Culture
Senior project leaders meet at International Rugby Experience site for proposed women’s museum
Senior project leaders meet at International Rugby Experience site for proposed women’s museum. Pictured are Sue Ann McManus and husband Cian Foley, McManus Foundation . Pic Arthur Ellis
Senior project leaders meet at the former International Rugby Experience building for the proposed new women’s museum for Limerick
Senior project leaders meet at the proposed new Landmark National Museum of Ireland site
A meeting of senior officials took place today at the proposed site of a new National Museum of Ireland, with leaders from the OPW, the Dept of Culture, the McManus foundation, and the National Museum (NMI) all attending.
The NMI is examining the case for a landmark cultural development that will ensure women’s experiences, achievements and voices are permanently recognised within Ireland’s national museum framework.
The proposed new museum would form part of the National Museum of Ireland and would be located in Limerick, marking a major regional investment and a significant step in advancing gender representation within Ireland’s cultural infrastructure.
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The proposal is being considered by key stakeholders, including the Office of Public Works (OPW), the National Museum of Ireland, and philanthropic partners, including the McManus Foundation.
Minister Patrick O’Donovan said he was “delighted” to host the delegation of officials at the proposed NMI site. He said, “This is a defining moment for Ireland’s cultural landscape. For too long, the stories of women — their leadership, their resilience, their creativity and their contribution to our nation — have been underrepresented within our national narrative.”
The Minister added, “Establishing a National Museum of Ireland that puts a focus on women’s stories corrects that imbalance in a meaningful and permanent way.”
The Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport announced he had updated the Government on proposals to accept the home of the former International Rugby Experience under the State Property Act 1954.
The intention is for the building to become a new regional branch of the National Museum of Ireland, and it would host a permanent exhibition telling the stories of women in Ireland, following the recommendation of the recently published report of the Women’s Advisory Committee on Women’s Stories.
Minister O’Donovan expressed his great appreciation and gratitude to the property owners, the McManus Family, for enabling this opportunity. Before the closure of the International Rugby Experience, the McManus family offered the building to Limerick City and County Council, including a €1.2 million payment to aid in the transition.
It is believed the opportunity for Government ownership is a chance to enhance the regional balance across the National Cultural Institutions and provide a new quality cultural offering in Limerick and the Mid-West.
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