Flints and Fishes exhibition comes home

Entitled ‘Flints and Fishes’, it brings together objects from across the Causeway Coast and Glens area, telling the story of the Causeway’s first people.

The temporary exhibition will allow visitors to explore important stories about Ireland’s earliest known settlement, and the local stone axe factories which exported their products all over Ireland, Britain and beyond. Visitors can also discover the recent studies of DNA found in the region’s megalithic tombs, which trace the origins of Ireland’s first farmers.

The earliest known settlement in Ireland was at Mountsandel, Coleraine. Mesolithic (Middle Stone Age) hunter-gatherers lived there almost 10,000 years ago, fishing for salmon, and hunting wild boar and gathering hazelnuts in the surrounding woods. 4,000 years later Neolithic (New Stone Age) farmers crossed the water to Ireland changing Ireland forever.

The Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, Alderman Maura Hickey commented on the exhibition stating, “The legacy of the Stone Age is all around us and it is amazing to see the impact that it has had on our landscape. This exhibition portrays the story of Causeway Coast and Glen’s first people and I would encourage everyone to come and learn about the history of our area and see the intriguing discoveries on display.”

The exhibition will be open at Ballymoney Museum from 1st February until 15th April. Viewings can be made on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 9am-5pm and 9am-4.30pm on Fridays. Admission will be free of charge.

For more information, please contact Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council’s Museum Services on 028 7034 7234 or email: [email protected]