Image
The Troubles and Beyond
Date
Ongoing
Time
10:00 to 17:00 (Closed Mondays)
The history of Northern Ireland from the late 1960s to the present day has been dominated by the civil and political conflict known as ‘the Troubles.’ The events that took place here after 1968 have impacted not just the people of Northern Ireland, but people across the world. Our collection covers themes of politics and conflict, and the impact of both on everyday life, people and communities.
The Troubles and Beyond exhibition is not exclusively focused on the conflict, but relates to contemporary history and therefore includes objects that represent our wider social, cultural and economic history. The collection is a dynamic one, and it continues to be developed and refined. Recently acquired items include George Best’s Northern Ireland football jersey, a puppet of Gerry Adams from the TV series Spitting Image, material relating to the life and career of Belfast-born actor James Ellis and a collection of Pride t-shirts dating from 1991 when the first march was held in Belfast.
We are constantly working to build and develop our contemporary collection to show social change, working life, arts and culture, and the ever-changing environment around us. The Troubles did not take place in a vacuum. The reality of life is reflected in our personal memories and the photographs and mementoes that underpin our family history.
New display within the gallery: Gaza Remains The Story
Gaza Remains the Story is a downloadable exhibition created by The Palestinian Museum. The exhibition aims to inform, educate, and narrate stories of historical locations and cultural practices in Gaza, providing a glimpse into the City’s arts, aspirations, and uniqueness. It is now displayed at various museums across the world, including ours.
This display demonstrates that museums play an important role when it comes to helping people understand the impact of conflict.
Conflict, legacies of conflict and peacebuilding are priority themes for the Ulster Museum.
They are explored in our permanent The Troubles and Beyond gallery, and through wider research, collections development and programmes, such as the recent Threads of Empowerment: Conflict Textiles' International Journey exhibition (now ended), which profiled different experiences of conflict, oppression and human rights violations around the world, from places including Zimbabwe and Cuba.
Our museums are shared spaces where, through exploring diverse perspectives, we encourage reflection on the past, the issues we face in society today, and the part we can all pay in shaping a more peaceful and inclusive future. We hope that this display encourages people to consider the impact conflict has on people and their communities across the world, and helps foster greater empathy and understanding.
