Larne Museum & Arts Centre EHOD 2024

About

Larne Museum & Arts Centre is housed in the historic former Carnegie Free Library building in Larne. The museum's Main Gallery hosts permanent displays reflecting the agricultural, industrial, military and maritime history of the area. Larne is a principal gateway into Northern Ireland and the strong maritime links of this east Antrim coastal community are portrayed through a variety of exhibits relating to the first roll-on, roll-off ferries, the Royal Navy and the Princess Victoria disaster. Larne's rural hinterland, which includes two of the nine glens of Antrim, is well represented in the museum's folk life display. The War and Conflict section hosts objects from the Home Rule Crisis, Larne Gun Running and the First and Second World Wars. Visitors can access accounts and memories of local people through oral history listening posts and can browse through photographs in a digital community archive

The 'John Clifford Gallery' plays host to a variety of temporary exhibitions throughout the year. Built in 1905, this historic building opened its door to the public in 1906 as the Carnegie Free Library following financial assistance from the American millionaire and philanthropist Mr Andrew Carnegie.

The library was built at a cost of £2500 and was officially opened on 2nd April 1906 By Colonel J M McCalmont, M.P. The library eventually moved to larger premises on Pound Street in July 1980 at a cost of £205,000.

Larne Historical Centre first opened in the Reading Room of the Carnegie Public Library in 1972 following a campaign by local people for a museum, which lead to a grant of £300 from Larne Borough Council. In 1975 the Centre moved to the ground floor of the McGarel Town Hall before returning to the old Carnegie Library building in June 1983.

In 2005, to celebrate its centenary year, the building was restored and renovated, retaining many of its original features.

The museum is managed by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, and forms part of the Mid and East Antrim Museum & Heritage Service alongside similar local museums in Ballymena and Carrickfergus.