Days Out NI
Museum Newry

Newry & Mourne Museum

Free museum inside a restored 16th-century castle in the heart of Newry.

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OpenTuesday to Saturday, 10am to 4.30pm. Some…
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Newry & Mourne Museum — Free museum inside a restored 16th-century castle in the heart of Newry.

  • Getting in: Free entry, no ticket or booking needed.
  • Opening: Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 4.30pm. Some listings also note Sunday afternoon opening and bank holidays except Christmas and New Year, so check before you go.
  • Family: Yes. Interactive activities, dressing-up and family arts and crafts events.
  • Tours: Self-guided with free audio guides in English and Irish. Free guided tour every Sunday.
  • Food: No café listed. Cafés and shops are a short walk away in Newry town centre.
  • Parking: On-site parking, plus town-centre car parks nearby.
Plan your visit

A castle hidden inside the town

The museum is built into Bagenal's Castle, raised in the 1560s near the site of a Cistercian abbey. It was swallowed up after Arthur McCann Ltd turned it into a bakery in 1894, then rediscovered in 1996 and restored using a survey from around 1570. As you go round you see the recovered fireplaces, windows and the old bread oven. The collections run from prehistory through the canal age to border experiences within living memory.

Free entry 16th-century castle Free audio guide Sunday guided tour Family-friendly Reading room
Good to know before you go:

The museum runs a regular programme: a lecture series, craft workshops, family arts and crafts, and seasonal events in the restored Banqueting Room, alongside two temporary exhibitions each year. Check what is on before you travel.

Before you set off

What to bring

  • 📷Camera or phoneMost galleries are photo-friendly — just check for any no-photos rooms.
  • 👟Comfy shoesPlenty to take in on foot, room to room.
  • 💷A few poundsFor the café, the shop, or a donation where entry is free.
  • 🕰️A bit of timeThe stories reward a slow look rather than a dash round.
Good to know

Everything before you go

Getting in
Free entry, no ticket or booking needed.
Opening
Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 4.30pm. Some listings also note Sunday afternoon opening and bank holidays except Christmas and New Year, so check before you go.
Tours
Self-guided with free audio guides in English and Irish. Free guided tour every Sunday.
Age limits
None. Suitable for all ages.
Food
No café listed. Cafés and shops are a short walk away in Newry town centre.
Family-friendly
Yes. Interactive activities, dressing-up and family arts and crafts events.
Parking
On-site parking, plus town-centre car parks nearby.
Accessibility
Hearing loop and baby changing on site. Contact the museum about step-free access for the historic castle floors.
How long to allow
About an hour; longer for the reading room or a temporary exhibition.
Address
Bagenal's Castle, Castle Street, Newry, Co Down BT34 2BY
Questions

Before you go

How much is it to get in?
Free entry, no ticket or booking needed.
What are the opening times?
Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 4.30pm. Some listings also note Sunday afternoon opening and bank holidays except Christmas and New Year, so check before you go.
Is it good for kids?
Yes. Interactive activities, dressing-up and family arts and crafts events.
Are there guided tours?
Self-guided with free audio guides in English and Irish. Free guided tour every Sunday.
Is there parking?
On-site parking, plus town-centre car parks nearby.
Getting there

Newry & Mourne Museum is at Bagenal's Castle, Castle Street, Newry, Co Down BT34 2BY. On-site parking, plus town-centre car parks nearby. Tap below for directions.

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The story

About Newry & Mourne Museum

Bagenal's Castle is a 16th-century fortified house built in the 1560s near the site of a former Cistercian abbey, the foundation that gave Newry its early importance. Over the centuries the castle disappeared from view, and in 1894 it was absorbed into the premises of Arthur McCann Ltd as a bakery, hiding the medieval structure from the town.

It was rediscovered in 1996 and carefully restored, with builders using a survey from around 1570 to recover original features including fireplaces, windows and a bread oven. The restored castle and an adjoining 19th-century warehouse now form the museum, which holds a four-star quality rating.

The collections trace the area from prehistory through Newry's growth as a merchant town and canal port, to farming, fishing, folklore and the experience of life at the border. Two temporary exhibitions rotate each year alongside the permanent displays.