Ireland's Memory Room
The heart of the museum: 400 years of Irish history told through objects, storyboards and interactive touch screens. Behind the vault door sits an original 1916 Proclamation — one of the rarest documents in Ireland.
Jackie Clarke Collection
4.8 (410)
See all
See all
About
One man's lifelong obsession — 100,000+ items spanning 400 years of Irish history, including an original 1916 Proclamation — on free display in a restored 1881 bank building in the heart of Ballina.
Things to Do
The Jackie Clarke Room
Meet the collector himself: Jackie Clarke (1927–2000), a Ballina businessman who amassed this treasure trove. Personal artefacts, a short film, storyboards and a timeline trace his life, family and passion for Irish history.
The Map Room
Maps from the 1600s to the late 1900s reveal Ireland's changing story, collected by Clarke as windows into the past.
Newspapers, Prints & Posters
Browse original newspapers spanning four centuries (Clarke's lifelong interest) plus political cartoons and posters capturing 19th- and 20th-century opinion — with interactive touch screens to explore the stories behind the headlines.
The Walled Heritage Garden
A fully accessible Victorian-era walled garden recreated in 2012 with native planting and easy pathways — a calm, free civic space to pause in, open to all.
The Building Itself
The museum occupies the former Provincial Bank, built in 1881 and designed by Thomas Manly Deane, architect of Dublin's National Museum. Restored by Mayo County Council, it is worth a look in its own right.
Memory Room & Research Access
A reflective space projecting images from Ireland's past, with a Memory Pod to record your own story. Beyond the displays, deeper access to the 100,000-item collection is available by appointment.
Plan Your Visit
- Hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 10:00–17:00. Closed Sunday and Monday. Entrance is at the side of the building on Walsh Street.
- Admission: Free admission
- Parking: Pay-and-display street parking on Walsh Street and Pearse Street. Nearby car parks within 5 minutes' walk: Market Square, Bachelor's Walk and Dunnes (EV charging). Free coach parking at the front on Pearse Street, pre-booked with reception.
- Food: No café on site; the museum welcomes visitors to picnic in the Walled Heritage Garden. Cafés and restaurants are a short walk away in Ballina town centre.
Getting Around
Watch More
See it on the map
Load the interactive map to explore this place location.
