Monaghan County Museum will celebrate 50 years this weekend. To mark this special milestone, an array of special events have been planned for people near and far to enjoy. Events will run free of charge from 10am to 5pm tomorrow, September 21st. Speaking on this morning's Joe Finnegan, Curator of Monaghan Museum, Liam Bradley, said that celebrations will focus on looking back at five decades of memories. The museum which first opened in 1974 at its first home in the Monaghan Courthouse, relocated back in May to the new €22 million 'peace campus' based in Monaghan Town.
According to Liam, it was important to move the "memory of the county," a challenge which was taken "very seriously" over the 15 year period of developing the project. Liam explained; "It's all about the idea of borders, the lines all around of us, cultural, social, economic, how the exhibition and how the story can actually cross over those lines while still recognising people's own beliefs and identities. It's about how we can be together, share ideas, grow as a society and I think the museum can be a great focus for that. I would encourage everyone to come from 10am to 5pm tomorrow, enjoy yourself, explore the building and everything about it."
Meanwhile, Roberts Burns, Chief Executive of Monaghan County Council, described the new museum as a "community facility" and encouraged border people in particular to come along tomorrow and see what the new site has to offer. He added that the concept of the new building is a "beacon of hope" for the new generation.
