The Irish Heritage Trust is pleased to announce that the Irish Agricultural Museum has been awarded full Museum Standards Accreditation in recognition of its high standards in museum management, collections care, education and visitor services. This is awarded by the Heritage Council of Ireland under its Museum Standards Programme for Ireland (MSPI).

Situated on the Johnstown Castle Estate, Wexford, the Irish Agricultural Museum is one of five Irish Museums to receive the top award of Full Accreditation this year which requires complying with 34 standards under the MSPI. Four more Irish Museums will be awarded Full Accreditation.

In receiving full Museum Standards Accreditation, the Irish Agricultural Museum joins the distinguished list of sites and historic properties with full Museum Standards including Farmleigh House, (Dublin) Castletown House (Kildare), Muckross House (Killarney), Chester Beatty Library & National Gallery of Ireland (Dublin).

Speaking about the MSPI Accreditation, Anne O’Donoghue, CEO of the Irish Heritage Trust, which cares for the property, commented:

“The recent news that the Irish Agricultural Museum has received full Museum status from the Heritage Council of Ireland is a very welcome boost for our team who have worked very hard on the detailed process to attain this prestigious award. We look forward to welcoming visitors to the museum this summer and showcasing our new acquisitions and temporary exhibitions.”

Speaking about the Irish Agricultural Museum collection and the importance of the Museum Standards Award, Curator Matt Wheeler said:

“Achieving Full Museum Accreditation under The Heritage Council of Ireland’s Museum Standards Programme marks a significant milestone for the Irish Agricultural Museum. It is the culmination of years of work by both the Board of the Irish Agricultural Museum and the Irish Heritage Trust team, by improving our visitor experience through exhibitions, new acquisitions, and conservation projects. The Irish Agricultural Museum and its collection are of local and national importance, and it is through participating in the MSPI that we have enhanced our ability to preserve and protect these collections for future generations”.

Commenting on the Accreditation achievement, the MSPI Assessor stated: “The IHT is evidently relishing the opportunity to explore the breadth and richness of the IAM collection, bringing out the multiple stories that it can support, as reflected in the lively temporary exhibition and education programmes”.

The MSPI was established by the Heritage Council of Ireland in 2006 to benchmark and promote professional standards in the care of collections and to recognise the achievement of those standards through the Irish museum sector. The programme recognises excellence in caring for collections, museum management, education, exhibition and visitor services.

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