Arklow Heritage Museum

15/05/2026

15/05/2026

We received an award!!!

Last night we were hosted and presented an award by the Arklow Municipal District in recognition for our 50 years serving the community. We want to thank all of the councilors for hosting this event and presenting us with this beautiful award. A special shoutout to Cathaoirleach Miriam Murphy who nominated and presented us with the award. Your wonderful speech spurs us on to do even more in the future.

The award was created for us especially by an incredible artist Bianca divito: https://www.instagram.com/biancadivitoglass?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw== and the stunning piece depicts significant parts of Arklow heritage, with the Sails of the Asgard II made to show the Arklow Gansey’s unique patterns and incorporated bits of pottery from the Arklow Pottery she found washed up on the beach.

This was so unexpected and we are extremely grateful and humbled to receive this award. We have big things coming, both in the museum and externally within the community as we continue to showcase and highlight our town's incredible heritage, stay tuned for more info.

Thank you to everyone who has supported us and here's to 50 years more.

07/05/2026

The Sinking of the Lusitania

Today, Thursday the 7th of May marks 111-years since of one of the greatest disasters in Ireland's, if not the world's, maritime history.

On May 7, 1915, the British luxury liner RMS Lusitania was torpedoed and sunk by a German U-boat off the coast of Ireland, resulting in the deaths of 1,198 people, including 128 Americans. The attack, which occurred during World War I, significantly damaged relations between the United States and Germany and played a role in the United States' eventual entry into the war.

Local Arklow fishing boats the Dan O’Connell and the Elizabeth were on the scene, as part of their usual herring fishing season in west Cork. The Dan O’Connell was captained by James Hagan and her crew was comprised of John Bolger, Martin Rourke, Nick Castles, John Boyle, John Forde, Joseph Mullett and Myles Donovan while aboard the Elizabeth were Ed White, Larry White, Thomas White, James
White, Mick White, Robert Kavanagh and Michael Morgan.

The men received commendations for their bravery at the scene and £50 to each boat from Lord Proby on behalf of the British Government and the Cunard Company. “The Lusitania Shoe”, found in the nets on board the Dan O’Connell and persevered by Annie Hagan (Captain James Hagans wife), is still here on display at the museum, along with other memorabilia of the sinking of the Lusitania.

02/05/2026

Where do Arklow’s borders lie?

When we look at a map of Arklow in any period of history it seems to be ever sprawling outwards, with more estates being built every few years. Are the boarders infinite or do they lie where the welcome to Arklow signs lay?

The map below shows what Arklow looks like today on google maps, but wait a minute, people on the north side of the caravan park are not in Arklow? Two of the big industrial estates are not in Arklow? Their address is certainly listed as Arklow. Is Thomastown part of Arklow? They are part of the Civil Parish of Arklow and are in the Barony of Arklow, with a right to vote in local elections.

Luckily these days those questions do not need to have a defining answer, as land wars, certainly at a local level in Ireland, do not need to be fought over who has taxable rights to them.

However, this wasn’t always the case, in 1726 a map (shown below) was made of the Arklow estate of Joshua Allen, which included the town of Arklow south of the river. When the estate became the Proby estate through marriage, a copy of the 1726 map (which is no longer extant) was drawn up. Unfortunately, we do not know how much of the detail in this image dates from 1726 or 1750. A particularly interesting feature is the multi-arched bridge. This cannot represent the ‘19 Arches’ which was not built until the mid-1750s. Just when this earlier bridge was constructed is unknown.

So, there you have it, according to Joshua Allen, if you live anywhere but Main Street Arklow you are not a part of Arklow. I guess the Museum will have to change name yet again :D

26/04/2026

BRITISH WW2 SEA MINE RECOVERED FROM JOHNSTOWN BEACH.

Two weeks ago, Wicklow County Heritage Officer, Deirdre Burns,
contacted Arklow Heritage Museum to say that an unusual object had been discovered on Johnstown Beach, about two miles north of the town. The photo she sent looked suspiciously like the remains of a WW2 sea mine.

Museum chairperson Brendan Dillon, with Brian Dempsey of Arklow
Shipping, investigated and confirmed that it was indeed a mine. A local resident, whose house overlooks the site, has known of it for over fifty years, as it appeared and disappeared with the flow of the sea. It was so embedded in the wet sand that it was obvious that it would not be lost to the next tide.

The Gardaí were informed of this once explosive device, but were satisfied that it was empty and posed no threat. Keeping the county council in the loop, Brendan gathered three more helpers.

As there was no access for machinery from the road, the group of five had to use shovels, ropes, chains and physical strength to make the best of the couple of hours either side of low tide to do the
job. All to no avail.

On the third day, they erected a tripod hoist with a block-and-tackle. This, with continued digging and prising, finally broke the suction seal. The mine was free, but was now in danger of being dragged out by the next tide. It had to be man-handled to above the high- tide mark before nightfall.

As darkness fell and the tide rose, using a large tree trunk lying on the beach as an anchor, the five rigged another block-and-tackle mechanism to drag the mine across the sand until safety was reached. The following day the 7-feet-high bank of clay and undergrowth had to be faced. Behind this was an approximately 200-feet steep slope to the road. No amount of physical strength could surmount these obstacles.

Typical of the local support the museum engenders, Peter Marshall
volunteered a digger and drag-line to get the mine to the road. It was then conveyed to Arklow Engineering Ltd’s shed on North Quay.

Research has shown it to be a British Type 17 sea mine, the same class as the one displayed in front of the Heritage Museum on North Quay. It is remarkably intact and the fact that it is complete
(except for its lethal contents) is evidence that it failed in its purpose to sink a ship during the war.

Several sea mines have been seen in the Arklow area since the1940s. One reputedly washed ashore behind Arklow Pottery, causing the the factory to be evacuated.

Unfortunately, weapons such as this are not consigned to the past. Just think of the mining of the Straits of Hormuz in recent weeks. At least this one is no longer a danger to anyone and, after treatment, will be on display in the museum.

25/04/2026

April 25th 2026 marks International Sculpture Day.

International Sculpture Day, or IS Day, is a worldwide annual celebration of sculpture on the last Saturday of April every year. It was established by the International Sculpture Center and is meant to raise awareness, appreciation and enjoyment of sculpture in communities across the globe.

Below is a few pictures of the outstanding sculptures taken on a walk around Arklow, showcasing the immense talent of the artists in the town.

The first three are sculptures produced as part of the Edible Arklow and Plug and Grow project which have an interactive map you can follow here: (https://arklowartscentre.ie/edible-arklow/) , picture 1 showcases a sculpture by artist: Sigve Svenkerud, picture 2 is made by Artist: Neil McAteer and picture 3: is a piece created by Artist: Irene Plazewska. This project was coordinated by .

Picture four and five are beautiful sculpture’s located along the riverwalk, the swan bench (picture 5) was created by artist Richard White and the spectacular depiction of local wildlife in picture 4. Unfortunately we do not have the artist name, feel free to inform us in the comments.

The final sculpture we want to showcase (picture 6) is on the south pier the sculpture is crafted from recycled materials, including what appear to be boots and piping, to resemble a fisherman. The artist of this piece is also unknown.

This is only a selection of our favourite sculptures in town, there are plenty more around if you go looking and in fact we have several of our own located here in the museum if you wish to visit and take a look someday, we are open 7 days a week 10am-5pm.

18/04/2026

Then and Now: Arklow Rock, 1957 and 2023

Arklow has been extensively mapped, sketched, painted, and photographed through history, and this presentation promises an intriguing delve into Arklow as seen through the eyes of both yesteryear and today. From the grand estates of Shelton and Glenart to the ordinary people making a living from both the sea and the land, the rich legacy of images, including those taken by the country’s pioneers in the nascent field of photography, impart a vividness to our conception and understanding of our hometown.

Nowadays photos often do not see the light of day as they stick around on our phones never to be opened, often lost to the ether when we inevitably replace our devices.

But these photos are so essential to view our ever changing town and landscape of Arklow, below is an example of this, the first picture shows an aerial photograph of the Arklow Rock taken in 1957 and the second is an aerial photo taken of the same area in 2023. During this time the town population tripled in size and the landscape changed as quickly as its population.

11/04/2026

NORTH BEACH 1940S/50s

Even in black and white the North Beach looked great. You can feel the warm sand and the urge to run into the sea, but watch out for the piles - the ones just under the surface were lethal. The sand dunes were wonderful and all was right with the world - until the storm of December 1989 which washed it all away. Seems like another place.

COASTAL EROSION

In December 1989, a little over two years after Hurricane Charlie brought great floods down the river to wreak havoc among boats in the river, a storm from the east attacked our coastline. It flattened sand dunes which had been our pride and joy and the sea was pushed in as far as the swimming pool. After a few days, it receded, but not back to its earlier shoreline. It retained some of what it had taken.

Working began on creating a defence against further incursions. Massive boulders from the Roadstones Quarries at Arklow Rock were placed along lengthy sections of both North and South Beaches.

But the sea is relentless and all we can do is slow its march. This photo was taken by Jim Rees in 1991. It is evident how, in just a little over thirty years, the sea has continued to move inland, smashing the concrete paths seen both in the lower and upper sections of the photograph.

05/04/2026

Happy Easter from everyone at the Arklow Heritage Museum.

28/03/2026

The Museum Extension

Today the 28th of March marks the day that we officially opened the extension to the Arklow Heritage Museum. In 2018 we realised we had a problem, we wanted to display a lot more of the artifacts we had held in storage and expand on the idea of showcasing a broader range of Arklow’s heritage. Unfortunately the museum floor was crowded with exhibits already and as we had limited space we were left with only one option……Expansion.

The committee set about creating proposals and pleas for funding to local government bodies, headed up by our then Chairman Jim Rees. Thanks to the County Wicklow Partnership led by then CEO Brain Carty we were giving permission to use the vacant unit next to the museum, leaving us with only one hurdle left to the expansion, the funds to perform the operation, €150,000 was needed to completely redesign the area and make it fit for purpose.

Our process to get around this obstacle was extensive, we sought grant funding from local government, EU funding and private backing. This along with the funds we had and additional loan that we took out satisfied the project start and we were away.

The project was built by Mordaunt Construction and used rough plans designed by Jim Rees in cooperation with a local architect. It was started on the 11th of June 2021 and quickly took shape.

It officially opened on the 28th of March 2022 and the space was quickly filled. We have been able to use the exhibition space to host many community artists and groups included but not limited to 402 Art Collective - Arklow , Arklow RNLI and The Town - Arklow Town FC . It currently houses our own 50th celebration exhibition.

Without this extension we would not have had the space to host our 50th celebration exhibition, which is still available to view free of charge.

17/03/2026

Happy St Patrick's Day

Well done to Arklow Town Team St. Patrick's Day who under the guidance of Cllr Peir Leonard Independent arranged an amazing parade.

The parade was underpinned by the celebration of 200 years of Arklow RNLI and everyone showed up in force with some excellent floats and displays.

Congratulations to all who participated in the parade.