Our Collections

Museum collections.
[ photo: County Museum. ]

The Museum already contains a growing collection of over 5,000 artifacts. The collection represents a wide range of periods and topics including natural history specimens, stone and bronze age archaeological objects, coins, medals, stamps, religious objects, military and police artefacts and memorabilia, agricultural implements, trade, craft and industrial items, sporting memorabilia and a large collection of photographs and archival material. It is a good representative collection of the county, containing many interesting objects some of which are of national and international importance.

National Museum of Ireland

All archaeological objects found with no known owner are the property of the Irish State.

The National Museum of Ireland is the authority responsible for the care of all archaeological artifacts that are found with no known owner and they receive their powers from the National Monuments Act, 1930 and its subsequent amendments of 1954, 1987, 1994 and 2004. Also, under the National Cultural Institutions Act, 1997 and the National Monument Act ( amendment ) 1994 the Director of the National Museum was given the power to desiginate the collection and display of archaeological material to County Museums which are operated by a Local Authority.

For County Carlow the Designation Person is the Curator of Carlow County Museum, Mr. Dermot Mulligan and he has the authority to collect archaeological artifacts from County Carlow on behalf of the National Museum of Ireland. Significiantly when the Museum reopens archaeological artifacts found in County Carlow can finally be displayed in the County in which they were found. Also under the Designation Status Carlow County Museum will be able to request archaeological artifacts previously sent to the National Museum to be returned to the County Museum for display.

If you have or find such on object please report it immediately to the County Museum, the National Museum or your local Garda station.

Archaeological Object

An Archaeological Object is an object " whether in a manufactured or partly manufactured or an unmanufactured state which by reason of the archaeological interest attaching thereto or of its association with any Irish historical event or person has a value substantially greater than its intrinsic ( including artistic ) value, and the said expression includes ancient human, animal or plant remains ". National Monument ( Amendment ) Act 1994.