New exhibition at Lisburn museum

A new, free exhibition entitled ‘Lisburn 1912-1914’ was officially opened in the Irish Linen Centre and Lisburn Museum this week.
Alderman Paul Porter, Chairman of the Council's Leisure Services Committee and Mr Jim Rose, Director of
Leisure Services visit the 'Recruitment Desk' to launch the 'Lisburn 1912-1914' exhibition at the Irish Linen Centre and Lisburn Museum.Alderman Paul Porter, Chairman of the Council's Leisure Services Committee and Mr Jim Rose, Director of
Leisure Services visit the 'Recruitment Desk' to launch the 'Lisburn 1912-1914' exhibition at the Irish Linen Centre and Lisburn Museum.
Alderman Paul Porter, Chairman of the Council's Leisure Services Committee and Mr Jim Rose, Director of Leisure Services visit the 'Recruitment Desk' to launch the 'Lisburn 1912-1914' exhibition at the Irish Linen Centre and Lisburn Museum.

Residents and visitors are encouraged to come along and learn about the people and the place in the crisis years leading up to the outbreak of the Great War.

Alderman Paul Porter, Chairman of the Council’s Leisure Services Committee, speaking at the exhibition opening said: “I am delighted that the Council’s Museum has created an exhibition that sets the local scene in the years just before the First World War; to coincide with the Centenary of the start of the First World War. Through recreated historic scenes, artefacts, audio visual and information displays this exhibition charts life in Lisburn during the Edwardian era, and the events that brought Ulster to the brink of civil war in the summer of 1914. “The exhibition also covers Lisburn’s reaction to the threat of Irish Home Rule; and how the outbreak of war on the 4th August 1914 united both sides of the Home Rule debate, with many local UVF and Irish Volunteers joining up to serve ‘King and Country’ in Flanders and beyond.

“While the war raged for four years the joining of the two communities was short lived particularly after the events of 1916 – the Somme and the Easter Rising – which had far reaching consequences for Lisburn. The activities of the town’s suffragettes, the bombing of Lisburn Cathedral and the life and work of Ernest Blythe are also explored in the exhibition.

“I would encourage everyone to come along and view the exhibition which is open Monday to Saturday 9.30am – 5.00pm.”