Clare Museum

16/10/2026

Our latest blog post.

The 1903 Feis an Chláir, and some new information we received about it lately.

Research shared by a member of the public has enhanced our knowledge of the Feis an Chláir in 1903. It also led to the donation of a Feis-related photograph to the collection.

16/10/2026

Last Saturday Clare Museum hosted the Straw Connect Cultural Gathering event. It was the culmination of Anna Scanlan's inspirational Straw Connect project and a vibrant occasion that brought communities together to celebrate shared traditions.

The project's aim was to give greater visibility to cultural traditions and stories from communities whose voices are often underrepresented. By bringing Irish people and migrants together through shared heritage, creativity and cultural exchange, it encouraged people to discover common traditions, exchange knowledge, strengthen mutual understanding and build meaningful community connections.

As part of the project Anna produced an excellent documentary that preserves stories, knowledge and creative practices that might otherwise remain limited to individual workshops or events. The relationships, documentary and exhibition materials developed through Straw Connect provide a foundation for future collaboration between Irish and Eastern European artists, heritage groups and community organisations. These resources support continued cultural exchange and offer potential for lasting impact beyond the funded period.

You can watch and enjoy Anna's fascinating documentary at https://bit.ly/4k0SlkB

Straw Connect was led by Anna Scanlan and supported by Clare County Council’s Creative Ireland Clare Programme, Clare Museum, Clare Local Development Company (CLDC), Inisowiacy Polish Folk Group and Greener Clare.

Through fields, villages, festivals, crafts, music, memories and pe...

13/10/2026

Clare Museum will remain closed on Wednesday 14th October due to official strike action relating to the national public sector pay agreement.
The museum will reopen on Thursday 15th October at 9.30am.
We apologise for any inconvenience.

Public Notice

Closure of County Council Offices, Building and Facilities

Members of the public are advised that all Clare County Council offices, buildings and facilities will be closed to the public on Wednesday, 14 October 2026 due to official strike action relating to the national public sector pay agreement.

Normal opening arrangements will resume on Thursday 15 October.

Meanwhile, emergency response services will continue to be provided, and emergency cover arrangements will remain in place throughout the period of industrial action.

Members of the public requiring emergency assistance should continue to contact the emergency services in the usual way, by dialling 999 or 112.



Fógra Poiblí

Dúnadh Oifigí, Foirgnimh agus Saoráidí na Comhairle Contae

Moltar do bhaill den phobal go ndúnfar oifigí, foirgnimh agus saoráidí Chomhairle Contae an Chláir go léir don phobal Dé Céadaoin, an 14 Deireadh Fómhair 2026 mar gheall ar ghníomhaíocht stailce oifigiúil a bhaineann le comhaontú pá náisiúnta na seirbhíse poiblí.
Osclófar arís mar is gnách an Déardaoin 15 Deireadh Fómhair.

Idir an dá linn, leanfar de sheirbhísí práinnfhreagartha a chur ar fáil, agus leanfaidh socruithe cumhdaigh éigeandála de bheith i bhfeidhm le linn tréimhse na gníomhaíochta tionsclaíoch. Ba cheart do bhaill den phobal a bhfuil cúnamh éigeandála ag teastáil uathu leanúint de theagmháil a dhéanamh leis na seirbhísí éigeandála ar an ngnáthbhealach, trí 999 nó 112 a dhiailiú.

13/10/2026

💫All are welcome to the launch of this wonderful exhibition presented by Creative Places Shannon and the students of St. Aidan's NS, Shannon with artist Ana Colomer.
👉Tuesday 14th October 2026 at 4.30pm in Clare Museum, Ennis

Creative Places Shannon would like to invite you to attend the launch of Museum of Self this afternoon at 4.30pm at Clare Museum, Ennis.

The exhibition is a range of mini-museums made by students at St Aidan's N.S. who had talks from the curator of the Clare Museum, an Historian from the Shannon Historical and Archaeological Society, and the Artist Ana Colomer.

This project was funded by the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport as part of their Commemorations fund.

09/10/2026

🥳Happy 26th Birthday to Clare Museum!🥳

🗓️On this day, 9th October, in the year 2000, Clare Museum opened to the public with the 'Riches of Clare' exhibition.

🏦For the past 26 years the Clare County Council-managed museum has fulfilled its mission to collect, preserve, interpret and display the material culture relating to the history of County Clare, both in the museum building and online, as an educational resource and a socially inclusive cultural service for the people of Clare and visiting tourists.
The collection continues to grow, as do the services provided to the community.

👉Visit our website at www.claremuseum.ie to discover and explore all that the museum has to offer.
New visitors, return visitors and old friends are always welcome to enjoy the riches of Clare Museum.💫

30/09/2026

💬✨ The first talk of the new season of the Clare Museum Lecture Series takes place on Wednesday, October 7 at 7.30pm.

Hosted in the Clare County Council-run museum, the first talk is entitled ‘Straw mummers and traditions in Europe’, coinciding with the Straw Connect Cultural Gathering and with Clare Libraries’ History Week.

🔗 Read more: https://clarecoco.ie/council/newsroom/news/2026/clare-museum-lecture-series-returns-new-season

25/09/2026

Our latest blog entry explores a link between a Fascist leader and the Banner county.

Background In early 2020, on the eve of the COVID-19 pandemic, a collection of objects associated with a Corofin man,...

24/09/2026

The museum's Education Officer had the privilege of visiting our colleagues in the beautiful Craggaunowen Castle & Crannóg yesterday to observe their TY Skills Training Programme.

Huge thanks to Steven & all the fantastic staff & craft workers for providing such a warm welcome & giving demonstrations in clay work, leather work, blacksmithing and spinning & weaving.

We are very much looking forward to the prospect of showcasing those skills at the museum in the coming months.
Watch this space!

22/09/2026

📚🎊 Libraries across Clare will open their doors to showcase the breadth of services, activities and resources available to the public as part of National Public Libraries Open Day 2026 on Saturday, September 26.

To mark the day, events will be taking place in Ennis, Ennistymon, Kilkee, Kilrush, Milltown Malbay, Scarriff, Shannon & Sixmilebridge libraries.

🔗 Find out more: https://clarecoco.ie/council/newsroom/news/2026/explore-clares-libraries-on-national-public-libraries-open-day-2026

Clare Libraries

18/09/2026

💫Culture Night is in full (gentle!) swing here at Clare Museum.

🍁There is still plenty of time to join us for our Nature Craft drop-in session with the endlessly talented Aideen Sweeney, Five Leaves Creative.

🫶🏻Remeber, you can take home your creations!

Clare Culture Night Clare Arts Office Clare County Council Clare Libraries Creative Ireland Clare