Adopted Budget 2021 series in January and February, one of which was based on Creative Ireland excavations at Derrybrien. Both were well attended. The museum was closed to the public from 13th March until 16th July. Initially work continued from home but later on, staff engaged in cataloguing of the collection to the new Adlib Database which was up-and-running in January - over 320 items were catalogued during the year to date, the second highest annual total so far. Over 3,100 items are now accessioned as property of Clare County Council, in keeping with the Museum Standards Programme for Ireland requirements. The temporary exhibition on the 1914 hurling team was taken down and a new temporary exhibit of War of Independence items from the museum's reserve collection was installed. The museum engaged with the public online via social media, seeking donations of photographs or objects associated with the pandemic experience, and providing videos and photos online for the public. One item, on a cannon ball discovered in May in a garden in Newmarket-on-Fergus, reached over 12,000 people online and was featured on TG4 news. As the Creative Ireland excavation could not continue during the year, funding was instead spent on analysis and conservation of the finds. A Heritage Council grant was obtained for the purchase of camera and studio equipment for the purpose of photographing the collection for use online, the creation of videos for social media and the livestreaming of future educational workshops and public talks. Another grant, from the Department of Heritage, Culture and the Gaeltacht, was obtained to run a programme of public talks on the intangible culture of Clare for the benefit of 'staycationers', though this has now been disrupted by the increased restrictions and the closure of hotels. Looking ahead to 2021, the cataloguing will continue. The museum will update its education policy, create a new strategic plan and update its documents with a view to applying for maintenance of full accreditation status in June. Work on this will begin before the end of 2020. A new programme of public talks and education workshops, both with livestream options, will be made available so that the museum can to continue to offer a service even if closed to the public. The uploading of photographs, providing material for promotion on social media and for the creation of education projects for local schools will continue. The museum is presently in discussion with the LCETB regarding the use of the Clare Embroidery Collection as inspiration for their sewing classes.
glór (F0501) Due to COVID-19, glór’s business and operations have been massively affected, with the building closed to the public from April - August and currently closed since early October due to Level 3+ restrictions. 23
