An Cosantóir

www.military.ie the defence forces magazine | 9 Irish Military War Museum REPORT & PhOTOS By CPl lEE COylE A n Cosantóir re- cently visited the Irish Military War Museum in Starinagh, Col- lon, Co. Meath to view its new extension and to take in the sights and sounds of its fully interactive tour. The museum is privately owned and the largest of its kind in Ireland, now boasting a whopping 13,000 square feet of floor space. Opened by the Minister of State with Responsibility for Defence, Mr Paul Kehoe TD, in June 2014, the museum offers a fascinating insight into Irish participants in both world wars and other his- torical military conflicts. The new extension increased the original size of the museum by almost 9,000 square feet and holds a wealth of military artefacts, decommis- sioned weapons and au- thentic clothing. Exhibits are not in the standard display cases but are generally displayed in dif- ferent realistic scenarios, such as war-torn build- ings and trenches from different periods. These allow visitors to feel part of the action and for a brief moment they can be whisked away to a foreign land during one of the greatest battles in history. Vehicles are also displayed in these scenarios, which show them in all their menacing superiority just as they did on the battle- field during their service; a fantastic sight for any military enthusiast. The new extension also holds a large confer- ence room that is available for hire for meetings, exhibi- tions and events. The tour of the fa- cility is fully interac- tive, allowing visitors to touch and handle the militaria on display. Fully guided tours are provided by in-house historians and automated pod- cast guided tours. The museum also offers tour packages and caters for school visits and work- shops for visiting groups. After viewing the fasci- nating exhibits within the museum building, there is plenty more to do out on the grounds, which include a children's play area with a fully equipped playground and an enclosed picnic area with benches and BBQ facili- ties. For those who wish to have a party or celebrate a special occasion at the museum, there is also a fully serviced kitchen The outdoor site covers 22 acres and has run- ning water, night light- ing, bathroom facilities and paddock areas for camping, on request. Also on the grounds, the museum has recreated a typical Great War trench, which gives visitors a great insight into the ter- rible conditions in which an estimated 210,000 Irishmen fought and died in the mud-sodden world of the Western Front. There is also an in- house instructor avail- able to teach visitors how to drive an original FV432 armoured person- nel carrier; a vehicle first built in Britain in 1962 and still in service with various armies, proving just how dependable it is. Finally, the museum also offers a costume and equipment rental, ranging from period originals and high quality replicas for TV and film productions to costumes for drama groups or fancy dress. During the year, special living-history events are held where the man- nequins are replaced by re-enactors from the WWII Club, who answer questions and tell stories about the two world wars. The Irish Military War Museum has something for people of all ages and nationalities and is a 'must see' for any military enthusiast or anyone interested in Irish history. The museum is located just off the M1, at exit 12 (Dunleer/Collon), there is a map on their website: www.imwm. ie/contact/map/ or for more information call: 041 9819501.

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