This sandstone chair is believed to be the only surviving example of an inauguration chair that was used to coronate new Gaelic chieftains when they inherited their titles, responsibilities and lands in the medieval to the early modern period. This…

This cabinet contains two examples of Bronze age gold jewellery; the Corrard Torc and Inch Bulla. Both date from around 3,000 years ago and are fine examples of Celtic metalwork. The Torc (above) was found at Corrard, County Fermanagh in…

The Malone Hoard is a collection of 19 stone age axe heads that were found at during the construction of Danesfort House in Malone, a district of south Belfast. These items are made from porcelanite, a hard black stone found…

This is a skeleton of a male Giant Deer that roamed Ireland during the last ice age, several tens of thousands of years ago, and a full life-size model of what the creature is thought to have looked like. The…

This is a powered linen loom for the weaving of linen sheets from yarn. It originates from William Adams & Co. Donegall Road Weaving Factory, Belfast. In the century from 1850, Belfast was the global centre of linen production, known…

This cabinet looks at chemical elements that may bring death. Elements that are featured include lead, arsenic and, poisonous gases such as chlorine.

This cabinet explores how three chemical elements – silicon, copper and iron – have been used to develop human society and civilisation. For example, it shows how silicon and copper were used to develop communication technology. Copper was used at…

This display tells the story of the Crumlin Meteorite that fell to earth on 13 September 1902 near Crumlin, about 20km west of Belfast. John Adams, an employee of farmer Mr Walker was picking apples on the edge of a…

This oil painting is being shown in the Museum at the time of writing. The picture is a portrait of the five children of Thomas Bateson, painted in the drawing-room at their family home of Orangefield located in modern-day east…

This exhibition showcases examples of female fashion from the 1870s to 1914, an period of history that has become known as the La Belle Epoche or ‘the beautiful era’. Over this time, ladies’ fashion changed at a faster rate than…