Press Release

Mayor launches major Flight of the Earls Exhibition

Tuesday 16th October 2007

Mayor Alderman Drew Thompson will launch a major travelling exhibition commemorating the 400th anniversary of the Flight of the Earls, entitled From Leaders to Exiles, at the Tower Museum this week.

The exhibition focuses on the major events of the Flight of the Earls period, including the Nine Years War, the departure of the Ulster Earls and subsequent Plantation of Ulster.

Speaking ahead of the launch on Thursday 18 October at 7 pm, the Mayor said: “Derry City Council’s Heritage and Museum Service continues to provide the public with wonderful opportunities to engage in our local history. I look forward to viewing this latest in a series of exhibitions which the Museum Service will be hosting over the next couple of months.”

The exhibition, organised by Derry City Council in association with Donegal County Council, will be accompanied by educational games and activities aimed at young children and a series of education workshops will be organised for primary schools.

Margaret Edwards, Education Officer with the Heritage and Museum Service said the Council was delighted to host such a significant exhibition at the Tower Museum.

“We anticipate that this exhibition to prove very popular with visitors and locals alike as well as with school and educational groups wanting to find out more about events during the Flights of the Earls period.”

The interpretative panels from this exhibition forms part of a travelling exhibition, which will tour to venues throughout Northern Ireland in 2008.

The exhibition and associated education programme have been part funded by the European Union under Interreg IIIA through the North West Region Cross Border Group and the International Fund for Ireland. The exhibition is part of the national celebration of Shared Histories under the aegis of the Department of the Taoiseach and the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism.

ENDS

Notes to Editor:

There will be a photo opportunity on Thursday, 18 October, at 7.00 pm when the Mayor will officially open the exhibition at the Tower Museum. The media are invited to come along.

For additional information contact:

Press Office

return to previous page