Step into the past at the new Lifford Museum during Heritage Week

This year’s national theme, Exploring Our Foundations, encourages communities across Ireland to connect with the people, stories, and collections that have shaped our identity

The New Lifford Museum, located within the historic Lifford Old Courthouse, is proud to take part in National Heritage Week 2025, from August 16 to 24, with special programming and exhibits running from August 18 to 22.

The museum features an exceptional fusion of three major heritage collections - The County Donegal Historical Society Collection (formerly in Rossnowlagh); The Donegal Ancestry Collection (formerly in Ramelton) and Artefacts from Lifford Old Courthouse.

Among the many highlights of the museum’s exhibitions is a special focus on Catherine Black MBE, a remarkable Donegal woman known as “Blackie”. Titled "Catherine Black MBE – King’s Nurse, Beggar’s Nurse", the exhibit tells the story of a nurse who stood at the bedside of a dying King George V, tended the wounded in the trenches of World War I, and dedicated her life to caring for the most vulnerable in society. Hers is one of the many powerful personal stories now on display in the New Lifford Museum.

Visitors can also explore Stone Age and Bronze Age artefacts; items from the Penal Times, including Ireland’s oldest known Penal Cross, 18th–19th century objects, Irish independence memorabilia, and more cultural connections to Europe and the Irish diaspora; exquisite examples of Muckish Glassware; personal belongings of Napper Tandy, Irish revolutionary and copies of the Book of Ballymote and Annals of the Four Masters.

The County Donegal Historical Society Museum has a long and proud tradition dating back to 1946, when its first exhibition was held in Stranorlar. Over the decades, it found homes in Ballyshannon and Rossnowlagh, where it welcomed thousands of visitors each year. In 2023, the collection was relocated to Lifford Old Courthouse, thanks to the support of LATCH CLG (Lifford Association Tourism Commerce Heritage). The new setting allows for expanded displays, including artefacts highlighting local industries, sports, and daily life in East Donegal.

With free admission all week, engaging exhibits, and knowledgeable staff, the New Lifford Museum offers families, history enthusiasts, and curious visitors a rare opportunity to experience the full depth of Donegal’s heritage in one place.

All are welcome to visit, reflect, and explore our shared story during Heritage Week