Revised Winter Opening times from 10th Oct 2022
Monday (10:30am-4pm)
Wednesday (10:30am-4pm)
Friday (10:30am-4pm)
Other times by appointment
Contact us at greencastlemaritime@outlook.com or 0749381363
Please note we will be operating winter hours from 1st September 2023
Inishowen Maritime Museum
Inishowen Maritime Museum & Planetarium is located at the Old Coast Guard station over looking Greencastle Harbour on the banks of the beautiful Lough Foyle. It is situated beside the Lough Foyle ferry entrance; this passenger/car ferry service runs between Greencastle and Magilligan, Co. Derry
If you wish to contact us or have any queries on our new full-dome digital theatre please do not hesitate to call the museum on (00353) 074 9381363.
Note: During winter hours, planetarium shows are not presented at pre-set times. As long as a staff member is present to run the shows, they are available anytime on a walk-in basis. (min 6 persons for unscheduled shows during winter opening hours)
For information or bookings, call 074 938 1363.
From N.I. & U.K.: 00 353 74 938 1363
Family and group rates available. School groups especially welcome!
Open All Year Round
Summer Opening
May – 1st September
Monday – Saturday
10.00am – 5:30pm
Sunday
12.00pm – 5pm
Last admission 4.00pm
Winter Opening
1st September – May
Monday – Friday
10.30am – 4.00pm
Last admission 3.30pm
Other times by appointment
Sponsors and Friends of Inishowen Maritime Museum
Inishowen Maritime Museum, located at the Old Coastguard Station in Greencastle, has been at the heart of the community, preserving and showcasing Inishowen’s rich maritime heritage for the past 30 years. The museum has achieved great success over the years and has held many exhibitions and events to promote the importance of the Inishowen sea faring community. The museum is continuing its progress by being part of the Museums Standards Programme of Ireland with the Heritage Council and with its close partnership with Failte Ireland.
Since the outbreak of the COVID pandemic the museum has received no operational support from the council or from any other government body. The prolonged periods of closure forced upon us by the pandemic and the rising energy costs due to the war in Ukraine have meant that we have had to make serious cutbacks in order to keep our doors open. To this end, we are hoping to establish Sponsors and Friends of the museum to help ensure our future.
We are asking that you would consider being a sponsor or friend of the museum on an annual basis. Being a sponsor or friend will entitle you to free access to the museum, museum run events and additional benefits listed below.
| Sponsor – €500 Annual Fee | Friend – €100 Annual Fee |
| Free access to the museum and
museum run events all year |
Free access to the museum and
museum run events all year |
| Free entry for up to 10 guests per year | Free entry for up to 5 guests per year |
| Listing as sponsor on website and at museum | Listing as friend on website and at museum |
Your support is vital for the future of the museum. We are now a registered charity so tax benefits may accrue to donors.
If you are happy become a sponsor or friend, we would be grateful for your contribution. The easiest way to make the payment is by setting up a standing order to be paid recurring on the 1st of May via online banking direct to our account stating your name as the reference:
ACC – Inishowen Maritime Heritage CLG
IBAN – IE09BOFI 904771 89425514
BIC – BOFIIE2DXXX
The payment can also be made by calling to the museum and paying by card or cash.
We look forward to having you on board!
Regards,
The Board and Staff
Wrath of the Atlantic – Wrecks of the Armada – experience the new Virtual Reality experience now available at the Inishowen Maritime Greencastle in Greencastle.
This VR experience takes you back in time to the Spanish Armada era dating back to the 16th Century. It focuses on two ships that entered Donegal’s waters: La Girona and La Trinidad Valencera.
La Girona travelled into Killybegs Harbour to repair her rudders. Almost 1,500 men from nearby shipwrecks travelled by foot to Killybegs to seek passage back to Spain.
At Kinnagoe Bay, the VR experience takes you on the journey where the Captain deliberately ran La Trinidad Valencera ashore after fighting with 7 feet of water in her bows for days. They met the friendly Irish who ferried them to shore over two days and gave them food in exchange for salvage from the boat.
The VR experience finishes with footage from a BBC documentary where items were salvaged from the shipwreck by the Derry Sub Aqua Club in 1975. Some of these artefacts are on loan from the Ulster Museum today and can be seen at the Inishowen Maritime Museum for the summer months.
For more details on this experience and Donegal’s other three new Virtual Experiences; www.govisitdonegal.com/virtual-reality-experiences
For more information on the TIDE Project www.tide-atlantic.eu
Folks with the winter months on our doorstep, we here at the Inishowen Maritime Museum & Tearoom will be reverting back to our winter timetable starting today 02/09/2022 which is:
Monday – Friday
10.30am – 4.00pm
Last admission 3.30pm
We would like to thank everyone who came down to the museum during the summer months and look forward to your continued support over the winter time.
To celebrate National Heritage Week and Water Heritage Day 2022 the Inishowen Maritime Museum will be screening the BBC Chronicle Documentary of ‘La Trinidad Valencera’ Dive Expedition on the 21st of August at 3pm
La Trinidad Valencera, was the fourth largest ship in the Spanish Armada fleet, which set out to conquer England in 1588. However, having sprung a leak, the ship sought shelter in Kinnagoe Bay, off the coast of Inishowen, Co. Donegal, where it struck a hidden reef just 200 yards from shore and sunk. In the early 1970’s thirteen divers from the City of Derry Sub Aqua Club discovered the important wreck and were subsequently involved in its excavation.
Spaces limited. Please book via Eventbrite at the bottom of link provided https://www.heritageweek.ie/event-listings/screening-of-bbc-chronicle-documentary-of-la-trinidad-valencera-dive-expedition
The food fair that was held at Inishowen Maritime Museum as part of Greencastle Regatta celebrations was a huge success. On Friday the 5th of August, hundreds of people descended onto the grounds of the museum to sample and buy the delicious food that was on offer from the invited food companies, which included BakeRona , Foyle Bia Mara, Malabar Kitchen, The Cocktail Co, small_but_mighty_fuel. The food, the people, the weather and the music which was provided by Ceolan School of Music made the day a great success and we here at the museum would like to thank everyone that helped make it happen and can’t wait for next years one.