St George's Heritage and Visitor Centre

About the museum

St George's Church in Carrick-on-Shannon was built in 1827 for the Church of Ireland and has since been restored and converted into a heritage and visitor centre run by the Carrick-on-Shannon Heritage Group. The centre combines the stories of three historic sites in the town: the church itself, the former Famine workhouse and the tiny Costello Memorial Chapel.

Visitors begin with an audio-visual presentation on Leitrim, its landscape, history and the hardships of the 1800s. The church interior holds a small exhibition on the Gaelic and Planter cultures that shaped the town over its last 400 years, banners on the town's history from its foundation in 1613, showcases of church silver, the seal of the town corporation and rowing club trophies, and a Telford organ of the 1840s that is still played. Stained glass windows and documents connected with the Clements estate, home of the Earls of Leitrim, are also shown.

A guided tour continues to the Workhouse Attic, which is presented in its original state and tells of the Famine workhouse and the Earl Grey scheme that sent young women to Australia, and to the Famine graveyard. The Costello Memorial Chapel, built in the 1870s as a memorial and burial crypt for Mary Josephine Costello, is one of the smallest chapels in Ireland.

Highlights

• Audio-visual presentation on Leitrim and exhibition in a restored church of 1827
• Telford organ of the 1840s and stained glass windows
• Workhouse Attic presented in its original state, with Famine displays
• Costello Memorial Chapel, among the smallest chapels in Ireland
• Documents on the Clements estate and the Earls of Leitrim

Permanent exhibitions

• St George's Church exhibition – A small historical exhibition on the Gaelic and Planter heritage of Carrick-on-Shannon, with church silver, banners, a Telford organ and a film on Leitrim.
• Workhouse Attic – The attic of the Famine workhouse, shown in its original state, with displays on the workhouse and the Earl Grey scheme.

Operated by

Carrick-on-Shannon Heritage Group

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Entry is free of charge; donations are welcome.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The centre advertises disabled access and toilet facilities for its meeting and event space.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The centre is on Church Lane, St Mary's Close, in the middle of Carrick-on-Shannon.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Tea and coffee are available on request. A shop sells books, DVDs and gift sets.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events

Up to 180 guests.

The events hall seats up to 180 depending on the event, and a meeting room seats up to 25 and has broadband.

Plan your visit