The core aim of the Maritime Museum is to promote and conserve the local maritime history and culture of Inishowen and to help encourage a sense of responsibility for local heritage through preservation and education. The Inishowen Maritime Museum achieve this aim through identifying, collecting and documenting the marine history and culture of the peninsula and surrounding areas, encompassing sea captains, the Naval Service, lighthouses, shipwrecks, and emigration.
One difficulty with promoting history has always been connecting with younger generations, who tend to focus more on the present and the future. But a proven method of grabbing their attention is using technology.
As part of the EU-funded TIDE project, three Virtual Reality projects have been created and deployed in Donegal, and one of them is available at the Inishowen Maritime Museum. Wrath of the Atlantic – Wrecks of the Armada takes you back in time to the Spanish Armada era, in the 16th Century, and focuses on two ships that entered Donegal’s waters: La Girona and La Trinidad Valencera.
The museum is a vital part of the community, as a tourist attraction bringing in people from everywhere, providing an educational resource for the community, providing a venue space for hosting various events and film screenings and acting as a hub for locals.
