In 1994 the Somme Association established the Somme Heritage Centre now Somme Museum at Conlig, between Newtownards and Bangor in Co. Down. The Museum is a fully accredited museum, providing exhibitions, displays and information, and is an institution for the study and interpretation of Ireland's contribution to the First World War, with particular reference to the Battle of the Somme. It was built with the support of European and local funding combined with a major fund raising effort, supported by the public, to commemorate the involvement of the 36th (Ulster) Division, 16th (Irish) Division and 10th (Irish) Division in the First World War. In recent years our collection of Second World War artefacts has grown and we now have on display a 'D Day' exhibition.
The Museum is currently only open for school or group bookings and some special Saturday dates for public tours. Please see VISIT for further Information.
Parties of school children as well as community groups, Church groups, Regimental Associations, and members of the public and their families visit the Museum regularly and learn of the sacrifices made by others in the past for the freedom they enjoy today. Since 2000 the Museum has expanded into the Second World War and other modern international conflicts including The Korean War.
The Somme Museum is currently open for school and group bookings but not fully open to the public yet.
The Museum has an extensive collection of material from the First World War and Second World War periods including a large oral history archive. The oral archives contain over 300 interviews with male and female veterans from both world wars, Home Front and Korean War.
MEMORIALS
The Museum has also provided a home for a number of war memorials from local churches and community buildings that no longer exist. These can be viewed throughout the Museum.
In 2014 the Somme Heritage Centre was formally renamed the Somme Museum.
Throughout the year the Museum holds various events, the majority open to the public on topics associated with the First World War.