Junior Ministers welcome start of work on DNA Museum
Date published:
Junior Ministers Joanne Bunting and Aisling Reilly have welcomed the start of construction work on the Derry-Londonderry on the North Atlantic (DNA) Museum.
The £15million project at Ebrington Square is being led by Derry City and Strabane District Council, supported with £3.3million of funding from The Executive Office.
Attending an event to mark the official start of work on the museum, Junior Minister Joanne Bunting said:
“Since 2016 TEO has invested over £37m to transform and regenerate Ebrington. This additional £3.3m will ensure the DNA Museum becomes a key part of that ongoing journey and I am delighted that 14 jobs are being created.
“The DNA Museum will be a dynamic cultural space – one that honours Londonderry’s rich history while also creating new opportunities for learning, tourism and community engagement.
“We are building something that will have lasting impact and I want to thank everyone who has played a role in reaching this milestone.”
Junior Minister Aisling Reilly said:
“It’s great to see work getting under way on the DNA Museum, which will tell the story of Derry’s incredible history, heritage and people.
“We are committed to promoting regional balance, and realising the full potential of the Ebrington site is a vital part of our vision for Derry and the North West.
“I look forward to seeing the positive impact this new landmark visitor attraction has on the local tourism economy and the significant benefits it brings to the city and wider region.”
Junior Ministers were joined at the event in the Ebrington Hotel by Communities Minister Gordon Lyons, Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald and local council and community representatives.
Work on the new DNA Museum is expected to be completed by Spring 2027.
Notes to editors:
- Derry City and Strabane District Council are leading on the development of the Derry-Londonderry on the North Atlantic (DNA) Museum at the Ebrington site with a mix of funders including The Executive Office, Department for Communities, Tourism NI and National Lottery Heritage Fund. Funding for the development has also been received via the Inclusive Future Funds (City Deal).
- Since 2016 The Executive Office has invested over £37million in the redevelopment of Ebrington. The additional commitment of £3.3m for the DNA Museum will bring TEO’s total investment in the site to more than £40m.
- The DNA Museum will showcase some of the city and district’s most significant local historic artefacts sourced mainly from Derry City and Strabane District Council’s extensive archive and the Tower Museum collections.
- The new museum facility will offer six galleries, a dedicated archive discovery zone, access to genealogy advice, a temporary exhibition space, multi-purpose learning and events space, café, retail and external interpretation space.