Nestled in the rolling hills just outside the charming town of Ballinamore in County Leitrim, the Glenview Folk Museum is a delightful and thought-provoking window into Ireland’s recent past. Lovingly curated by the Kennedy family since its founding in 2000, the museum offers visitors a vivid and immersive glimpse into 20th-century Irish life — a time not so distant, yet fast disappearing from living memory.
A recent visit to Glenview felt like stepping back into a time when life moved at a gentler pace and community spirit was at the heart of daily existence. This museum isn’t just a collection of old things — it’s a living memory box of rural Ireland, filled with warmth, character, and remarkable detail. Every corner tells a story. Every artefact has a voice.
From the moment you enter, you're welcomed with genuine hospitality and guided through a journey that spans domestic life, commerce, transport, and social change. One of the museum's most striking features is its full-scale recreated street scene — complete with traditional village shops, a pub, post office, and barbershop. The buildings brim with authentic items once common across Ireland — enamel advertising signs, weighing scales, cash registers, and humble goods that filled the shelves of local stores. Each item tells a tale of simpler times and changing values.
Particularly fascinating is the museum’s tribute to the travelling shop — a once-indispensable lifeline for rural households. The Kennedys have painstakingly restored a 1950s Austin Loadstar lorry, once used as an army canteen and later as a mobile grocery store. Today, it stands in mint condition, stocked with period-correct packaging of essentials like flour, tea, and paraffin oil. It’s a time capsule on wheels, lovingly brought back to life by local craftsmen.
Children and adults alike will be enchanted by the vast collection of radios, telephones, and televisions from decades past — a reminder of how quickly our technology and ways of connecting have changed. From the crackle of the first wireless sets to the bulky charm of early black-and-white televisions, these items reflect the leaps made in Irish communication and entertainment.
Vintage cars
The museum’s transport collection is another standout, showcasing an array of vintage cars, tractors, bicycles, and farming machinery — many fully restored and displayed with care. This section is housed in a modern, wheelchair-accessible extension, built in keeping with the inclusive and community-driven spirit that defines Glenview. It’s a nod to the museum’s future as well as its past.
One cannot talk about the Glenview Folk Museum without mentioning its impressive homage to John McGahern, one of Ireland’s literary greats and a native of Leitrim. The museum preserves a collection dedicated to McGahern’s life and works, grounding his often evocative writing in the very soil and social fabric that inspired it. For literary lovers, this section is a touching and insightful bonus.
But it’s not all about the major installations. The museum also delights in the personal and the peculiar — from an enormous collection of eggcups (yes, really! ) to carefully displayed household items that defined Irish domestic life for generations. Butter churns, washboards, gramophones, and rush candle holders sit alongside sewing machines and cast iron cookers. Each item holds a kind of quiet dignity, reminding us of a time when things were built to last and every object earned its place in the home.
What truly brings Glenview to life, however, is the guided tour. Our guide was warm, engaging, and deeply knowledgeable, tailoring the experience to suit everyone in the group — from young children to older visitors who found themselves reminiscing over items they once used. It’s not just about looking; it’s about understanding. For instance, a simple Tayto crisps bag — complete with its original printed price — sparked a brilliant conversation on inflation, memory, and economic change.
Whether you are a history buff, a nostalgic soul, or just someone looking for an authentic experience off the beaten path, Glenview Folk Museum is a place that will resonate deeply. It is part memory lane, part educational treasure, and entirely a celebration of Ireland’s heartland heritage.
This museum doesn't just preserve the past; it brings it to life — not in a cold, clinical way, but with affection, humour, and insight. The Kennedys, with their passion and commitment, have created more than a museum. They have created a time capsule full of warmth, reminding us who we were — and perhaps who we still are.
So, if you find yourself in Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands, do not miss this unique gem in County Leitrim. Bring the kids, bring your parents, bring a curious heart — and prepare to be charmed, educated, and inspired.
Well worth the visit — and then some.
