Lismore Gaelic Heritage Centre
Community museum, archive and café on the Isle of Lismore about the island's Gaelic culture and history, with a reconstructed cottar's cottage beside it.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Lismore Gaelic Heritage Centre, known in Gaelic as Ionad Naomh Moluag (the gathering place of St Moluag), is run by the island's historical society. Its purpose-built centre opened on 17 March 2007 after a project that took many years. Before that the society kept its archive in the old schoolhouse at Achnacroish.
The building cost about £600,000. It has a grass roof and geothermal heating, and houses an exhibition area, a library, an archive room, a gift shop, a café, an office and toilets. The first turf was cut in February 2006 on land given by the parents of Duncan MacGregor.
The displays cover the landscape, industry, agriculture and population of Lismore, with part of the object collection on show at any time and a board on the island folklorist Alexander Carmichael. Beside the centre stands Taigh Iseabail Dhàidh, a reconstructed late 19th-century cottar's cottage opened in 2002. The community has recently bought the Cathedral Church of St Moluag from the Church of Scotland.
Highlights
- Museum on the history, landscape and farming of Lismore
- Reconstructed late 19th-century cottar's cottage next door
- Library and archive of the island's historical society
- Café and gift shop in the same building
Permanent exhibition
- Museum of Lismore – Displays on the landscape, industry, agriculture and population of the island, with part of the object archive on show and a board on the folklorist Alexander Carmichael.
- Founded
- 2007
- Operated by
- Comann Eachdraidh Lios Mòr (Lismore historical society)
Admission & discounts
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: no information
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- 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
Toilets are in the building. The website gives no information on step-free access.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Car ferry from Oban to Lismore (about 50 minutes, timetable on the CalMac website); foot and bicycle ferry from Port Appin (about 10 minutes, run by Argyll and Bute Council).
Taxis and bike hire are available on the island, and the website lists their phone numbers. Bicycles cost £2 each way on the Port Appin ferry and electric bicycles £4.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
- Museum shop
The café was named Isle Café of the Year 2025 according to a post by the centre. A gift shop and library are in the building.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Good to know | Collection catalogues can be viewed by appointment or shared remotely by email. Walking and cycling groups are asked to call ahead. |
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