Museum wins award for best exhibition

The Ulster Museum has won the top award for the best permanent exhibition in the UK.

Boasting an Egyptian mummy and the most complete dinosaur skeleton on the island of Ireland, the centre received the accolade at the annual Museums and Heritage Awards in London.

Judges were particularly impressed with the reopened museum‘s striking variety.

Tim Cooke, director of the authority which runs it, said: “The public reaction to the new Ulster Museum has been very encouraging. You can see the sense of pride among our visitors and the sense of ownership in our community.

“It is also encouraging to see the wider museum and heritage sector acknowledging the quality of our galleries and exhibitions across history, science and art.”

The award was won against stiff competition from the likes of the Natural History and Victoria and Albert museums.

The Ulster Museum accepted the award alongside redevelopment partners Patton Heritage and Haley Sharpe Design.

It has the most complete dinosaur skeleton, the Edmontosaurus, in Ireland. It also features a butterfly collection and an impressive welcome exhibition.

An Egyptian mummy – priest‘s daughter Takabuti – was taken from the country in 1834. There is also a mummified cat.

An impressive gallery of international and Irish art is also available.

Mr Cooke added: “We set out to provide Northern Ireland with a refurbished museum of national and international quality.”