Timed to coincide with 80th anniversary of the original museum, the reopening of the Ulster Museum has marked this date as well as inaugurating a new era in Northern Ireland's culture.

The new museum was officially reopened yesterday, after a two-years, complete refurbishment of its interior.

The project, costing £17.2million, has been funded by the Department of Culture Arts and Leisure, the Heritage Lottery Fund and trusts, foundations and private donations.

The redesign was carried out to Hamilton Architects, who said that the changes have made the building easier to visit and more welcoming.

The architect Paul Millar explained how intimidating the dark space at the entrance was originally with its very low ceiling, which has now been replaced by a bright 23-metre high 'welcome' area.

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The new museum has an extra square kilometre of exhibition space and has improved all its access. Besides, there is a new restaurant, a cafe overlooking Botanic Gardens and a new shop.

DCAL Minister Nelson McCausland stated that Northern Ireland now has "a superb museum of international quality" that will attract "hundreds of thousands of visitors from home and abroad - boosting tourism, learning engagement and purposeful leisure activity".

Tim Cooke, the Museum's Director, added he hoped it would be useful to people of all ages to understand better the past in order to achieve a successfully future. 


The new museum has been divided into three main zones: art, nature and history, each one with and interactive area. It also includes a spectacular 'Window on Our World' exhibition.

From now until February, the top floor will house an exhibition about the Irish-born abstract painter Sean Scully, who is internationally known.

According to Cooke, it will attract visitors from North America and Europe putting Belfast "on the international map".

The Chairman of National Museums Northern Ireland Dan Harvey, thanked founders, partners and staff their help to achieve the successfully of the project and added the new museum surely will become an icon as a cultural institution and also as a public building.

Representatives of schools, councils and community groups from across NI attended to the ceremony.

After the speeches, three musicians played an instrumental piece specially composed for the occasion. and the doors were opened to the public, soon to be filled with visitors.

(CL/BMcC)