Historical Society’s museum link with Rossnowlagh Friary to end after 69 years

Donegal Historical Society’s unique association with the Franciscan Friary in Rossnowlagh is set to end shortly with the news that it has to move its museum out because the space is needed for either a storeroom or a ladies toilet.

The society has been there since April 18, 1954 when the Franciscan community generously offered free accommodation. The museum is a testament to the rich heritage uncovered by local people, and their generosity in placing these items there.
The news came to light on Tuesday night at the annual general meeting of the society which was held in Jackson’s Hotel, Ballybofey.

Secretary Seán Boner outlined a very comprehensive report outlining the various activities undertaken since their last annual general meeting. In a departure from the normal presentation Mr Boner’s 21-page offering provided detail, along with photographs, of events such as the various Frield Day trips to Rutland Island, Glencolmcille, Stranorlar and Newtowncunningham; the production of the Donegal Annual, book launches by Helen Meehan and Dr Lochlann McGill and the annual school competitions with photographs of winners Gartan NS, St Mura's NS, Fahan and Scoil Cholmcille, Greencastle.

Mr Boner also acknowledged the contribution made by Donegal County Council’s Decade of Centenaries projects, the Emerson lecture which was part of the Allingham Festival in Ballyshannon, the ongoing development work by Philip Cleary on the society’s website and noted the contribution made by their museum based at the Franciscan Friary in Rossnowlagh which, he added, would sadly come to an end shortly.

President Rev Raymond Blair told the meeting he had decided to stand down from his post due to the fact he had moved from his Limavady base to Derrykeighan which was outside Ballymoney in Co Antrim and was just too far away to fulfil his role effectively as president. He thanked members for the honour and vowed he would continue to support the society in every way he could. Rev Blair said he was encouraged by the ongoing work of the various sections of the society such as the school competition and the production of the Donal Annual and the work with their website. He talked about generating interest in the awareness of the society's work and expressed concern at what appeared to be a general decline in interest in history which was not helped by it being devalued in the school curriculum.
“However, I am confident that dedicated attention being paid to these issues things can be resolved in the coming years,” he said.

Income

In the treasurer’s report members learned that total income for the year came to €17,811 compared to €14,165 the previous year while expenditure came out at €19,728 compared to €18,675 in 2022. This left them with an excess of expenditure over income to the tune of €1,917. The meeting heard various views on how to approach the new digital era in terms of using online banking facilities as opposed to continuing with current methods and it was agreed after much debate that the matter would be discussed and dealt with and resolved by the executive at its next meeting.

The society’s museum curator, Joe Gatins said 2022 was the first year since 2019 that their museum was open for the full year.

It was closed for five months in 2020 and four months in 2021. He said in the three years prior to the pandemic, the average footfall was 1,500 but during the Covid years this dropped significantly to an average of 470.

“Recovery in 2022 was slow but positive with 848 entries in the visitor’s book. The majority were Irish accounting for 89.3% -42% from the Republic and 47% from the Six Counties and that's roughly the way it has been all along.”
Other visitors came from England, Scotland, USA, Canada, New Zealand, Poland, Mexico, Australia, Brazil, Germany, Lithuania and Malaya.
Mr Gatins also provided a breakdown of visitor numbers from previous years: 2017 (1,613); 2018 (1,374); 2019 (1,450); 2020 (298); 2021 (641) and 2022 (848).

He added visitors came from 13 different countries but pointed out the only means available for calculating footfall was entries in the visitor’s book but as this was not obligatory and he knew from personal observations many who visited did not record their entries so he had no way of quantifying the numbers that don’t record.

No fresh items were added to their collection last year and items out on loan were returned and added some locks on display cases were proving difficult to open and may need to be replaced.

Future

Mr Gatins then broke the news about the future use by the museum of the friary’s facilities.
He said it had been intimated to them on several occasions that their space would be needed either for storage of stationery, or a ladies toilet, and if this occurred they would have to decide what to do with their display cases and contents.

In relation to the departure from Rossnowlagh, Mr Gatins said any new site for the museum would have to be accessible to the public and accommodate coaches, be located in a town on the tourist trail.

He added he had just received a letter from the Franciscans that very day which he read to the meeting. In it, the Rev Guardian, Fr Eugene Barrett OFM said while they had been the custodians of the society’s historic and sacred artefacts since

the museum opened on April 18, 1954, much had changed in that time.

“Our main building is now 70 plus years old and in need of repair and upgrading, modernisation and some decorating also.

“Added to that is the demand for more space to enable us to fulfil our pastoral obligations to our benefactors and those who visit here and also to meet the daily needs that the present society brings to us.”

Fr Barrett asked for a meeting with the society’s executive committee to explain his situation in more detail.

Members agreed the meeting would go ahead shortly.

Rev Blair said while they did not expect to have to leave the Rossnowlagh building immediately, they would need to explore what other options were open to them.