Benburb Priory Library and Museum
Visitor centre in a restored Victorian stable block on the Benburb Priory estate, with a museum and a library of about 20,000 volumes.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Library and Museum opened in 2017 in the restored Victorian stable block of the Benburb Priory estate in the village of Benburb, County Tyrone. The estate lies by the River Blackwater at an old ford, close to Benburb Castle, which the Wingfield family built in 1611, and to the site of the 1646 Battle of Benburb. The manor house was built in the 1870s by James Bruce, and the Servite order took it over in 1949 and ran it as a priory.
The library holds around 20,000 volumes and describes itself as unique in Ireland and Britain. Its main parts are the Servite and Marian collections, with books going back to the 1500s, the archives of the Servite order in England and Ireland, and the O'Neill Collection, which covers the O'Neill dynasty and local history from before the Plantation. Notable items include a rare copy of the Book of Kells, an early Irish-language Bible translation and poems by Seamus Heaney printed in small magazines.
The museum and library act as the visitor hub of the wider estate. Guided tours of the estate, the manor house, the castle and the valley park can be booked for groups and schools.
Highlights
- Library of about 20,000 volumes with books dating back to the 1500s
- Servite and Marian collections and Servite archives
- O'Neill Collection on the O'Neill dynasty and local history
- Rare copy of the Book of Kells and early Irish-language Bible
- Stables Café and estate tours
Permanent exhibition
- Library and museum collections – Servite and Marian collections, Servite archives and the O'Neill Collection, with displays on the history of the estate.
- Founded
- 2017
- Operated by
- Benburb Priory
Admission & discounts
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Amenities & dining
- Café
- Museum shop
- Wi-Fi
Stables Café and the Priory Arts & Crafts shop; the estate says the café stop has Wi-Fi and toilets.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Guided tours of the library and museum are available for individuals and groups; estate tours also cover the manor house, Benburb Castle and Valley Park. Book through reception or the online enquiry form. |
