Friday 30 May 2014

NMI Exhibition: Preserving the Peace, opens June

http://www.museum.ie/en/exhibition/preserving-the-peace.aspx
To mark the bicentenary of the Peace Preservation Act of 1814, seen by many as the precursor to the establishment of the Irish Constabulary, the National Museum of Ireland-Country Life will be opening a fascinating exhibition next month: Preserving The Peace: Two Centuries of Policing and Punishment in Ireland (1814-2014)

Dedicated to Irish policing over the past 200 years, the exhibition will focus on organised policing on the island, exploring the degree to which standard policing has metamorphosed or remained static against the backdrop of British and Irish rule.

The exhibition - encompassing three gallery floors at Turlough Park, Castlebar - will open to the public on Saturday 14 June. It will sample the nature of crimes which confronted the forces from the 19th century up to the present day and will also feature an intriguing section depicting state punishment of the guilty in Victorian Ireland.

From the initial crime to capture and punishment, both corporal and capital – Preserving the Peace opens a door onto the sometimes uncomfortable reality of Ireland’s official past. It is considered suitable for all ages and will run until Easter 2015. Several events and talks are planned to be held on policing themes during the course of the exhibition and full details can be found by clicking the logo above.

The National Museum of Ireland – Country Life is at Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co Mayo.