Down County Museum

We’ll set out museum in 3 sections - the history, the jail, and the Ballykinler hut with its various incarnations over the years.

Certainly didn’t expect to be well entertained for 3 hours !!

Very well worth a visit !!

And the staff were great as well

An absolute gem, extremely well done museum with some truly world class artefacts, superb staff, amazing view of the Cathedral, free in and excellent coffee shop!

There was loads to see and learn, unusually both parents and kids were equally enthralled. Top hit for all of us was a 2600 year old Celtic cauldron in perfect condition.

This is a must see!

This is quite simply one of the most interesting museums I have ever visited! The building itself is admirable and the staff are enthusiastic and helpful. It is a definite must-see and I’d recommend at least 2 hours to make the most of what’s on offer. You can put the kids in one of the prison cells if they get bored but I honestly don’t think they will!

Down County Museum is a great little museum loaded with lots of history. Our guide, Mary, was extremely informative and just as sweet as can be. She was attentive to our small group's questions and was an absolute pleasure to follow around. Will definitely be coming back with more of my family some day!

Delightful Downpatrick Day Trip to be had for free gratis at Down County Museum. If you usually drive past it, next time don't! Drop into the old Down Gaol…they will absolutely let you out again! Interesting artifacts, intriguing articles, informative attendants and helpful and well informed staff.

What’s great place . Went up with family for information regarding Downpatrick, the staff were friendly especially Mary who went out of her way to make us feel at home and provided us with the information we needed .
The exhibitions were really well set out and offered a wide selection of information. There is a small restaurant , very clean with a good selection of food and friendly staff. Well worth a visit

Interesting information, well presented and easy to read.

Staff were wonderful and spent time helping us take the next steps in our family history journey.

Accessible to those with mobility difficulties.

This is a pretty outdated attraction with basically not much to see. Main attraction is its free entrance. Dont take a car as there is very limited parking for visitors and the traffic wardens police the street constantly dishing out tickets to unsuspecting visitors. Really not worth it.

From this lovely little coffee shop you get a most wonderful panoramic view. As you sip your tea/coffee and munch your scone (freshly baked on the premises), you look across the fields and marshes to the meandering River Quoile, complete with its stately white swans. On the far side of the river are the ruins of Inch Abbey, and in the foreground is the mound of Down. (These places are both worth a visit in their own right.) It is the best view from a cafe that I have seen in Ireland, apart, perhaps, from the one down in West Cork at Mizen Head.

We held our daughters 7th birthday party at the museum and it was a huge success! The kids had a fabulous time. A huge thank you goes to Mary and Maura who entertained the children with crafts, games and a great deal of patience!! They were amazing. I would definitely recommend the museum for a party as it also has a cafe that can provide party food or you can have a room to serve your own. Thanks again Mary and Maura.