Partying Down in the 1980s

Partying Down in the 1980s is a temporary exhibition at Down County Museum in Downpatrick exploring what daily life was actually like in the town and the wider district during that decade. It opened on 17 April 2026 and continues through to 27 February 2027, so there is a long window to catch it. Rather than a generic decade retrospective, the show draws on the museum’s own social history collection and on material contributed by people who lived through the period, covering home life, work, fashion and the events that shaped the town.

What to expect

The exhibition sits inside Down County Museum’s permanent galleries, housed in what was once the county gaol, so visitors can combine it with the museum’s core collection on the same visit. Expect photographs, clothing, household objects and ephemera from 1980s Downpatrick, arranged to show how national and international events of the decade were felt at a local level. The museum’s free admission means there is no barrier to a short visit, and staff on site can point out related items in the permanent collection. Because the run is so long, it works well as a repeat visit rather than a one-off, particularly for anyone researching family or local history from the period.

Getting there

Down County Museum is on English Street in Downpatrick town centre, close to Down Cathedral and the Saint Patrick Centre, so it is an easy add-on to a wider heritage visit. Downpatrick is served by Translink bus services from Belfast and the surrounding towns, and there is public parking within walking distance of the museum.

While you’re in Downpatrick

Downpatrick’s whole town centre trades on its Saint Patrick connections, and the museum sits within a few minutes’ walk of the cathedral and the Saint Patrick Centre, so a museum visit fits naturally into a longer look around the town. There is more to see in Downpatrick and across Co. Down.

Good to know

• Runs 17 April 2026 to 27 February 2027
• Down County Museum, English Street, Downpatrick
• Free admission
• Open Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 4:30pm
• Booking not required, drop in during opening hours