Louth’s County Museum branded ‘outdated’ as council hears call for upgrade

By Olivia Ryan, The Drogheda Independent

The County Museum in Dundalk has been described as “outdated” and in need of refurbishment, councillors heard at the latest meeting of Louth County Council.

The concerns were raised as new figures showed the museum welcomed 13,831 visitors in 2025, prompting Cllr Robert Nash to call for a renewed focus on modernising the facility.

“It is great to see the library has made great strides over the last few years with a range of services, but I think the museum has been left behind,” he said.

Cllr Nash said that while last year’s 30th‑anniversary celebrations were a success, parts of the museum remain unchanged, noting that the ground floor still centres heavily on Dundalk’s Heinz factory.

“It needs to be updated, so if we are going for funding could we have a look at that?” he asked.

His comments came as the council published its Annual Service Delivery Plan 2025, which includes commitments to prioritise building maintenance and “seek funding opportunities to upgrade the gallery and exhibition spaces.”

The discussion also prompted a wider conversation about cultural facilities in the county, with Cllr Kevin Meenan urging councillors to “lead by example” and return to regular library use.

“I have gone back to it myself, and I know part of the problem is there is a stigma there in that some communities were maybe not necessarily attracted to using the library,” he said. “But I think we should lead by example by going back to the library.”

Cathaoirleach Cllr Seán Kelly highlighted the upcoming Ireland Reads initiative taking place at the end of February, encouraging the public to get involved.

“I visited Dundalk Library last week, and you would be amazed at the level of services there. All our libraries across Louth are doing incredible work,” he said.

Cllr Anne Marie Ford added that visits from the library van to her local school bring “real excitement,” and asked whether staff from the library service could visit schools to explain the full range of services available.