‘Business as usual’ at flood-hit Carrickfergus Museum

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council announced last week the premises were currently shut for “essential maintenance due to flooding”.

The local authority went on to apologise for any inconvenience, adding it was working to have the building opened again as soon as possible.

In an update today (Tuesday), a spokesperson for council said: “It’s very much ‘business as usual’ at Carrickfergus Museum and Civic Centre as work continues to repair damage caused by flooding.

“Exhibitions and events will take place as scheduled and the Playzone and Glass House Café remain open to the public.

“The permanent gallery is currently closed.

“Visitors to the Civic Centre are advised that services within the facility are still operating as normal as we work to have the permanent gallery reopened.

“Museum artefacts are currently being removed from display and placed in storage to be cared for while this work continues.”

The local authority added that progress updates will be made in due course.

A special event planned for last Thursday night as part of the Northern Ireland Science Festival went ahead as scheduled.

The museum hosted a team from Armagh Planetarium and Observatory to run ‘Navigation by the Stars’.

Exploring how sailors found their way across the high seas before modern technology, it was designed to complement the museum’s exhibition, ‘Landings: Conquest and Commerce’, which features models of the HMY Mary and HMY Henrietta, the ships that brought King William III to Carrickfergus in 1690.