Blog (Maritime) - NMD Museums

This week’s article looks back at Newry company Joseph Fisher and Son Ltd, as we are delighted to announce the donation of the John D.F. Fisher Collection to Newry and Mourne Museum. Generously gifted by Jane Fisher, the collection tells the remarkable story of this prominent shipping and importing business based at Newry’s Albert Basin and offers valuable insight into the area’s rich maritime, industrial and social history.

This week we take a look at hats and how they reflect the societies in which we live

Our exhibition Making Waves: Newry’s rise as a global trade centre continues until September 2026 and in this week's article we look emigration, in particular Andrew Marshall who left Donaghmore for New York.

This week's article is the second part of James “Jemmy” Blair story

This weeks article is the first in another two-parter.

Geraldine looks reviews how 18th century Newry merchants were part of a global economy, exporting Ulster goods and occasionally investing in Caribbean plantations and slaves, including the career of Jemmy Blair, whose family made a vast fortune from sugar plantations in South America.

This week's articles continues with the development of Newry as a port town. 

This week's blog is the first of a two-part review of the economic development of Newry port. 

We continue with our look at the history of the Newry Ship Canal with local historian, Sean Patterson.

Over the coming weeks local historian, Sean Patterson looks at the history of the Newry Ship Canal. 

By the mid-18th century, Newry had transformed from a modest settlement into one of Ireland’s most dynamic mercantile and maritime centres. 

Newry and Mourne Museum officially launched a new temporary exhibition, looking at the development of Newry as an international trading hub beginning almost 300 years ago.

'From the Basin to the Bar', a talk at Newry and Mourne Museum is a photographic journey on our local waterways.