Maritime Museum

Join us and embark on a journey through Inishowen’s maritime heritage at our museum. Uncover the stories of seafarers, historic shipwrecks, and the enduring connection between the community and the vast ocean, all through a curated collection of fascinating exhibits,  artifacts and tales.

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The Museum Will Be Closed From Thursday 12th Sept Until Jan 2025 to Facilitate On-going Maintenance Work.

We highly recommend booking in advance to ensure your spot, as ticket holders will be given priority access.

Group rates and educational tour discounts available upon request.

Museum Themes

Explore Inishowen’s maritime history through our diverse range of themed exhibits, from traditional boats to shipwrecks and sea captains. Each exhibit offers a glimpse into the unique stories that define the region’s deep ties to the sea. 

Museum Themes

Drontheim Boat
Focuses on the traditional Drontheim, a prevalent fishing boat along Ireland's North Coast, vital for local fisheries.
Sea Captains
Celebrating Inishowen's seafaring heritage, highlighting local captains who commanded global maritime ventures.
Main Head Radio Station
Established in 1902, this station played a crucial role in maritime communications, including contact with the RMS Titanic.
HMS-Black-Swan
Chronicles the evolution of Ireland's naval forces from early coastal defense to a full naval service established in 1946.
Shipwrecks
Highlights the perilous waters off Inishowen that have claimed numerous ships, documented through museum exhibits.
latrinidad
Tells the story of a 16th-century Spanish Armada ship wrecked off Inishowen, with artifacts displayed in the museum.
Inishowen Maritime Museum Memorial
A tribute at the museum's entrance honoring locals lost at sea, symbolized by an armillary sphere used as a sundial.
Lighthouse
Details the critical role of lighthouses in navigation and safety, with a focus on local lightkeeping families.
Inishowen Maritime Museum Interior Shot
Explores the history of local pilots guiding ships into Derry, crucial during World War II for Atlantic convoys.
HMS-Black-Swan
The seas off Inishowen bustled with naval activity in both World Wars, supporting global convoy operations and fostering unique local trade, such as "bumboating."
B 17 Bomber
Recounts the 1942 emergency landing of a B17 bomber in Lough Foyle, with recovered artifacts on display.
Emigration
Examines the mass migrations from Inishowen, driven by economic necessity and facilitated by Derry's maritime links.

Visitor Reviews

Our visitors testimonials shine a light on the wonders, memories and moments that await you at Inishowen Maritime Museum & Planetarium

Aaron Mooney

A brilliant attraction with something for everyone. A fascinating insight into the history of Greencastle, as well as Inishowen more widely. The VR experiences were wonderfully engaging and heightened the experience. For such a small fee, the Museum is more than worth it!

Olena Anoricheva

The museum is excellent! It is really really worth it, especially for teenagers and adults. I didn’t expect the museum to be so great! Very educational. Everybody who’s interested in ships, lighthouses, radio technology and ship wreckage findings should visit it. There’s even a virtual reality simulator to play as a Lieutenant of a ship.

Fionn D

A brilliant museum with many unique and interesting artefacts. Being able to see all the items up close and being able to touch and operate some of the receivers and radios. The VR experience was also brilliant ! The collection of various items, from war medals, and pieces of shipwrecks and crashed bombers was very […]

Raymond Mackey

 Brilliant local museum, housed in historic coastguard buildings. The museum has a wide range of displays, ranging from the recent history of local lighthouses right back to the ruins of ships from the Spanish Armada. There are many links drawn with the local areas history and connection to the sea and fishing. Well worth a […]

Esther Upritchard

Excellent experience, beautifully set in an amazing building . To be honest, we didn’t even know it was there (Googled for places to see in the area ). The weather made it all the more enjoyable . Lovely staff friendly and helpful, we will return to see the planetarium which we missed out on.

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Maritime Museum

Embark on a journey through Inishowen’s maritime heritage at our museum. Uncover the stories of seafarers, historic shipwrecks, and the enduring connection between the community and the vast ocean, all through a curated collection of fascinating artifacts and tales.

Interior of Museum

We highly recommend booking in advance to ensure your spot, as ticket holders will be given priority access.

Group rates and educational tour discounts available upon request.

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