Mayo museum sees 36% increase in visitor numbers
THE Jackie Clarke Collection in Ballina has seen a massive 36% increase in visitor numbers in the first six months of this year compared to 2024.
The significant achievement was announced by the museum this morning, where tribute was paid to all behind its continued growth and success.
A statement from the Collection said: “This could not have been achieved without the incredible hard work and dedication of the JCC team.
“Under the expert leadership of our manager, Yvonne Corcoran Loftus, the Collection has been successfully enrolled into the Heritage Council’s Museum Standards Programme for Ireland. Yvonne has also been appointed to the board of directors of the Irish Museums Association for the Connaught Province. Just two of the many achievements Yvonne has accomplished in her first year at the JCC.
“Our Community and Volunteer Programme skilfully run by community and volunteer manager Anne Marie Forbes continues to excel at organising and hosting a number of incredibly popular events. These events require a lot of hard work, but due to our amazing staff and volunteers always appear effortless and seamless, helping to bring the people of our community into the very heart of the Collection.
“Our Education Programme continues to go from strength to strength under our education officer, Celene Brennan, whose dedication and enthusiasm has galvanised the programme and seen a record number of schools, from across the whole of the west of Ireland, come to visit the collection and attend its workshops.
“Our front of house team have consistently delivered a professional and enjoyable visitor experience, welcoming visitors from all over the world, sharing their knowledge and unwavering passion for Irish history and Jackie’s collection of over 100,000 Irish historical artefacts. We would like to thank each and every one of them for all their incredible hard work; we could not do it without them.
“We would like to take this opportunity to thank county librarian Austin Vaughan and our director of services, Joanne Grehan, for all their support and our CE Kevin Kelly and Mayo County Council without whose patronage the JCC would not be the success it is today. Finally a huge, huge thank you to every visitor, organisation, community group and school, who continue to make the Jackie Clarke Collection a place of history, education and enjoyment for all here in the centre of Jackie’s beloved Ballina.”
Why not make today the day you visit the Jackie Clarke Collection - open Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Entrance to the collection and walled heritage garden are free.
More on the Jackie Clarke Collection here.