Textiles & Costume
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Clothing is a wonderful way of helping us imagine how people actually lived in the past. The museum’s costume cases contain a fascinating array of ladies clothes, including wedding dresses, frocks and evening gowns, many dating from the Victorian period. These are accompanied by accessories including fans and purses.
Among the men's costume is a rare brown-coloured suit dating to the 1790s and a selection of elaborately decorated waistcoats. At the more formal end of attire are costumes worn on special occasions, as by the 5th Earl of Caledon at the coronation of King Edward VII in 1902.
Within this section, uniforms also feature, including a useful summary of the history of the Irish Police force, which in 1822 took the name of the Constabulary of Ireland. This was later changed by Queen Victoria to the Royal Irish Constabulary and in turn the Royal Ulster Constabulary (1922). Two fine uniforms of the RIC are a 'mess kit' (1880) and a dress uniform (1893). The displays also include badges, helmets and police batons.
Victorian Dress
There are an array of ladies clothes, including wedding dresses, frocks and evening gowns, many dating from the Victorian period. These are accompanied by accessories including fans and purses.
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