Cavan County Museum
Virginia Road, Ballyjamesduff,
Co. Cavan
Tel: 049 44070
Fax: 049 44332
Originally built in the 19th century as the Poor Clare
Convent, this impressive three-storey structure now houses the
Cavan County Museum which was established in 1996 with the
aim of collecting, conserving, documenting and displaying
all aspects of the culture, history and traditions of County
Cavan and neighbouring counties.
The core of the collection is the "Pighouse Collection",
so named because of the buildings in which it was
originally stored. Donated by Mrs Phyllis Faris of Cornafean, Co.
Cavan, the collection consists of 18th, 19th and 20th century costume and folk life material. The folk
life display takes visitors through the everyday life on a typical 19th century Cavan farm with
exhibits including a thatched cottage, farmyard scene and folk craft items.
Amongst the items in the Archaeology Room are two well-preserved Sheela-na-Gigs
medieval stone carvings with their explicit depiction of female genitalia which are believed to be based
on pagan fertility symbols. Other outstanding pieces in the Museum's collection include the
1,000-year-old Lough Errol Dug-Out boat, a three-faced pre-Christian Corleck Head and, dating from 1724,
the exquisite silver mace of the Borough of Cavan.
The Museum is open all year round, except at Christmas, from 10am to 5pm, Tuesday to
Saturday, and on Sundays from June to September between 2pm and 6pm. There's parking for cars and
coaches and the Museum has disabled access toilets.
