Marketing and promotional strategy 

Phase two of the survey involved site visits to participating organizations to view the collections 

and venues at first hand, to gain from them a more complete understanding of the collections and 

remit. It also provided an opportunity to see the collections in display and in storage. The site visit 

also provided the opportunity to ask about the future training needs of the organizations. 

The quantifying and collation of the questionnaire data forms the final part of this Audit report. 



5.0 AUDIT OF MUSEUMS AND PUBLIC COLLECTIONS IN COUNTY KILDARE 

This chapter aims to provide a pen-picture of the focus of each museum organization in the 

country. What emerges from the Audit is the range of organizations that exist, whose collective 

aim is to promote and disseminate selected aspects of the heritage of the county through the 

interpretation of historical data and local folklore. 



5.1 ATHY HERITAGE CENTRE 

ADDRESS: Town Hall 

Athy 

Co. Kildare 

CONTACT: Margaret Walsh 

EMAIL: athyheritage@eircom.net 

PHONE: 059-8633075 

SUMMARY OF ORGANIZATION AND COLLECTION: 

Athy Heritage Centre was established by local business people under the guidance of Mr. Frank 

Taaffe and in association with the Athy Museum Society. The centre is located in the important 

early 18 th century town hall in the centre of this historic charter town on Emily Square. The 

heritage centre occupies the ground floor of the structure while the Local Authority Athy Library 

occupies the first floor. The structure is in the ownership of the Local Authority. 

The heritage centre exhibition has been designed as a self-guide exhibition. It includes a number 

of objects on display which are outlined below. However the principal narrative of the exhibition 

centre is a series of interpretive graphic displays covering the following subject matter: 

• The early history of Athy and the Ford of 

Ae. 

• The medieval Town 

• Military Outposts 

• Henry VIII and the Monasteries 

• The House of Kildare (the Fitzgeralds) 

• The Gordon Bennett Rally 

• The Civil development of Athy 

• The Grand Canal 

• World War I 

• John Vincent Holland 

• 1798 and the Confederate Wars 

• Famine in County Kildare 

• Ernest Shackleton 

• Religious Diversity in Athy 

Objects on display comprise a wide variety of material of local, regional and national interest. 

Many smaller items are in secure glass topped timber-framed display cabinets, while other 

objects, such as carved stonework are simply mounted on plinths and not secured. Objects are 

either displayed thematically, or are sporadically displayed with little articulation and reference to 

the exhibition themes. For instance the Shackleton Room contains objects relating to the 

Shackleton family and the expeditions of Ernest Shackleton. The religious room contains a 

number of objects relating to Quaker history and Roman Catholic heritage. The World War room 

and Gordon Bennett display also contain objects relating specifically to these subjects. However 

throughout the exhibition there are a number of important objects such as carved stone, furniture, 

and a donation of vintage bicycles which do not form an integral part of the exhibition narrative. 

Objects on display include (inter alia) the following: 

A model of Shackleton’s ship Endurance made by albatross Models, England, and an original 

sledge used during one of Shackleton’s expeditions. Family effects of the Shackleton’s including 

a Tabard cigarette box containing a biscuit from the 1914-1916 expedition. Fourteen Shackleton 

family portrait photographs, framed and mounted are fixed to the wall. 

The religious diversity room contains display cabinets, one containing silver items of religious 

significance. A book owned and signed by Abraham Shackleton (who established the Quaker 

School in Ballitore) with a date of 1761 entitled: The Works of the Long-Mournful and Sorely- 

Distressed ISAAC PENNINGTON. A volume entitled the Leadbeater Papers, The Annals of 

Ballitore, Letters from Edmund Burke, London, Bell and Daldy, 186 Fleet Street, published in 

1862 in also included. Another book entitled: Tales for Cottagers, Accommodated to the Present 



Condition of the Irish peasantry, by Mary Leadbeater [sic], and Elizabeth Shackleton and dated to 

1814. 

The Gordon Bennett Rally exhibit includes a control stop watch from the 1903 Cup Race and 

event programmes. 

The World War I room is centred around a Leinster Regiment Uniform dated to 1917.Elsewhere 

in the room a display cabinet contains of “war art” forming intriguing objects made from 

ammunition among other metal objects and forming generally religious artifacts or memorials to 

lost soldiers. 

Miscellaneous objects include a number of finely carved early 17 th century stone fragments, 

almost all from Kilkea Castle. 13 th century carved stone grave slabs from Saint Michael’s 

Cemetery. A memorial cross to John Fitzgerald dated to 1620 fragmented in three pieces is also 

on display. 

There is not a reserve collection and none of the three dimensional objects are in storage. Some 

early 20 th century ordnance survey maps, stored in rolls are stored in the exhibition centre. 

A conservator has assessed and variefied the suitability of the exhibition space for the Shackleton 

with a recommendation that the sledge is displayed behind a glazed cabinet. Ultra Violet light 

filters have been fitted in many of the windows. 



5.2 BALLITORE LIBRARY AND QUAKER MUSEUM 

ADDRESS: Mary Leadbeater House, 

Ballitore 


CONTACT: Mary Malone 

EMAIL: ballitorelib@kildarecoco.ie 

PHONE: 059-8623344 

SUMMARY OF ORGANIZATION AND COLLECTION 

The ground floor of the Mary Leadbeater House contains the Ballitore library, reading room, IT 

room and a staff kitchen and bathroom facilities. The first floor contains three exhibition rooms, 

two of which are interconnected. The rooms are thematic. The Mary Leadbeater Room, The Folk 

Life Room, and The Quaker Costume Room. The exhibitions comprise graphic display panels 

and objects on open display in each room. 

The Mary Leadbeater Room 

This room has graphic display panels comprising panels on the following subjects: 

• William and Mary 

• 1798 

• Quaker Village Life 

• Mary’s People 

• Ballitore Shackleton Family Tree 

• Mary Shackleton, the Writer (Edmund 

Burke and Maria Edgeworth) 

• Quaker Architecture 

Objects within the Mary Leadbeater Room include a woven chair and writing bureau. A print copy 

of a painting of Richard Shackleton. Two oil-on-canvas portraits of William and Anna Plewman. A 

glass case contains two Peg dolls thought to be representative of Mary Shackleton’s blind aunt 

Sally and her friend Fanny Lyons. 

The Folk Life Room 

“The many and varied items on display represent the lives of people both living in and around the 

village of Ballitore, from the 18 th century to the mid 20 th century.” The artifacts can be separated 

into distinct categories: 

• Domestic 

• Agriculture 

• Business and Trade 

Objects include a famine stick chair, photographs, drawings, a butter churn, a typewriter and 

objects of historic domestic interest. Painted dressers provide open displays for items of 

ethnographic and folk life interest. 

The Quaker Costume Room 

This room, the window openings of which have drawn blinds, interconnects with the Folk Life 

Room. The objects are stored in cabinets with a hygrothermograph monitoring humidity and 

temperature levels in one cabinet. 

The objects include: 

• A parasol or sunshade, dated 1845-50 

• A chemise dated from the 19 th century 



• An infant gown and bonnet of 19 th century origins 

• A pelerine in poplin and silk dated to 1840-45 

• A gents fedora or Quaker had of 19 th century origins 

• A cottage bonnet of black satin from the 1840s 

• A cottage bonnet of grey silk 

• A pair of dark brown apron 

• A lappet fated to the 1840s 

• A Quaker lady’s brown apron 

• An afternoon cap 

• A wedding dress ensemble worn by Jane Marian Richardson of 

• A photograph of Charlotte Beale and her daughter Emma, from Cork. 

• There are two portraits of James White and his wife, Lydia, nee Shackleton. 



5.3 IRISH PEWTER MILL 

ADDRESS: Moone 


CONTACT: Sean Cleary 

EMAIL: timolinpewter@eircom.net 

PHONE: 059-8624164 


The Irish Pewter Mill was established in 1973. It is located in an 18 th century former corn mill 

building, which was partly converted to house residential accommodation and a workshop with a 

shop/museum of pewter to the front. The exhibition forms a narrative display on the development 

and application of Pewter and its manufacturing processes, which is enlivened by a tour of the 

objects with Mr. Scully, who explains the development of the pewter manufacturing from the 

hand-made to the industrialized. 

The items are on open display on wall mounted shelving. 

Many of the objects are of Dutch or English origins and range in date from the 17 th to the 20 th 

century. Most objects are moulds which are used to form the pewter objects. To the front of the 

house there are some early examples of pewter jugs, candelabras and platters. 



5.4 KILCULLEN TOWN HALL, THEATRE AND HERITAGE CENTRE 

ADDRESS: Lower Main Street 

Kilcullen 


CONTACT: Nessa Dunlea 

EMAIL: dunlea@eircom.net 

PHONE: 045-481613 


The Town Hall, Theatre and Heritage Centre of Kilcullen was established by Mr. Pat Dunlea in 

2000. It is housed in a former cinema which was extended and converted to form the existing 

structure. The Heritage Centre is governed by the Town Hall Committee which comprises local 

people, and members of the various community groups who use the Centre. 

The Centre comprises an open-plan multi-purpose space and the adjoining Theatre. The multipurpose 

space accommodates two display cabinets with objects relating to the heritage of 

Kilcullen. The strength of this heritage centre is its broad community appeal as a meeting place 

and theatre. The theatre and space are crucial to the funding of the Heritage Centre. 

There are 56 historic photographs, 30 theatrical photographs (The Capers) and 45 objects in the 

collection. All items on display are tagged with a sticker with the item number. These are then 

entered into a hand-written catalogue. The Kilcullen Town Hall, Theatre and Heritage Centre 

minutes. 

The items on display include a reproduction of a portrait of John La Touche by Angelica 

Kauffmann. 

The collection is limited and varied and of local interest. The collection includes: a framed and 

mounted etching of Kilcullen Church of Ireland Church; a panel forming a montage of historic 

buildings in historic photographs; framed and mounted copies of Alex Taylor Maps of Co. Kildare; 

visitor and servants bells from Castlemartin House; One display forms a memorial to local man 

James Pender with personal effects such as mortuary cards, service medal and a forage cap. 

Military history is represented by pike heads from 1798, a British Army lance head from 1865; a 

Royal Irish Fusiliers Silver mounted swagger stick with owners initials “J.L.B” and hallmarked 

London, 1908. 

A panel displays documentary photographs of the excavation of Dún Ailinne archaeological site 

under the supervision of archaeologist Professor Bernard Wales in 1974. 

Other miscellaneous items include an example of an early telephone, and a Victorian Ordnance 

Survey cartographers measuring chain. 

A bellows by a local blacksmith along with an anvil and a cinema projector are located in the 

entrance porch. 



5.5 KILDARE HERITAGE CENTRE 

ADDRESS: Market House 

Market Square 

Kildare 


CONTACT: Mary Stones 

EMAIL: kildaretownheritagecen@ireland.com 

PHONE: 045-530672 


Kildare Heritage Centre was established in $. It is located in the restored 18th century market 

house. The Heritage Centre also functions as a representative of Fáilte Ireland and undertakes 

tourist information and support services under this remit. The heritage centre display is housed on 

the first floor in an open-plan single space. The display is not collection based, though some 

items are on display. It is entirely interpretive and self-guiding. 

It comprises two elements: 

1. A multi-media display on the history of Kildare town. 

2. A self-guide graphic display on the history of the town and region. 

The multi media presentation is narrated by an actor representing a 7th century monk Cogitosus. 

It begins with the establishment of the church by Saint Bridget whose legacy is explored in the 

interpretive panels. 

The display panels include the following subject areas, which are also covered by the multi-media 

presentation: 

• Saint Brigid 

• The Monastic City 

• The Round Tower 

• A Cathedral Town 

• Medieval Kildare 

• The Fitzgeralds of Kildare 

• The Abbeys of Kildare 

• War and Rebellion 

• A Prosperous Town 

• The Gibbet Rath Massacre 

• A Garrison Town 

• The Curragh 

• Horse Racing and the Curragh 

• Horse Breading 

• The Irish National Stud 

• Japanese Gardens 

A number of important 17 th century stone architectural fragments which were found in the building 

during restoration work and believed to be from Kilkea Castle, Athy, are displayed in the 

exhibition centre. 



5.6 LULLYMORE HERITAGE AND DISCOVERY PARK 

ADDRESS: Lullymore 

Rathangan 


CONTACT: Sean Judge 

EMAIL: lullymorepark@eircom.net 

PHONE: 045-870238 


Lullymore Heritage and Discovery Park was established in 1993, as a private limited company 

and the Park aims to interpret aspects of Ireland’s heritage and folklore and the bog landscape in 

an interactive way. To this end a number of key features have been developed. 

These features are as follows: 

A recreation of four thatched houses each of which accommodates a specific historical theme, 

which can be muddled at times. These are admirable, while not fully achieving verisimilitude. This 

is most obvious when the items on display and the graphic displays are not complimentary. Three 

thatched houses are clustered while one is located at a different part of the park. Regional and 

Local history is interpreted on graphic display panels. The historical subject matter is limited to 

pre-Christian history and folklore, early Christian history, nationalism, the Famine and folk life. 

These aspects of the past are interpreted and supplemented by a number of historical objects or 

objects which are recreations, some of which are relevant to the themes of the graphic displays. 

The Park has additional facilities aimed at securing a steady repeat-visit market. The Funky 

Jungle is an indoor adventure centre aimed at children. An outdoor adventure/play ground area 

called Fionn McCumhaill’s Adventure Playground. A “fun train” brings visitors around the park. 

Tea rooms are also available. 

House 1: 

This is a recreation of a two-roomed direct entry thatched house. A map of Kildare shows where 

garrisons, battles, yeomanry houses and rebel occupations, were located. The map also plots the 

regional flashpoints of the 1798 Rebellion in the country, including: Prosperous, Clane, Naas, 

Athy, Gibbit Rath, Kildare, Monasterevin, Ovidstown, Timahoe Camp. 

The house also focuses on the early Christian history of Lullymore. This section of the house 

includes: 

• Stained glass window 

• Bog oak model of the Lullymore 

monastic settlement 

• Aerial photograph of the graveyard and 

former monastic site 

House 2: 

• Replica of the Book of Kells 

• Replica of an Ogham Stone 

This is a recreation of a three-roomed direct entry thatched house. The house has a dual theme 

representing the rural way of life while also focusing on the historical background from a regional 

perspective on the events surrounding the 1798 Rebellion. The Lullymore patriot John Doorley 

forms another focal point. There are panels on the following historical topics: 

John Doorley; Ireland in the 1790s; Penal Laws; Grattan’s Parliament; Government Repression; 

and The United Irishmen, and the Battle of Rathangan. 



One room of the cottage is dedicated to a restored mid-20 th century Cart. It was built in 1957 by 

Ned Cox when he was 15. Other artifacts relevant to the thatched house interior include: a 

kitchen dresser, bureau and settlebed, a butter churn and wrought-iron hearth furniture. 

House 3 

This structure forms a forge. In its single room the centrally placed hearth forge is the focus of the 

exhibition. It is not operational. Many forgers tools and forged implements form part of this 

exhibition, including a timber and leather bellows, anvil, hammers and other tools. 

House 4 

A recreation of a three-roomed direct entry mud-walled thatched house, typical of many parts of 

Kildare until the 20 th century. It is located adjacent to a remembrance garden, the concept of 

which is to commemorate the Famine with 47 recumbent stone markers representing graves. The 

house is probably the most successful aspect of the Park, recreating a mud-walled thatched 

house, though the pitch of the roof structure is slightly off. This house is free of graphic display 

panels, and the furniture, fittings and the spatial quality of the room are used to recreate the 

atmosphere of a thatched house. Furniture includes two beds, a dresser, hearth with wrought and 

cast-iron furniture flanked by snugs. 

A large themed cultivated garden is based on many aspects of Irish history and mythology. The 

various sections of this garden are: 

• The Dolmen Garden 

• The Ogham Garden 

• The Bee Garden 

• The Bird Garden 

• The Medicine Garden 

• The Monastic Garden 

• The Newgrange Garden 

• The Cranóg Garden 

• The 1916 Garden 



5.7 BOG OF ALLEN NATURE CENTRE 

ADDRESS: Irish Peatland Conservation Council (IPCC) 

Bog of Allen Nature Centre 

Lullymore 

Rathangan 


CONTACT: Nuala Madigan 

EMAIL: bogs@ipcc.ie 

PHONE: 045-860133 


The Irish Peatland Conservation Council was established in 1982 as a charitable organization. 

Originally Dublin based, the IPCC moved to Lullymore in 2004, acquiring a property from 

Teagasc. The IPCC’s Bog of Allen Nature Centre is the public face of the organization, which has 

a wide remit in the lobbying for and conservation of Ireland’s peatland heritage. The Centre is 

both the headquarters of the organization and also operates a number of important services. 

From the Centre the IPCC organizes and monitors a number of annual surveys including the Frog 

Survey. The exhibition Centre has an entry fee. 

The core body of the Nature Centre exhibition and its format was inherited when the property was 

purchased from Teagasc. It forms part of a business development plan and requires updating. It 

begins with the interior of a thatched house, with many items on display that were donated to 

Teagasc over the years. When the IPCC took over the ownership and management of the 

property many of those who donated objects on display began to remove the objects and the 

ambiguity of ownership status emerged with serious problem arising from a total lack of 

documentation on ownership and acquisition when the item was donated. 

The next section of the exhibition comprises an audio-visual display showing “ Discovering the 

Wild Boglands”. It is housed in a room which displays panels on the Irish Army Corp and 

Lullymore Camp; Danes Road; the Monastic Settlement and the Murphy Family. Artifacts in this 

room are positioned on the floor and include an early Christian stone cross and a corn grinding 

stone from an early Christian settlement. 

The principal exhibition room at ground floor level interprets the ecology, heritage and 

archaeology of the bog. The exhibition explores bog cutting from the hand-cutting method to the 

industrialization of this by An Bord Na Mona. Concurrent with the history of human interaction 

with the bog is a series of displays on the ecology of boglands, its formation and flora and fauna. 

A three-dimensional display represents the various components of a bog and its associated 

wildlife. Along one side of the room there is a display entitled “Steps in Time Down Through the 

Ages” which plots the development of the bog from the resent day to 3000 BC. A mural plots the 

development while an open-display exhibit of tools and implements indicate the human activity 

associated. These include: a sléan, a billy can, a turf barrow and a section of pine or deal bog 

timber. The exhibition also includes sections on the following aspects of bog heritage: 

• A mural of the History of the Bog of Allen 

• Plants of the Boglands 

• Insects of Irish Peatlands 

• Objects inspired by Bogs and Fens 

• New and Ancient Treasures Recovered from Bogs and Fens 

A pre-Christian bog oak timber canoe and the skull and antlers from a Great Irish Elk are the 

most dramatic items on display in the exhibition. Smaller items housed in glass display cases 

include a display of bog insects. 



A section of the exhibition is dedicated to the heritage of bog cutting in Ireland and Europe. It is 

centred around a large model of a peat briquette processing plant. Graphic display panels show 

the development of the industry in Ireland during the 1940s and 1950s. A display of briquette fuel 

from other European countries is also on display. 

The first floor of the exhibition is dedicated largely to the natural heritage of bogs. The displays 

include naturalistic recreations of the following: 

• Fen Animals 

• Invertebrates 

• A Herborium 

• And a composite of exhibitions which have taken place that relates to the heritage of the bogs 

An important part of the organization and the centre is the on-going development of an extensive 

archive and library of material relating to the peatland heritage. The material is largely primary 

documentation in the form of surveys, scientific studies, proceedings and papers. This archive is 

accessible in a reading room by appointment. An on-line catalogue is being developed. 

Computers and other study implements including microscopes for on-going studies and a 

photocopying service. 

A bog garden has recently been developed which has not yet been formally opened to the public. 

Central to this is a green house accommodating a collection of carnivorous plants. 

The IPCC provides an education service which is managed by the Environmental Education 

Officer. It includes an extensive classroom programme, which is Junior Certificate curriculum 

specific covering the following subjects: 

Art, English, Gaeilge, History, Geography and Science. 

Resource packs aimed at both primary and post-primary level and the modulated education 

programme are available to be downloaded from the website. 



5.8 NATIONAL SCIENCE MUSEUM, SAINT PATRICK’S COLLEGE 

ADDRESS: Saint Patrick’s College 

National University of Ireland 

Maynooth 


CONTACT: Dr. Niall McKeith (curator) 

EMAIL: niall.mckeith@nuim.ie 

PHONE: 01-7083780 


Owned and managed by Saint Patrick’s College Maynooth, the ecclesiological collection of the 

College was established as a museum in 1934 by the Trustees of the College and Dr. William 

Moran, Professor of Dogmatic Theology was appointed its first curator. From the 1950s the 

museum was developed to include the collection of scientific apparatus of Rev. Nicholas Callan 

(1799-1864) and other instruments from the Physics Department of the college which are of 

historic scientific interest. The instruments of Monsignor Gerald Molloy (1834-1906) also form part 

of the collection. 

The museum building comprises a free-standing single-storey single-roomed space, originally top 

lit through a continuous ridge roof light, and in more recent times lit artificially with no natural light 

entering the museum. All objects on display have been housed in purpose-designed secure 

display cabinets which form part of a re-design of the museum in recent years. 

Extensive published documentation exists on both aspects of the collection. Saint Patrick’s 

College, Maynooth, Museum of Ecclesiology was published in 1995, forming a re-edited and 

revised catalogue by Dr. McKeith, based on the earlier Tóstal Catalogue. The Scientific 

Apparatus of Nicholas Callan and other Historic Instruments, is an illustrated catalogue by 

Charles Mollan and John Upton, published 1994. 

The Ecclesiological museum has been catalogued under 25 categories and includes objects from 

the 15 th century onwards. The collection covers the following categories: 

• Irish Illuminated Manuscripts 

• Altar Plate 

• Ecclesiastical Bells 

• Boxes for Altar Breads 

• Reliquaries 

• Monstrances 

• Pectoral crosses, 

• Representations of the Crucifixion 

• Penal Crosses 

• Rosaries 

• Oil Stocks 

• Croziers 

• Relics 

• Statuary. 

• Vestments 

• Eastern Church and Foreign 

• Danial O’Connell 

• Letters and Documents 

• Maynooth College 

• Medals and Medallions 

• Mass Rocks 

• Altar Stones 

• Altar Bread Tongs 

• Miscellanea 

• Models 

The highlights include The Marie Antoinette Vestments made by her Ladies-in-waiting and 

presented by the Queen to Rev. Dr. Patrick O’Byrne, chaplain to the Duc a’Angouleme, and The 

Maria Barbara of Braganze Vestements, which were presented to the Irish College in Salamanca. 

Also in this collection is a section dedicated to Danial O’Connell, which includes a wax death 

mask, religious books and correspondence owned by O’Connell. 



The Scientific Apparatus are arranged under the following categories, which then form 

subcategories. The principal categories are: 

• Chemistry and Analysis 

• Electricity and Magnetism 

• Heat 

• Hydrostatics 

• Light 

• Mechanics 

• Meterology 

• Pneumatics 

• Sound 

• Surveying and Navigation 

• Other Instruments 

The highlights of this collection include instruments made or used by Callan including: electromagnetic 

coils, induction coils (which Callan invented) and the Wimshurst Electrostatic generator, 

of lat 19 th century origins. Many instruments made by the Dublin based firms of John Spencer & 

Son, Samuel & Son, Yeates & Son add to the interest and relevance of many on display. 



5.9 LODGE PARK WALLED GARDEN AND STEAM MUSEUM 

ADDRESS: Lodge Park 

Straffan 


CONTACT: Robert Guinness 

EMAIL: info@steam-museum.ie 

PHONE: 01-6273155/6288412 


In 1988 the nave and transepts of St. Jude’s church was dismantled by Robert Guinness and reerected 

on the grounds of Lodge Park to house the Steam Museum. The Spire of the church 

remains in situ in Inchicore. The Steam Museum was formally opened by President Mary 

Robinson in July 1992. It is housed in the grounds of Lodge Park, the restored walled garden of 

which is also opened to the public. An extensive catalogue of the exhibition is available on line. 

An access fee applied to the museum and gardens. 

The Steam Museum: 

The museum is divided into three distinct sections. The Power Hall focuses on stationary steam 

engines in steam, that were made &/or worked in breweries, distilleries, factories and ships 

throughout Ireland. The engines on exhibit are impressive in scale and form. Included in the 

exhibition are the following: the Independent Six Pillar Beam Engine from the Murphy’s Distillery 

in Cork, dates to the early 19 th century; the exhibition also includes a Single Pillar Beam Engine 

made for the Smithwicks Brewery in Kilkenny; a Triple Expansion Vertical Inverted Marine Engine 

is also in the collection. Each engine is accompanied by an information panel which can be easily 

read from the public walkway. Supplementary murals depicting the operation and function of 

certain engines have been painted on the walls. 

The Richard Guinness Hall displays a large collection of historic prototype model locomotive 

engines from the early 19 th century. These are housed separately in timber-framed glazed display 

cases raised on four legs. A series of portraits of the inventor/engineers responsible for the 

prototypes are displayed on the walls. These appear to be of 20 th century origins and may form 

copies of originals. 

A final room which includes a large working model which is prompted to operate by infrared 

sensors shows a cross section of a mine and the engine used to pump water out of the pit and 

also to transport workings in and out. Also in this room is an exhibition of miscellanea relating to 

aspects of steam power and industrial heritage. On display in this room include framed prints of 

steam-powered ships, a framed photographic portrait of Captain Robert Halpin of Tinnakilly, Co. 

Wicklow and objects such as a model of a steam-powered ship and the crest of the Great 

Southern Railway. A large archive cabinet with documentation and maps is present in the 

exhibition, but not opened for general public access. 

Other services provided include the Steaming Kettle Teahouse. In the enclosed courtyard 

between the museum and teahouse there is an out-door dining area and an original Showman’s 

Living Wagon is on display. 

The museum shop and an interactive playroom for children are both aimed at industrial heritage. 

The walled gardens include a restoration of a 19 th century glasshouse and a 17 th century lead 

cistern amongst the formally laid out flower beds, lawns and vegetable gardens. 



Maintenance and conservation works to the engines on display is carried out on site in a large 

purpose-built structure which is not open to the public. 



5.10 THE HORSE MUSEUM 

ADDRESS: The Irish National Stud and Japanese Gardens 

Tully 


CONTACT: Freda O’Connell 

EMAIL: japanesegardens@eircom.net 

PHONE: 045-521617 


The Horse Museum is a recent development at the Irish National Stud. It is housed in a former 

stable building, which has been adapted to form two open-plan interconnecting rooms which tell 

the story of the horse racing industry in Ireland. The museum is really an interpretive centre as 

the majority of the exhibition is illustrated by graphic display panels, and historic objects that 

relate to this history are few. The Irish National Stud also provides an extensive gift shop and 

restaurant as well as the important Japanese Gardens and Saint Fiachra’s Garden. 

The most prized object in the exhibition is the skeleton of Arkle, which was donated to the Irish 

National Stud by its former owner Anne, Duchess of Westminster. Other objects include a 19 th 

century weigh chair, farrier implements and tools, 

A two-sided glass display case houses miscellaneous objects some of which are not related to 

the theme of the exhibition. These include: 

• The Racing Colours of Jockeys from three different races 

• A medal 

• A rolled up copy of the Irish Field periodical 

• A horoscope manuscript of Hall Walker, founder of the Irish National Stud 

• A whip 

On the opposite side of the display case there is: 

• An 18 th century Iron Rowel Spur ad Bridle bit 

• A 9 th Century AD Yew Saddle Pommell 

• A late 13 th Century jug spout from Wood Quay, Dublin 

• Breeding Records. 

An Audio-visual display includes excerpts from the following races: 

• Dawn Run Winning the Gold Cup in 1986 

• Vintage Crop Winning the Melbourne Cup in 1993 

• Danoli Winning the Hennessy Gold Cup in 1997 

• Cardeas Winning the Trigo Stakes in 1994 

• Arkle Winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 1964 

• Nijinsky Winning the Epsom Derby in 1970 

Graphic displays incorporate some artifacts such as a copy of the Aga Kahn trophy, a 17 th and 

18 th century horse shoe, the hoof of Blanford, copies of the Field, a leather side saddle, horse 

shoes worn by Nijinsky, Ridgewood and Royal Charger. There is also an interactive element to 

the exhibition with “Did you know” facts dispersed throughout, an electronic weighing-in device 

which records body weight, and a display which measures height in hands. A model of a horse 

head allows the viewer to complete the fitting of a bridle with the aid of step-by-step instructions. 



The themes of the graphic display panels are as follows: 

• The origins of the horse 

• Early history 

• The horse in Ireland 

• Work and the horse 

• The origins of racing 

• The Steeplechase 

• How horseracing works 

• Arkle 

• Irish racing before 1850 

• Irish racing 1850-1940 

• Irish racing since 1940 

• Equestrian sports 

• Breeding in Ireland 

• The Irish National Stud 



5.11 THE MILLITARY MUSEUM 

ADDRESS: College Pearse Barracks 

Curragh Camp 

The Curragh 


CONTACT: Cdt. Ciara Ware 

EMAIL: ciara.ware@defenceforces.ie 

PHONE: 045-445195 


The Military Museum is housed in a building which has two rooms both accessible only from 

outside. One is a store for objects not on display the other is the museum room. The museum is 

arranged with timber-framed glass wall cabinets which line all four sides. A number of larger 

objects are on open display on the floor of the museum. Free-standing glass cabinets form 

secondary displays. 

There is an obvious problem with condensation and damp within the museum and mildew is 

present on the walls. Electric storage heaters are fitted in the museum. On-going maintenance of 

the roof and windows is required. The museum building is locked and alarmed when not 

occupied. 

It is generally not accessible to the public. 

The collection can be divided into two distinct sections. 

The first part forms an exhibition of the collection of artifacts of warfare donated to the Irish 

Military by Sir Alfred Chester Beatty. 

The second forms an exhibition of Irish Military history. 

The objects on display are clearly tagged and catalogues are held by the Defense Forces. 



5.12 MONDELLO PARK’S MUSEUM OF MOTOR SPORT 

ADDRESS: Mondello Park 

Robertstown 


CONTACT: Ian Beatty 

EMAIL: ibeatty@mondellopark.ie 

PHONE: 054-860200 


The Museum of Motor Sport is housed in a purpose-built museum building atmospheric 

temperature and humidity controlled by two large de-humidifiers. A radio-linked security system 

monitors access from ground level and potentially from the roof. CCTV monitors the museum 

during the daytime. 

It is opened for feature events at Mondello race course or by appointment. Entry is free when 

opened by appointment. There is general interest in the museum by group tours, car clubs, 

Gordon Bennett Tourists and the hospitality market. 

The core collection is part of the private collection of Martin Birrane, who owns Mondello Park. He 

purchased Mondello in 1985. The collection includes thirty-five cars, though generally five are out 

of the country at any one time. 

An education programme aimed at transition year students called “Steer Clear” is an initiative of 

organization to raise awareness of motor safety. As part of this programme a tour is provided of 

the exhibition which looks at the development of safety technology in the motor racing industry. 



5.13 CATHEDRAL COLLECTION 

ADDRESS: Saint Brigid’s Cathedral Kildare and Round Tower 

The Square 

Kildare Town 


CONTACT: Kenneth Dunne 

EMAIL: mkdunne@eircom.net 

PHONE: 045-521229 


Saint Brigid’s Cathedral is located off the main market square of Kildare town. It houses a number 

of objects specifically relating to the cathedral and grounds, where the round tower, Saint Brigid’s 

kitchen (a burial tomb), and high cross are located. Objects on display are either of 

archaeological or ecclesiastical importance. The objects on display are not organized or 

interpreted systematically, and really, it is the cathedral itself, with its fine stained glass windows, 

three-manual Conagher organ, baptismal font and sanctuary furniture which provide the main 

interest in the cathedral. A number of important items, which are either in regular use during 

services or which are too valuable to be displayed in the cathedral are stored in the vestry. 

Donations are suggested in lieu of an entry fee. A fee applies to climb the round tower. Security is 

an ongoing issue. A number of break-ins have resulted in the theft of important objects. More 

recently a bible open on the altar lectern was stolen. There is an antiquated heating system in the 

cathedral, which is due for renewal, and there is no means of regulating humidity within this large 

space. 

An informative illustrated guide to the cathedral, its grounds and history, is on sale within the 

cathedral and produced in 1978-79 and up-dated in 2000. Another important publication is Saint 

Brigid’s Cathedral Kildare, A History, edited by Raymond Gillespie, and published by the County 

Kildare Archaeological Society in 2000-2001. 

On entering the cathedral in the south transept there is an interpretive exhibition the subject of 

which is the development of Christianity in the vicinity, including the following subjects: 

• The Celts – A long journey to Ireland 

• Blood thirsty but clever 

• Celtic pagans 

• Saint Brigid 

• Christianity 

Objects on display in the Cathedral include: 

• A framed display of medieval floor tiles 

• O’Carolan’s Chair 

• A mid 16 th century alter tomb effigy dedicated to Gerald Wellesley, 7 th Duke of Wellington 

• A alter tomb from Great Cashel Priory 

A display cabinet beside the timber screen closing off the vestry from the nave includes 

miscellaneous objects found on the grounds of the cathedral. These are: 

A 15 th and 18 th century wax seals; coinage; a 17 th century leather bound Irish bible owned by 

Thomas Cooke (dated to 1697 though now believed to be earlier); an original 19 th century 

photographic image of the cathedral prior to restoration; a “table of fees” for burials and 



ceremonies performed for the public by John Brown, Parish Registrar; a Neolithic stone axe; a 

petrified stags horn; a document dated 1672 recording the appointment of George Medlicott to 

the Registry of the Dean and Chapter; a book of maps and descriptions of Ireland dated to 1674. 

A display documenting the restoration of a stained glass window by the Abbey Stained Glass 

Studio. 



5.14 GOLF MUSEUM 

ADDRESS: Golfing Union of Ireland 

National HQ 

Carton Demesne 


CONTACT: Kenneth Dunne 

EMAIL: alan@gui.ie 


The Golf Museum was recently established by the Golfing Union of Ireland. The museum is 

located with the new headquarters of the Union in Carton Demesne. It is housed in a restored 

game-keepers house. The museum is managed by one member of staff of the Union and 

governed by committee. The museum building comprises an entrance hall/stairhall and reception 

space, a large exhibition space and two smaller exhibition rooms at ground floor level and two 

rooms at first floor level. At ground floor level the two smaller exhibition spaces house graphic 

displays on the history of golf as a sport with a focus on the Royal and Ancient in Edinburgh, 

Scotland and the history of the Golfing Union of Ireland. 

As such the museum does not yet have a collection. However the Union is open to donations and 

is willing to accept items bequeathed by collectors. A problem facing the museum is the high cost 

of golfing artifacts which are avidly collected by in Ireland and abroad. An acquisitions policy has 

not yet been drafted by the museum. 

The minutes of the Golfing Union, which are archived may be viewed as a basis of the collection. 



5.15 CASTLETOWN HOUSE 

ADDRESS: Castletown Demesne 

Celbridge 


CONTACT: Joanna Cramsie, OPW 

EMAIL: jcramsie@duchas.ie 


The responsibility for the care, conservation and management of Castletown House passed from 

the Castletown Foundation to the Office of Public Works (OPW) in 1994. The Foundation still has 

an advisory role in the management and conservation of Castletown. The contents are still the 

property of the Castletown Foundation. 

Access to the interior of Castletown is tightly controlled and is operated on the basis of guided 

tours only. Thirteen rooms are designated for public access. At basement level there are offices, 

restaurant and book shop, public toilets and the waiting area for tours to begin. Access is only 

provided to rooms at ground and first floor level. The second floor level, most of the basement 

level, the flanking wing pavilions and farm buildings are not accessible. 

The principal rooms open for public viewing are: 

• The Entrance and Stair Hall 

• The Dining Hall 

• The Butler’s Pantry 

• The Brown Study 

• The Red Drawing Room 

• The Green Drawing Room 

• The Print Room 

• The State Bedroom 

• The Healy Room 

• The Map Room 

• The Upper Corridors 

• The Pastel Room 

• The Long Gallery 

Access in each room is controlled by rope barriers and the prescribed path is lined with carpeting 

in order to protect the original floor covering. Some protective lining has been placed against 

damask or silk wall hanging at sensitive areas close to the public pathway in each room. The 

objects on display in Castletown are integral to the guided tour. Objects are presented as 

furniture within the rooms which are presented sparsely furnished. Roller blinds are drawn at all 

times. 



6.0 GEOGRAPHICAL SPREAD OF MUSEUMS AND PUBLIC COLLECTIONS 

The distribution of museums and public collections in County Kildare is spread relatively evenly 

throughout the county with the result that the population of the county has easy access to a wide 

range of cultural centres and collection based organizations. The accompanying distribution map 

in table 1 shows clearly the spread of the 15 organizations relative to major urban centres and 

major road networks. 

The introduction of major routeways and the programme of by-passing major towns has had a 

negative effect on many of the smaller organizations that rely primarily on the rambler tourist 

market rather than a sustained indigenous market. Conversely, the improvement of the road 

network has improved access to major visitor attractions which form part of organized coach-tour 

groups. 

There are two areas of the county which are notably lacking in a museum or publically accessible 

collections. The areas are the northwest of the county around Monasterevin and Newbridge 

(notwithstanding the valuable contribution of the Riverbank Arts Centre) and around Naas 

(notwithstanding the contribution of the Moat Theatre), the Local Authority administrative centre of 

the county where there appears to be a dirth of heritage facilities despite a rich cultural history in 

each area. 

The heritage of the Grand Canal and the history of the industries and trading it supported in the 

county which runs east-west through the north of Kildare is also largely ignored by museums and 

heritage centres. 



LEGEND 

TABLE 1: DISTRIBUTION MAP OF MUSEUMS AND PUBLIC COLLECTIONS 

IN COUNTY KILDARE 

Principal routes (N7, 

M7, N4, M4, N81) 

Museum/Public 

Collection 



7.0 SURVEY FINDINGS 

The survey has been devised to identify the principal management structures of the museums 

and specifically aiming the areas of collections and collections policy, day to day management, 

staffing, links with other organizations, facilities offered to the public, funding and resourcing, and 

future plans. The following analysis of the museums sector in County Kildare has been 

extrapolated from data supplied during site visits to each museum and questionnaires completed 

by the museum. Sixteen museum organizations were contacted as part of this survey. Of this 

number fifteen organizations cooperated with the survey Audit. Fourteen of the fifteen 

organizations completed the questionnaire. 

The museums and public collections in County Kildare are varied in size and collection focus. 

Five museums are operated by national State bodies or the local authority. Such bodies include 

the Office of Public Works, Saint Patrick’s College (NUI, Maynooth), the Defense Forces, the 

Church of Ireland and The National Stud. The remainder of the museum organizations form either 

private profit-making “visitor attractions”, small single-focus private collections, or largely selffunding 

heritage centres, managed by committees of local business interests, which also operate 

as tourist information services drawing tourists to the region, and hopefully into the heritage 

centre exhibit. The Audit has identified a broad diversity of artifacts on public display which is 

largely of regional or local interest, and in some cases national and international. 

7.1 Establishment of Museum or Public Collection 

86.6% of museums were established after 1970. The intervening 36 years has seen the 

establishment of a wide variety of organizations, each forging an individual mandate towards the 

sharing of knowledge and artifacts of interest to the county and the country as a whole. 

- Four museums and organizations were established after 2000. 

- Four museums and organizations were established after 1990. 

- Five museums and organizations were established after 1970. 

- Two organizations were established before 1970. 

7.2 Museum Affiliations 

Only one of the fifteen museums participating in this survey is a member of the Irish Museums 

Association (IMA). Four museums in Kildare participated in the Irish Museums Survey of 

Museums in Ireland, 2005. 

7.3 Heritage Week 

Eight museum organizations have not participated in Heritage Week in the past. Six museum 

organizations have participated in Heritage Week. Only six museums or organizations partook in 

Heritage Week 2006. 

7.4 Collections policy 

The majority of organizations do not have a collections policy. As many of these organizations 

have limited collections relying principally on graphic display panels on local and county heritage 

and history, this is understandable. However, the absence of a collections policy is still apparent 

even in organizations with a small number of items on display where the objects do not appear to 

relate to the graphic display of the museum and where supplementary information on the objects 

is limited. The absence of a collections policy in some larger, more formalized organizations, is 

less understandable. In two cases the absence of a collections policy has limited effect on the 



coherence or management of the collection as plans to expand or reduce the collection, do not 

exist. For instance, the Science and Ecclesiastical Museum or the Military Museum has a specific 

focus, and therefore the collection is self-contained, rationalised, and coherent. 

Six organizations have identified that a collections policy does not exist. One of the three 

identified the intention to create one in the future. Four organizations did not answer this question 

and it can be assumed that the organizations in question did not see the relevance of a 

collections policy to the organization or that one did not exist. 

Five organizations have collections policy. It is not clear from the survey if the collections policies 

are formally adopted in articles of association or management structures. It is often difficult, 

particularly with smaller organizations that are struggling to develop locally and regionally relevant 

artifact collections to refuse artifacts voluntarily offered by members of the public. To refuse may 

damage the good will and appreciation of the organization and to accept can often cause difficulty 

for the organization to interpret and link the artifact to the existing collection on display, or to store 

of the artifact, should its immediate relevance to the display collection not be apparent. 

The following are examples of the collections policies: 

“We aspire to collect items that reflect the past in our region, so that those who may follow us, 

may benefit from this collection.” 

Kilcullen Heritage Centre. 

“To raise awareness about the collection and to add relevant items to enhance the collection and 

to conserve the collection in its present stare. In addition we aim to use the collection in our 

heritage and education programmes.” 

Irish Peatlands Conservation Council 

“To house a broad selection of racing cars from across the spectrum with varying history” 

Mondello Park 

“To preserve the chucks, moulds and masters used to make pewter table and houseware” 

Timolin Pewter Mill 

"To provide for the cultural, historical and information requirements of visitors to Athy and 

residents with a high quality visitor attraction, tourist office and gift shop service." 

7.5 Subject Areas of Collections 

Athy Heritage Centre 

On a collective basis, the museums and public collections in County Kildare cover a broad range 

of subject areas which are representative of the social, political, technological and historical 

development of the county. The subject areas are as follows: 

% Subject Area % Subject Area % Subject Area 

6.25 Applied arts 6.25 Geology 6.25 Maritime 

25 Archaeology 6.25 Genealogy - Military 

12.5 Agriculture 43.7 History 12.5 Natural history 

25 Folk life 6.25 Library 18.75 Science 



12.5 Fine art 6.25 Archives 12.5 Intangible history 

12.5 Sport 

While the Audit has been collated with accuracy when the information is presented in percentage 

form, the reality can be slightly skewed. For instance, while science represents only 18.75% of 

areas covered by museums, there is one collection (in percentage terms 6.25% of the total 

number of museums in the county) devoted almost entirely to the subject and is therefore far 

more comprehensively represented, than for instance history, which appears to be represented in 

the collections of 43.7% of the organizations. 

There is also a balance required when a quantitative assessment of a collection is concerned. 

The size of a collection is only one aspect of the importance of a collection. Equally important is 

qualitative analysis, and perhaps more important is how the collection, whatever its size, is 

curated, interpreted and presented. 

Military history is very strongly represented by the Military Museum managed by the Defence 

Forces. The core collection donated by Sir Alfred Chester Beatty is of international importance. 

Unfortunately a completed questionnaire was not forthcoming from the Defense Forces and so 

limited information has been obtained. 

Local history is strongly represented, largely interpreted through graphic displays. Archaeological 

artifacts, mostly carved stonework appears to be late medieval, and forming either effigies or 

architectural fragments. 

As Kildare does not have a coastline the subject of Maritime heritage is one of the least 

significance subject areas covered by museums in the county. However there are strong links to 

maritime history with the explorations of Ernst Shackleton. The Athy Heritage Centre has 

dedicated part of the centre to Shackleton, his explorations and family history. It should also be 

noted that Kildare has a long history and association with in-land waterways. However, this 

aspect of the industrial and economic history of the county is largely ignored. 

7.6 Significance and Relevance of Collections 

In the survey form the relevance of collections has been prescribed as being of International, 

National, Regional and Local. These areas of relevance do not suggest levels of importance. The 

challenge of identifying the relevance of a collection is important to an understanding of a 

collection and how it should be presented to the public. Difficulties arise when collections are 

interpreted in a subjective manner, without a clear understanding of the relevance of objects in 

collections. 

Eleven of the fifteen museums surveyed have stated that collections of international importance 

are held by the museum. Six of the museums have identified collections of national relevance. 

Only four have stated that the collection is of regional importance and only five have stated that 

the collection is of local importance. 

The reality is that three (four when the Military Museum collection is included) are actually of 

International relevance. Three are of National relevance. Thirteen of the museum collections can 

be said to be of regional and local relevance. 

7.7 Size of Collections 

The size of collections in museums and heritage centres varies greatly. As already stated, many 

of the organizations participating in the survey hold small collections. Collections vary greatly in 

size. The largest, the Irish Peatlands Conservation Council which holds approximately 10,000 



items. The National Science Museum, Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth, holds a collection of 

approximately 1000 artifacts. The smallest collection is that of Kildare Heritage Centre, which 

holds 4 artifacts. It should be noted that the Golf Museum has yet to develop a collection. Most, 

however, have collections comprising up to 100 artifacts. 

As collections are modest in size most of the museums display all the artifacts within the 

collection. Eight of the museums display 70% or more of the collection. In many cases the 

museums have limited storage and therefore must display all the collection. This has additional 

issues with regard to the expansion of the collection and the flexibility of the museum or 

organization where temporary exhibitions are concerned. 

Nine of the participating museums either do not, as policy, or cannot, due to space restrictions 

and the inflexibility of the museum spaces, offer temporary exhibitions. Five of the museums 

surveyed do offer temporary exhibitions. 

7.8 Display of Collections 

Six museums display artifacts contained with display cabinets. Some cabinets are designed 

specifically for the collection in question, such as at the Military Museum, the costume room at the 

Ballitore Quaker Museum, the Athy Heritage Centre and the National Science Museum at Saint 

Patrick’s College, Maynooth. Castletown House displays artifacts in the style of an 18 th century 

country house, and the Racing Museum at Mondello Park displays thirty cars. In both cases the 

objects are on open display, and access to and conservation of the objects is strictly monitored. 

In some museums artifacts are displayed thematically to evoke an atmosphere, i.e. rural country 

life, and as a result the objects are on open display, such as the folk kitchen at the Bog of Allen 

Nature Centre, the recreations of the thatched house in Lullymore Heritage and Discovery Park, 

the Shaker-style kitchen dressers in the Ballitore Library and Quaker Museum, and Saint Brigid’s 

Cathedral in Kildare town. In these organizations there is heightened risks to the security, stability 

and conservation of the artifact. 

Seven museums provide supplementary information panels directly related to the objects on 

display. Three museums provide limited supplementary information on the display collection. 

Three museums provide no supplementary information on artifacts on display. The format of 

supplementary information panels ranges from small typed labels relating to individual objects or 

a single label which includes information on a range of artifacts, usually in the same display case. 

Where artifacts do not have supplementary information, such as at Castletown, guided tours 

provide supplementary information on all aspects of the house and its contents. 

7.9 Documentation and Cataloguing of Collections 

There are a range of techniques for the documentation and cataloguing of collections available. 

For smaller collections it may be more practical to operate hand-written catalogues or a simple 

Microsoft Access database. 

CATAOLUGE TYPE No. 

Computerised 2 

Hand written 4 

Card index 2 

Un-catalogued 6 



Six museums have labeled artifacts while a further six are not. The remainder did not answer the 

question. 

The extent of documentation of collections is varied. Seven collections are not catalogued at all. 

Four collections are completely catalogued, 35% of one collection is documented and catalogued, 

and two museums have between 70% and 99% of the collections catalogued and documented. 

In County Kildare the extent of documentation of collections is limited. There are however 

exemplars of cataloguing of collections which could be adopted by other less formulated 

collections. These include: 

7.9.1 The Military Museum: 

The Chester Beatty collection of the Military Museum is precisely catalogued with each artifact 

clearly displaying a tag with the catalogue number attached by fibre thread. Comprehensive 

handwritten catalogues reference all the tagged artifacts. 

7.9.2 The National Science Museum: 

Both aspects of the museum, the scientific apparatus collection of Nicholas Callan and the 

ecclesiastical collection are catalogued in handwritten catalogues. These catalogues have been 

revised, updated and published. 

Breen, P. J., Ed., St. Patrick’s College Maynooth Museum of Ecclesiology, a catalogue of 

ecclesiastical Items Spanning two centuries of the College history, Saint Patrick’s College, 

Maynooth, 1995 

Mollan, Charles, Upton, John, The Scientific Apparatus of Nicholas Callan, and other Historic 

Instruments, Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth, 1994. 

7.10 Day-to-Day Management of the Museum 

7.10.1 Opening Hours 

Opening hours vary greatly and often depend on the nature of the organization. For instance 

greater opening hours are provided by those who operate profit making companies such as 

Lullymore Heritage and Discovery Park, which rely on access charges to run the organization. 

Six museums are open Monday-to-Friday and also at weekends. Six museums are open 

Monday-to-Friday only. Eight museums are open during normal business hours, i.e. from 9-10am 

and 4-5.30pm. One museum is open only during the morning only and one museum is open in 

the afternoon only. 

Eight museums are open all year though some have more limited opening hours during the offpeak 

season. Five museums are closed during the off-season period. 

7.10.2 Staffing and Volunteers 

The single greatest challenge of most museums surveyed is the provision of adequate numbers 

of staff. Most museums, which do not form part of a much larger organization, are generally 

serviced by one permanent or part-time staff member. 



Seven museum organizations have only one full-time staff member. Six museum organizations 

have more than two full-time staff members. Larger organizations where the museum forms only 

part of a much larger organization, such as the Horse Museum at the Irish National Stud, or the 

Bog of Allen Nature Centre, at the Irish Peatlands Conservation Council Headquarters in 

Lullymore, have greater numbers of full-time staffing. 

Six organizations do not operate a volunteer staffing support structure. Three organizations 

engage only one volunteer. Other organizations have engaged between five and eight volunteers 

each. One museum operates with only two volunteers and no full-time staff members. 

The roles and duties of staff members in the museums organizations participating in this survey 

are rarely exclusive to one professional role. In most cases, where there is only one full-time staff 

member the duties generally span day-to-day management, marketing and development. In total 

only four full-time staff members engaged in curatorial work within the museums, and none are 

engaged exclusively as professional curators. There are no conservators engaged as full-time 

staff members. However, it should be noted, that two organizations retain the services of a 

conservator on a consultancy basis. Three full-time staff members are involved in the educational 

services of the museum or organization. 

7.11 Visitor Facilities Offered by Museums and Public Collections 

The visitor facilities offered by museums and public collections range from basic services to 

professional museum services. 

7.11.1 Services 

The most prevalent services offered by museums and organizations range from basic public 

services such as toilets and disabled access to more educational services such as leaflets on 

collections and guided tours. Three organizations have responded yes to the provision of Audiovisual 

guides. This appears to be a misunderstanding of the term as in reality these organizations 

include a static audio-visual presentation as part of self-guided exhibitions. Courses, lectures and 

family events are poorly served by museums and organizations. 

SERVICE No. 

Toilets 11 

Café 5 

Shop 8 

Guided tours 12 

Courses 1 

Lectures 5 

Family events 4 

Leaflets on collection 10 

Reproductions 5 

Published catalogues 5 

Audio-visual guides 3 

Disabled access 9 



7.11.2 Size of Museum Building 

According to the survey findings five museum buildings are between 100 - 500 sq. meters in size. 

Another five are between above 1000 sq. meters in size. Four organizations did not answer or 

did not know the size of the building. 

7.11.2 Visitor Attendance Records 

Six museum organizations do not keep records of visitor attendance. Eight organizations do keep 

some form of visitor records with varying degrees of accuracy. For instance, one organization 

relies on a visitors book which is filled out on a voluntary basis. In all cases where details of visitor 

attendance has been supplied for the Audit, records show that the numbers visiting museums in 

Co. Kildare is rising year-on-year. 

Lullymore Heritage and Discovery Park has the greatest visitor attendance figures for the years 

2000 to 2005 ranging from 18000 in 2000 to 35,000 in 2005, growing exponentially in the 

intervening years. Castletown has a consistently healthy visitor attendance of between 10,500 

and 11,500 visitors between the years 2003-2005 respectively. 

Of the seven museum organizations that supplied percentage data on the breakdown of the 

visitor profile (schools, tourists, families), the following information emerges: 

- 23.1% of visitors are school groups 

- 48.8% of visitors are tourists 

- 30.8% of visitors are families 

7.11.3 Funding and Resourcing 

Capital funding support for the establishment and development of many on the museums or 

organizations since the mid 1990s has been supplied by two key funding mechanisms in County 

Kildare. These are KELT (Kildare European Leader Teoranta) who operate the Leader + 

programme, which is due to expire at the end of this year. For day-to-day funding five museum 

organizations rely almost entirely upon entrance ticket revenue and revenue generated through 

facilities such as the café and shop to fund other aspects of the museum. 

Funding Mechanism No. 

Public-financed funding 2 

Fundraising activities 3 

Access charges 9 

Benefactor 1 

Charitable status 2 

Membership 4 

Only two of the 15 participating organizations seek grant aid or annual contributions from public 

bodies such as the Heritage Council, Arts Council, or Local Authority. 

Imaginative on-going fund-raising activities are practices by only three museum organizations. 

Fund-raising is a time consuming and demanding means of generating income. The Irish 

Peatland Conservation Trust has created some very imaginative ways in which to generate 



income. Such activities include the project-specific fundraising appeals during the Christmas 

season, the “share certificates” scheme or “Stamp that Collection“, where voluntary donations of 

stamps is encouraged. The stamps are recycled and sold, and the proceeds help cover the salary 

of the education officer. 

Eight museum organizations engage in some form of marketing and promotional strategies. 

Examples of such activities include: 

• Direct mail advertising 

• Adverts in local newspapers 

• Adverts on local radio stations 

• Kildare Faille website 

• Promotional leaflets at various outlets including other heritage/museum organizations 

• Assessment of official census records 

• The organizations own website 

• Tour company brochures 

• Magazine advertising 

7.12 Care of Collections 

This aspect of the Audit questionnaire addresses the storage and condition of artifacts. It should 

be noted that only two museum organizations engage the services of consultant conservators. 

Within the County the most rigorous conservation programme of conservation and house-keeping 

is operated by Castletown House. A consultant conservator has undertaken a full condition 

assessment of all artifacts on display and in storage, which is updated annually. Each artifact has 

a record sheet on which the condition of the item is recorded and house-keeping instructions are 

provided. An annual conservation programme targets different artifacts each year. 

Generally speaking the approach to the care of artifacts can be described as basic housekeeping. 

The environmental conditions of museum rooms is only controlled and monitored by one 

organization. One other organization operates a hydro-thermograph in one display cabinet. 

Only three organizations have a designated storage space for the reserve collection. In each of 

these three spaces, the environmental conditions are not adequately regulated. In one case, the 

objects are very carefully stored in stacks and covered with dust sheets that are bound to prevent 

sliding. It should be noted that most organizations do not require storage space as a reserve 

collection does not exist. Conversely, the last of storage space will limit the expansion potential 

for the collections of many of the museum organizations. 

Seven organizations describe the condition of artifacts in their care as being either good or very 

good, while only two organizations say reasonable or adequate. It is clear from the survey that 

there is a general lack of awareness and knowledge of the requirements to stabilize the condition 

of objects on display and in storage. 

7.13 Significant Difficulties Encountered 

The following difficulties have been identified by the participating organizations. It is noteworthy 

that the issues affecting these organizations are experienced by all, despite the size and 

prominence of the organization. The differences occur in the ability of the organization to respond 

to and counteract the effects of the difficulties encountered. 

• Generating funding and resources for on-going management, staffing and development of 

organizations. 



• Access to other collections to develop permanent exhibitions and temporary exhibitions. 

• Theft and vandalism has been experienced by some organizations and is one which a 

potential threat to all participating organizations. 

• For organizations operating a voluntary donation rather than a mandatory entry fee the 

experience is one of reluctance by visitors to offer a contribution. 

• Some organizations have acknowledged that good conservation practice poses a challenge 

to the care of artifacts in collections. 

• Facilitating potential income generating supplementary and complementary events due to 

lack of staff and management resources to coordinate such events. 

• The absence of a business/management plan and the lack of experience in developing such 

plans, which is acknowledged to be of major importance for future development of an 

organization, is a major issue for smaller organizations. 

• Poor or out-dated visitor facilities, the updating of which is prohibitively expensive. 

• On-going marketing, promotion and advertising of the organization and the collection, with 

few suitable forums for such advertising available regionally or nationally. The larger 

organizations overwhelm the identity of smaller organizations. 

• Strategies and modalities for the efficient management of small organizations and heritage 

centres. 

• Developing a well-run and practical volunteer support system. 

• Development of a tourist trail which identifies all the heritage site, museums and visitor 

attractions in the county. 

• Availability of experienced and professional staff and staff training. 

• Appropriate accurate and visible road signage to highlight the location of organizations. 

• Attracting sustained visitor numbers with the opening of major routeways and town bypasses. 

• To properly display and interpret artifacts, their history and function. 

7.14 Training and Other Opportunities 

Organizations were asked to prepare a wish-list of things they would like to see happen to 

promote and develop their organization in the future. It has proved a meaningful process as it 

allowed the organizations to focus on shortcomings and areas of difficulty they are experiencing. 

The following list has been adapted from suggestions offered by organizations. 

• The development of documentation standards for artifact collections is required by most 

organizations. Within the county there are excellent examples of documentation practices. 

The experience of these museums can be shared with other organizations. 



• The care and management of collections has been identified as a critical aspect of improving 

the museum sector in the county. The areas of conservation, storage, monitoring, displaying, 

security and handling of artifacts 

• The provision of support in setting up a group network of museums and organizations to 

share experiences and difficulties with a view to overcoming these difficulties and 

establishing a co-operative approach to the promotion of all organizations. 

• Promotion of joint projects and initiatives that will fulfill the mission statement of organizations 

and develop a greater public awareness. 

• A loans network to share a rotating collection of artifacts specific to County Kildare. This will 

be of particular relevance to heritage centres with limited collections and limited ability to 

manage and maintain permanent collections. Training in the development of this programme 

can be facilitated, through an annual Kildare museums symposium that may allow for the 

following: 

- Participating museums present papers on their origins and collections 

- Share innovative ideas on management and funding 

- Discussion on establishment of roving temporary exhibition (incl. content, exhibits, etc.) 

- Discussion on establishment of Co. Kildare Museums Website 

- Allow for development of on-going training and improvements 

- Call for donations of important artifacts of regional relevance 

• Solving financial difficulties is a universal problem for all organizations. Following an 

optimistic period of expansion in the museum sector in the last 30 years many are now 

experiencing difficulties in obtaining funding. Capital funding appears to be more readily 

available than funding for day-to-day operational costs which puts many organizations under 

severe pressure. There is great need for training in the methods of fundraising and financial 

management. 

• Many organizations were established because of the enthusiasm of individuals or groups of 

people, though perhaps without a clear idea of what the organization can offer the general 

public. Consolidation and development of the remit and raison d’etre of organizations and 

focusing their future direction is required. 

• Workshops in administrative skills including day-to-day management, communication, staff 

and volunteer coordination should be considered. 

• The provision of less restrictive grant mechanisms has been expressed by one organization, 

however this is not feasible. This does, however, suggest that many organizations are 

overwhelmed by the variety of grant funding mechanisms available and the varied qualifying 

criteria which can be confusing. There is scope within a training programme to developing 

successful approaches to grant applications and the various grant funding that are on offer. 

• Development of a “museum trail” for County Kildare can be prepared through developing a 

network of museums, perhaps a county committee on museums, with a view towards 

developing a self-sustaining sector. 

• The provision of improved highly visible road signage to direct tourists to museums and 

visitor attractions throughout the county. 

• The development of a County Kildare museums website that could be managed and 

maintained by committee comprising participating museums may provide a dynamic 

marketing and educational strategy for the sector in the county. The Northern Ireland 



Museums Council (NIMC) website is an excellent example of such a website. Kildare County 

Council may be in an opportunity to facilitate the development of such a website. 



APPENDIX 

HISTORIC PROPERTIES OPENED TO THE PUBLIC UNDER: 

In County Kildare there are 13 properties open to the public under Section 482 of the Taxes 

Consolidation Act, 1997. Of these only one forms part of the Audit. The list of properties is as 

follows: 

Celbridge Lodge, Celbridge 

Coolcarrigan House & Garden, Naas 

Farmersvale House, Kill 

Furness, Naas 

The Glebe House, Kilcullen 

Griesemount, Ballitore 

Harristown House, Brannockstown 

Kildrought House, Celbridge (Village) 

Leixlip Castle, Leixlip, Co Kildare 

Moone Abbey House & Tower, Moyglare Glebe 

Lodge Park, Straffan, Co Kildare 

Section 482 of the Taxes Consolidation Act, 1997. 

Under this section of the Act qualifying properties must open to the public for buildings/gardens in 

the State which, having received determinations from the 

Commissioners of Public Works/Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the 

Islands/Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government that they are 

intrinsically of significant horticultural, scientific, historical, architectural or aesthetic 

interest and which have also received determinations from the Revenue Commissioners that 

either – 

a) reasonable access to the building/garden is afforded to the public, or 

b) in the case of certain buildings, that the building is in use as a tourist accommodation 

facility for at least six months in any calendar year, including at least four months in the 

period from the 1st May to 30th September. 

On the issue of reasonable public access, the Revenue Commissioners must be 

satisfied that the following minimum requirements are met: 

• Access to the whole or substantial part of the building/garden must be available at the same 

time 

• Access is afforded for a period of at least 60 days in any one year including not less than 40 

days during the period May 1- September 30 inclusive of which 10 days are either Saturdays 

or Sundays 

• The daily viewing times must be at least four hours 

• The admission price, if any, must be reasonable so as not to preclude the public from seeking 

access to the building/garden 

• Opening times must be advertised in local or national papers, and 

• A sign must be erected outside the building indicating opening times. 

• With regard to opening times of buildings/gardens which received Revenue determinations 

prior to 23 March 2000, the new requirements introduced by Section 49 of the Finance Act, 

2000 (that the 40 day minimum access requirement during the period 1 May to 30 September 

must now include 10 days which are either Saturdays or Sundays) only applies where 

qualifying expenditure is incurred in chargeable periods beginning on or after 1 October 2000. 

• Any request for a determination received after 23 March 2000 must comply with the new 

requirements in full.

1.0 INTRODUCTION Kildare County Council in association - Kildare.ie

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