Minister Calleary welcomes funding for two Mayo museums
The two Mayo museums received funding under the Regional Museum Exhibitions Scheme 2026.
Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht Dara Calleary has welcomed funding for two Mayo museums under the Regional Museum Exhibitions Scheme 2026.
Minister Calleary said: “Projects funded under this scheme seek to enhance the cultural offering of museums, to encourage greater access to museums and to promote the use of museums as tourism resources in their locality or region. I am delighted that both The Clarke Museum of Irish History, Ballina and Knock Museum, Knock Shrine have been allocated funding in this year’s scheme.
“In the case of The Clarke Museum of Irish History, €10,500, has been allocated towards a project that will enhance visitor engagement and access through QR code-led digital interpretation, supported by audio guides. At Knock, €7,700, has been allocated towards their Papal Chairs Exhibition which seeks to enhance access to the arts through themes of faith, culture and heritage.
“I want to congratulate both museums on their successful applications to the scheme, thank them for their contribution to the arts locally and their contribution to the local economy, and wish them every success with these specific projects and into the future.”
Also welcoming the announcement, Minister Alan Dillon said, “I’m delighted to see €18,200 coming to two important Mayo museums in Knock and Ballina. These are very practical investments that will improve how people experience our history and heritage, while making these collections more accessible to local people and visitors alike.”
On the Knock allocation, Minister Dillon said: “The €7,700 for Knock Museum will help present the papal chairs associated with the visits of Pope John Paul II and Pope Francis in a fitting and accessible way. Those visits are an important part of Knock’s modern history, and this investment will help preserve and share that story with the many pilgrims and visitors who come to Knock each year.”
On the Ballina project, Minister Dillon added: “The €10,500 for The Clarke Museum of Irish History is equally welcome. Using QR codes, multilingual digital content and audio guides will open this remarkable collection to an even wider audience. I want to thank my colleague Minister Patrick O’Donovan for supporting both Mayo projects and congratulate the teams in Knock and Ballina who continue to protect our heritage and bring it to life for the next generation.”