The first branch of the National Museum of Ireland outside Dublin opens its doors to the public.
The National Museum of Country Life is the first museum to be commissioned since 1890 and is also the first national museum to be opened outside of Dublin. The museum is built on the grounds of the restored Turlough House and is expected to attract 150,000 visitors a year.
Pat Wallace, Director of the National Museum of Ireland says it is about
bringing the museum to the provinces... away from Dublin.
Pat Wallace describes the theme of the museum depicting the traditional way of life of the countryside from after the famine to the mid 20th century.
In this report, the museum near Westport welcomes the children of the nearby Ballyvary National School on its first school tour.
Eileen Magnier speaks to some of the first visitors to get their impressions of the new museum.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 10 September 2001. The reporter is Eileen Magnier.
