Mid Antrim Museum at The Braid
| County: | Co. Antrim |
| Tel: | 028-2565 7161 |
| Fax: | 028-2563 5941 |
| Email: | braid.enquiries@ballymena.gov.uk |
The Mid-Antrim Museum at The Braid is designed to world-class standards, with content and storylines to fascinate local residents and visitors alike. The spectacular entrance atrium features special installations revealing the links between people and place, local history and local identity.
Once inside the galleries the story of Mid-Antrim from earliest times to the present day is told through a mix of state of the art interactive technology and amazing original artefacts. Highlights include an exhibition revealing the turbulent medieval history of the region. This features a range of items on loan from the National Museum of Ireland, Dublin and The National Museums Of Northern Ireland. From Edward Bruce’s expedition in 1315 to the recent Troubles, war and conflict is a recurring theme within the gallery. Living off the land is another key theme. Remarkable family photographs, archive film and objects are combined to evoke rural traditions and folk life.
General Information
| Address: | 1-29 Bridge Street, Ballymena, Antrim, BT43 5EJ |
|---|---|
| Telephone; | 028-2565 7161 |
| Fax: | 028-2563 5941 |
| Email: | braid.enquiries@ballymena.gov.uk |
| Website: | http://www.thebraid.com/museum.aspx |
| Location: | Ballymena Town Centre |
| Season: | All Year |
| Open Times: | Mon-Fri: 10.00-17.00 Sat: 10.00-16.00 Closed Sunday/Open Most Public Holidays |
| Tours: | Yes. 45 mins, Max: 30 per Guide |
| Booking Contact: | braid.enquiries@ballymena.gov.uk |
| Manager: | Jayne Clarke |
| Average Visit Length: | 1-2 Hours |
| Entrance Fees: | Free Admission |
| Audio Visual: | Yes, Used throughout the Galleries |
| Exhibition: | The History Gallery explores the story of Mid-Antrim from earliest times to the present day, with reference to themes of identity, people and place |
| Restaurant: | Yes, Café serving snacks and light lunches. Group catering organised on request |
| Picnic Area: | No |
| Shop: | Yes |
| Information Guide: | Yes |
| Coach Parking: | Yes |
| Group Booking Necessary: | Yes |
| Car Parking: | Yes |
| Disabled Access/Parking: | Yes |
Conference & Incentive
The Braid complex as a whole includes both a Museum and an Arts Centre. It is a dynamic mix of contemporary architecture alongside an elegant neo-classical Town Hall building that opened in 1928. It incorporates a range of facilities including a 400 seat Theatre (with fly tower), an 80 seat Studio Theatre, an Arts Workshop, a Learning Zone (education room), a Theatre Club (Crush Bar) and Meeting Rooms. The Braid has an Entertainments and Hospitality Licence and has flexible opening hours to include evenings, weekends and public holidays. The complex features a number of specially commissioned artworks from internationally recognised artists
Genealogical collections and services
The Mid-Antrim Museum is developing its genealogical collections and services. Current information that may be of interest to those researching their family tree include graveyard inscription records collected from within the Borough Of Ballymena. Please click on the following link to access these records http://www.thebraid.com/genealogy.aspx. Other sources of interest will be uploaded to our website in due course.
Virtual Visit
Want to take a Virtual Visit of The Braid Museum in the beautiful town of Ballymena? You can see what many attractions are like before visiting with this 360 degree view! Click on the button below to see:
Up-Coming Events at the Braid
EXHIBITION
China – Through the Lens of John Thomson: 1868 – 1872
12 May – 30 June
Scottish photographer and travel writer John Thomson is one of 19th century’s greatest photographers and a pioneer of photojournalism. In 1870 he set off from Hong Kong and for the next two years undertook four major journeys photographing regions of China. The range, depth and aesthetic quality of Thomson’s photographic vision mark him out as one of the most important travel photographers. On tour from the prestigious Wellcome Collection in London, the exhibition consists of 148 images. Alongside this exhibition Mid-Antrim Museum will be showing a display featuring Augustine Henry, known as the father of Irish forestry, who had local links to Portglenone, and his botanical tour of China in the late 19th Century.
EVENT
Celebrate Chinese Culture
Saturday 12 May 2-4pm at The Braid
Free Admission
To celebrate the launch of our new exhibition ‘CHINA: Through the Lens of John Thomson 1868-72’ you are invited to join us for an action-packed afternoon for a spectacular display of Chinese cultural performances. The event begins with a 16ft dragon dance and followed by traditional fan dance, martial arts and acrobatic performances and lion dance, this specially commissioned show is a must-see! (2-3pm) Try your hand at Chinese Lantern Making and Calligraphy, two of the most popular Chinese traditions. Other Chinese inspired craft-making and face painting are also on offer as well as a chance to try on traditional Chinese costumes (2-4pm).
TOUR
Discover the Life and Works of Augustine Henry
Guided walking tour of Portglenone Forest and illustrated talk
Tue 22nd May: 11.00am-2.30pm
Tickets: £10 (includes lunch)
Tel: 02825635900 to book your place
Please wear suitable outdoor clothing.
Augustine Henry (1857-1930) was a well-known plant collector and is known as the “Father of Irish Forestry”. He spent almost 20 years travelling and collecting plants in China and discovered many species new to science. Mid-Antrim Museum at The Braid celebrates his achievements by offering an opportunity to get to know the man whose family comes from Portglenone. Join Liz O’Connor from the Forestry Service who will lead a ramble through the ancient woodland of Portglenone Forest, including the Grove dedicated to Henry. After lunch, Seamus O’Brien from the National Botanic Gardens, Kilmacurragh will give a talk on Henry at The Braid Museum and Arts Centre.
Participants will also have the opportunity to view an exhibition dedicated to Augustine Henry as well as CHINA: Through the Lens of John Thomson 1868-1872, an exhibition displaying the works of another Westerner who discovered some of the mysteries of the Orient.
TOUR
Genealogy bus trip to The Mellon Centre for Migration Studies, Omagh
Friday 8th June: 10am-5.30pm
Tickets: £10
Tel: 02825635900 to book your place
Calling all family history enthusiasts – discover more about your ancestors on a day trip to the centre for Migration studies in Omagh. Specialist staff will be on hand to introduce you to the library sources available – including maps, audio-visual material and the Irish Emigration Database which holds a collection of primary source documents relating to Irish-American emigration.
A visit to the Ulster American Folk park and a recently opened exhibition Titanic : Window on Emigration is also included. Lunch is not provided, though restaurant facilities are available. Suitable outdoor clothing is advisable for walking in park.
Schools
The Museum has a number of curriculum-linked programmes that have been designed to creatively meet the needs of the new Northern Ireland curriculum. These involve stimulating hands on sessions that utilise original and replica objects to explore themes of interdependence, Place and Change Over Time within the World Around Us sections of the Curriculum.
Early Man & Materials KS2: A stimulating hands on session using real and replica objects and role play to investigate the lives of Meolithic and Neolithic people in Mid-Antrim.
Innovation and Impact: A new and exciting session that uses Museum objects, photographs and activities to explore the Victorian inventions of electricity and the camera.
Air Raid Alert KS1: Experience the sights and sounds of the Home Front and the effects of rationing in this interactive session
Houses and Homes KS1: This hands on session uses a variety of museum objects and photographs to explore what houses and homes were like in the past compared to today and how everyday, domestic objects have changed over time.
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