Limavady Workhouse Museum

23/05/2026

Wishing Limavady Community Development Initiative - LCDI & Roe Runners all the best on their event today. Come along and support them or take part in the fun run - children's activities and BBQ onsite

⚠️ IMPORTANT VISITOR NOTICE FOR THIS WEEKEND ⚠️
If you're heading our way this Saturday, things will look a little different around the grounds!
We are thrilled to share the grounds with Roe Runners and Limavady Community Development Initiative - LCDI as they host their 5K Fun Run.

Here is what you need to know before you travel:
1️⃣ Enter via Scroggy Road (our usual access will be closed for the event).
2️⃣ Guided tours are paused for the day.
3️⃣ Explore at your own pace! The Entrance Block will be open for **free** self-guided tours from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM.
We’re sorry for any disruption to your plans, and we appreciate your flexibility. Good luck to all the runners! 🏁

20/05/2026

Reminder about our talk this evening will take place in Robertson's cafe area of Limavady Workhouse at 7pm.

18/05/2026

Join us this Wednesday evening at 7pm for the first of our evening talk series - The famine in the North West with Mary Delargy.
This Free event will take place in Robertson's Cafe - Limavady Workhouse Museum.

17/05/2026

We at the Limavady Workhouse Museum were so incredibly honored to attend the National Famine Commemoration at the Irish Workhouse Centre - Portumna Galway on Sunday, 17th May.
It was a deeply moving day of reflection. Being surrounded by the history of the Portumna workhouse was a powerful reminder of what so many endured during the Great Famine in the 1840s.
It really brought home the shared history that connects our own site in Limavady to these historic places across Ireland reminding us how vital it is to keep the stories of these communities alive.

A huge thank you to the organizers, the people of Portumna, and the Irish Workhouse Centre for hosting such a beautiful and dignified event.
The music, speeches, and moments of silence were a wonderful tribute to those we lost.
We are so grateful to have been a part of it. 🌾

14/05/2026

🎉 We are OPEN this Saturday! 🎉
Looking for weekend plans? Come and explore with us! We're running tours all day, and we'd love to see you there. 🚶‍♂️✨

🕒 Tours: 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
🎟️ Tickets: Book in advance online or simply pay on arrival!

Make sure to leave time for a pit stop! ☕ Robertson's Cafe will be open from 11:30 AM to 3:00 PM, serving up a delicious selection of sweet treats and hot brews. 🍰🍵 The perfect way to relax before or after your tour.

See you this weekend! 👇

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/saturday-openings-at-limavady-workhouse-tickets-1984958111144?aff=ebdsshother&utm_share_source=listing_android&sg=9e64758ac71889aede28b529f327b6bc6c38f0eef8a5f7ab76ac53904c4bb955ebd757176778d3ee0412db4c971c9a3ddbe6526e49dffb59f48c57a0d3b6e28d17ad7319b7bb3ff9300298baa8

11/05/2026

Explore the past at Limavady Workhouse.
Open Saturdays from 11am to 4pm.
Book online via Eventbrite or book a tour on arrival.

06/05/2026

06/05/2026

We are closed on Saturday 9th May museum will reopen at 11am next Saturday 16th May.

06/05/2026

On This Day: A Leech Supply Problem (6 May 1859)

Imagine being a Poor Law official in 1859 and having to write a directive about leeches. But that's exactly what happened.

In the 19th century, leeches were legitimate medical treatment used in workhouse dispensaries to treat fevers, inflammatory conditions, and all sorts of ailments. They were part of the standard medical toolkit. But there was a practical problem: leeches don't keep well. They're living creatures, and they were dying unused in storage.

So on 6 May 1859, the Poor Law Commission sent out a directive: stop stockpiling leeches. Order them from a druggist or apothecary when you actually need them. It's a small moment that reveals something interesting about how the workhouse system actually operated – not just cruel bureaucracy, but people trying to solve real, practical problems.

Have you come across any unusual medical practices in your family history? We'd love to hear about it.