Royal Irish Fusiliers Museum

08/05/2026

Today, we remember and honour all those who served during Victory in Europe Day (VE Day), marking the end of the war in Europe on 8th May 1945.

We pay tribute to the courage, sacrifice, and resilience of the soldiers, families, and communities who lived through one of history’s most difficult periods.

At the Royal Irish Fusiliers Museum, we continue to preserve and share these stories so future generations never forget the legacy of those who served.

Lest We Forget.

(Below is a photo of an estimated one million people filling the streets of London on May 8, 1945)

16/04/2026

The 2nd Battalion The Royal Irish Fusiliers arrived in Malta before the outbreak of the Second World War and remained there throughout the island’s siege until they left in June 1943. Malta was 60 miles from Sicily and not much further from enemy occupied Libya.

But 11 April 1941 they managed to down a Stuka Ju-87* with small-arms fire. A piece of this aircraft is on display in the collection of Royal Irish Fusiliers Museum, Armagh.

Check out our Stories to find out more: https://www.irishuntold.com/story/faughs-down-a-stuka/



Image: The Bombing Of HMS ILLUSTRIOUS At Malta, January 1941, On Board The Aircraft Carrier.© IWM (A 9793)

27/03/2026

"The Last Stand"

Our next exhibition opening in early April!

The idea is to highlight all the hidden treasures from within our storeroom which have never made it on display.

Here's a little sneak peek of what to expect!

12/03/2026

06/03/2026

Yesterday we marked Barossa Day, commemorating the Battle of Barossa on 5 March 1811 during the Peninsular War between the French Empire of Napoleon Bonaparte and Anglo-Iberian forces.

One of the most famous moments of the battle was the extraordinary bravery of Sergeant Patrick Masterson of the Royal Irish Fusiliers, who seized a French Eagle during the fierce fighting on Barossa Ridge, in the Cadiz Provence of Spain.

The capture of an enemy Eagle – the proud standard of a French regiment – was a rare and celebrated feat, and Masterson’s actions on that day is one of the proudest traditions remembered by the regiment and to this day the symbol of the Eagle is synonymous with the Irish Fusiliers.

Each year Barossa Day honours the courage of those who fought and the legacy they left to the Royal Irish Fusiliers.

27/02/2026

Can you believe it's been 70 years since the Territorial Army Centre opened along The Mall here in Armagh, which provided training and support for those in the Army Reserve.

Unfortunately the T.A. Centre closed down in 2013 but here are some photos of the opening ceremony from 4th February 1956.

13/02/2026

Every Friday we like to take a look back at historical events that happened around this time of the year, and highlight it with something from our collection.

Today we are talking about Field Marshall Albert Kesselring, who was one of Germany's top commanders, serving in the Luftwaffe during WWII and who was appointment commander in the Mediterranean during the conflict.

After the war, the British held trials against German officials who had perpetrated crimes during the Italian campaign, which were held in Italy themselves.

Below are photos of Kesselring's own trial, which began in Venice on 17 February 1947.

Kesselring was convicted of war crimes for the Ardeatine massacre in Rome, in which he ordered the ex*****on of 335 Italian civilians as well as for inciting his troops to kill civilians in retaliation against the Italian resistance movement.

He was sentenced to death by firing squad on 6th May 1947 but this was later changed to life imprisonment on July 1947.

He was eventually released in October 1952 and became active in right wing veteran organisations before his death 1960.

30/01/2026

Every Friday we like to take a look back at historical events that happened around this time of the year, and highlight it with something from our collection.

Below are photos of Field Marshall Sir General Templer, who at the time was head of the British Army, carrying out an inspection in Armagh on 25th January 1957.

These were taken during the soldiers Passing Out Parade, following the completion of their military training, and there is even a photo of Lance Corporal McGinty receiving a Champion Recruit Medal, which recognises excellence amongst recruits.

23/01/2026

Every Friday we like to take a look back at historical events that happened around this time of the year, and highlight it with something from our collection.

Today we're going to talk about the HMS Illustrious.

The HMS Illustrious was an aircraft carrier built for the Royal Navy just before WWII. After completion she was stationed with the Mediterranean Fleet and her greatest achievement took place in southern Italy during the Battle of Taranto in late 1940, in which her aircrafts sunk an Italian battleship and badly damaged two others.

In January of 1941 during a series of supply convoys to Malta called Operation Excess, Illustrious was hit multiple times by German & Italian dive bombers, but was eventually repaired in the United States.

Here is an illustration of the attack found within the museums' archive, set in the Grand Harbour of Malta's capital city, Valletta.

11/11/2025

Today we remember all those in the Armed Forces.
'When you go home tell them of us and say for your tomorrow we gave our today'