The contract to fit out a major new exhibition centre dedicated to the story of the Titanic has been secured by the Patton Group's recently established Heritage Division.

The Ballymena-based company, which has itself established an impressive history of working with National Museums Northern Ireland, was delighted to land the Design and Build contract for what will be one of the first major exhibition centres dedicated to the story of the ill fated ship.

Work is well underway on the scheme to design and fit out the new gallery in the Ulster Folk & Transport Museum in Cultra which will host TITANICa: The Exhibition to help mark the centenary of the launch of the Titanic.

The exhibition will open at the end of May in the Transport Galleries and will feature more than 500 original artefacts from National Museums Northern Ireland's collections.

The Patton Heritage team is working closely with a number of specialist contractors to represent a number of the original museums displays as part of its ongoing commitment to sustainability.

The historical importance of the Titanic to Northern Ireland’s heritage has made this an extra special scheme for the local firm who tendered along with contractors from outside of the province.

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Head of Patton's Heritage Division, Dominic Sore said: "We have been working very closely with the Head of Human History for National Museums Northern Ireland in the story of the Titanic and of Belfast as a city and what it had to offer at that time.

"A lot of the glass cases for displaying the material are specialist and careful consideration is being given to such things as lighting and protection of some of the older artefacts.

"A main feature will be a 7m long display case that will present to the visitor one of the many original Ship Plans that was used to build RMS Titanic."

The exhibition will explore Titanic and her world and reveal why Titanic and her sister ships Olympic and Britannic were built in Belfast and how local enterprise and skills combined to produce vessels of exceptional quality and design.

Visitors can discover life on board through fascinating objects and personal stories that explore the tragic loss of Titanic in 1912.

Tim Cooke, Director of National Museums Northern Ireland, said: "The Ulster Folk & Transport Museum holds a unique and extensive collection of artefacts relating to the Titanic itself and, importantly, its wider context within the White Star Line fleet.

"Visitors will be able to enjoy TITANICa: The Exhibition in the context of superb galleries featuring road, rail and air transport.

"The exhibition will provide an important and complementary visitor attraction supporting all the efforts being made to boost tourism and public engagement over the next couple of years," he said.

"We are also fortunate in Northern Ireland to have a world-class Folk Museum which provides a fabulous setting for telling the story of the people who lived in the time of Titanic. TITANICa: The People’s Story will be unique in the world and will offer visitors the opportunity to experience how families and workers actually lived 100 years ago."

The contract has added significance for the Patton Group as it shares something significant in common with The Titanic – the Ballymena firm was established 100 years ago next year and also celebrates its centenary.

(GK/KMcA)