About

Larne Museum & Arts Centre

Carnegie Free Library

Built in 1905, this historic building opened its doors to the public in 1906 as the Carnegie Free Library following financial assistance from the American millionaire and philanthropist Mr Andrew Carnegie. Now a grade B1 listed building, of historic and architectural interest, it was designed by Nicholas Fitzsimons, who also designed Smiley Cottage Hospital, and is an example of Edwardian 'free style' architecture. The library was built at a cost of £2500 and was officially opened on 2nd April 1906 by Colonel J M McCalmont, MP. The library eventually moved to larger premises on Pound Street in July 1980 at a cost of £205,000.

Larne Historical Centre

Larne Historical Centre first opened in the Reading Room of the Carnegie Free Library in 1972 following a campaign by local people for a museum which lead to a grant of £300 from Larne Borough Council. In 1975 the Centre moved to the ground floor of the McGarel Town Hall before returning to the old Carnegie Library building in June 1983.

Larne Museum & Arts Centre

In 2005, to commemorate its centenary year, the building was restored and renovated, retaining many of its original features, including the inscription above the doorway, the iron light bracket and wrought iron gates at the entrance engraved with the maker's name, 'Snoddy, Larne'. The building is also now home to Larne Art Club and Larne Drama Circle.

Main Gallery

The Main Gallery hosts permanent displays reflecting the agricultural, industrial, military and maritime history of the area. Larne is a principal gateway into Northern Ireland and the strong maritime links of this east Antrim coastal community are portrayed through a variety of exhibits relating to the first roll-on, roll-off ferries, the Royal Navy and the Princess Victoria disaster. Larne’s rural hinterland, which includes two of the nine glens of Antrim, is well represented in the museum’s folk life display. The War and Conflict section hosts objects from the Home Rule Crisis, Larne Gun Running and the First and Second World Wars. Visitors can access accounts and memories of local people through oral history listening posts and can browse through photographs in a digital community archive. New donations to the collection are accepted.

Temporary Gallery

The ‘John Clifford Gallery’ plays host to a variety of temporary exhibitions throughout the year. These can include in-house or touring exhibitions and exhibitions by local groups and individuals. If you would like to book exhibition space, please ask at reception for details.

John Clifford (1900-1983)

The temporary exhibition gallery has been named after John Clifford, the first curator of the museum. John was a local actor, poet and musician. He left Larne in 1937 to take up a civil service post in London where he became a professional actor. He returned to live in Larne in 1967, soon taking on the role of librarian in Carnegie Library. Due to his love of local history, John became a founding member and Chairman of Larne & District Folklore Society which formed in 1968 and still exists today. The society helped in the campaign for a local museum which lead to John becoming the first curator of Larne Historical Centre.

The museum is managed by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, and forms part of the Mid and East Antrim Museum & Heritage Service alongside similar local museums in Ballymena and Carrickfergus.

You can find out more about the museum, its collections and local history at the links below.

Virtual Tour

Take a virtual tour of the main gallery.

Art UK - Larne Museum

See some of the oil paintings from Larne Museum's collection on the Art UK website.

Art UK - Smiley Buildings

See some of the oil paintings at Smiley Buildings, Larne, on the Art UK website.

Larne Historic Church Trail

An easy-to-follow trail that will guide you around some of the oldest churches and graveyards in County Antrim.

Memories of Carnlough

View a record of the early years of Carnlough Civic Week 1963 - 1982.