The Somme Association

The Somme Association is a registered charity formed in 1990 to co-ordinate research into Ireland’s part in the First World War.

The Somme Association was created to ensure that the sacrifices of all those from Ireland who served in the War – and those of their families – would continue to be honoured and remembered.

The Somme Association’s first President was Her Royal Highness Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester. Following her death in October 2004 at the age of 102, her son, His Royal Highness, The Duke of Gloucester, agreed in July 2005 to become the Association’s current President.

The Somme Association has responsibility for the Somme Museum, formerly the Somme Heritage Centre at Conlig in County Down, the Ulster Memorial Tower on the site of the Battle of the Somme near Thiepval in France, and Thiepval Wood, from where the 36th (Ulster) Division launched the attack on the German lines at 7:30 am on 1 July 1916.

The Somme Association has an established support group, The Friends of the Somme. This organisation supports the work that the Somme Association undertakes. The group has a membership of around 800 with a number from as far afield as Canada, South Africa, Hong Kong and Australia.

The Somme Museum

In 1994 the Somme Association established the Somme Heritage Centre now Somme Museum at Conlig, between Newtownards and Bangor in Co. Down. The Museum is a fully accredited museum, providing exhibitions, displays and information, and is an institution for the study and interpretation of Ireland’s contribution to the First World War, with particular reference to the Battle of the Somme. It was built with the support of European and local funding combined with a major fund raising effort, supported by the public, to commemorate the involvement of the 36th (Ulster) Division, 16th (Irish) Division and 10th (Irish) Division in the First World War. In recent years our collection of Second World War artefacts has grown to include now have on display a ‘D Day’ exhibition.

Parties of school children as well as community groups, Church groups, Regimental Associations, and members of the public and their families visit the Museum regularly and learn of the sacrifices made by others in the past for the freedom they enjoy today. Since 2000 the Museum has expanded into the Second World War and other modern international conflicts including The Korean War.

Oral History Artefacts

The Museum has an extensive collection of material from the First World War and Second World War periods including a large oral history archive. The oral archives contain over 300 interviews with male and female veterans from both world wars, Home Front and Korean War.

Memorials
The Museum has also provided a home for a number of war memorials from local churches and community buildings that no longer exist. These can be viewed throughout the Museum.

In 2014 the Somme Heritage Centre was formally renamed the Somme Museum.

Throughout the year the Museum holds various events, the majority open to the public on topics associated with the First World War.

Visit the Somme Museum