Object of the Month

Welcome to our new Object of the Month Case

We are delighted to introduce a rotating monthly display curated from our permanent collection. Featuring rarely seen artefacts, this initiative allows our curatorial team to share the unique, focused histories behind individual objects, ensuring our visitors encounter something new during every visit.

The first object chosen for display is a modest but fascinating oak alms box from the former Convent of Mercy in Newry. Dating from around 1880, the box is divided into four compartments labelled "Subscriptions", "Community", "Sundries" and "Poor". While simple in appearance, it provides a remarkable insight into how charitable donations were collected, organised and distributed more than a century ago.

The object is closely connected to the work of the Sisters of Mercy, who arrived in Newry in 1855. Over the following decades they established schools, visited the sick and poor, cared for orphaned children and provided practical assistance to families facing hardship. Their work touched countless lives across the district.

Following the closure of the convent in 2024, the alms box was acquired by the museum earlier this year. It now serves as a tangible reminder of the important social role played by religious institutions and charitable organisations in supporting local communities.