An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir September 2017 www.dfmagazine.ie 20 | REPORT AND PhOTOS By SGT WAyNE FITzGERAlD O n Friday the 30th June 21 Defence Forces personnel gathered in Military Ar- chives, Cathal Brugha Bks. Some held qualifications in military history, a few were successful authors, and at least one was an accomplished poet. What they all had in common was a desire to learn how to become a museum curator. They were there because, in an unprecedented move, the Irish Museum Association (IMA) had agreed to run a Museum Basics Course exclusively for members of the Defence Forces. Students came from the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service and at least one curator came from a location where a barrack museum is established or is proposed to be established. The IMA is an all-Ireland network, established in 1977, to support the Irish museum sector and promote improved standards of practice through educa- tion and research. It is governed by a limited company with a voluntary board formed by experienced museum professionals drawn from its member- ship. The IMA subscribes to and de- velops awareness of the International Council of Museums' definition of a museum as 'a non-profit, permanent institution in the service of society and its development, open to the public, which acquires, conserves, researches, communicates and exhibits the tangible and intangible heritage of humanity and its environment for the purposes of education, study and enjoyment'. The course took place over four days in Military Archives, and included a host of speakers from museums all over Ireland and Europe. The course contained eight modules: Introduction to Museums; Collecting and Collec- tions; Management and Governance; Display; Documentation; Collection Care, Education and Access; and Exter- nal Relations. OiC Military Archives, Comdt Ste- phen Mac Eoin, introduced the course. "It will help to maintain a Defence Forces heritage within all barracks and posts", he said. "There is a crossover between archives, libraries and muse- ums, so it is appropriate that Military Archives be the location for this course." Comdt Mac Eoin then introduced Gina O'Kelly, from the Irish Museums Asso- ciation who told the group: "The IMA's main aim is to provide information and support for those seeking to improve their museum. Through the collective raising of standards across the sector, we can enrich the museum experience for all who work at, and visit, our museums." The IMA also assists with the Muse- um Standards Programme for Ireland run by the Heritage Council. In Gina's introduction she said it was going to be "a 'crash course' in museums and you will not become ex- perts, but will be very knowledgeable on the subject". One of the other main speakers was Comdt Lar Joye (RDF), 2 Bde HQ, who is curator of the flags, firearms, swords, transport and military history collec- tions of the Art and Industrial Division of the National Museum of Ireland (NMI), Collins Bks, Dublin. (Many read- ers will be familiar with NMI's award winning Soldiers and Chiefs exhibition that Comdt Joye was heavily involved in curating.) Comdt Joye presented the first mod- ule, Introduction to Museums, using his experiences with the NMI and its collections. He also told the group that the Defence Forces could learn from the Heritage Council's Museum Stan- dards Programme, and should, in time, aspire to meet its requirements. The Past is Their Future, Museum Basics Course OiC Military Archives Comdt Stephen Mac Eoin Paul Doyle, former Registrar at the National Museum of Ireland

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