Ballymoney Museum is proud to unveil its newly refurbished children’s play area.
This vibrant new space has been thoughtfully redesigned to provide a more interactive and engaging experience for young visitors, encouraging curiosity, creativity, and learning through play.
The transformation has been made possible thanks to funding from the Local Museums Small Capital Grant Fund 2025/26, awarded by the Northern Ireland Museums Council (NIMC).
Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens, Councillor Oliver McMullan said: “It is fantastic to see Ballymoney Museum enhancing its facilities in a way that makes learning fun, interactive, and accessible for families.
“Spaces like this encourage young minds to discover and connect with the rich history of our area.”
The enhanced play area reflects the museum’s ongoing commitment to creating an inclusive, family-friendly environment, ensuring that visitors of all ages can connect with local heritage in meaningful and enjoyable ways.
Originally developed by museum staff in 2022, the children’s area has been a popular and well-used space for visiting families.
With the support of this recent funding, the area has now been enhanced to provide a more engaging, interactive and inclusive experience for young visitors.
A key inspiration behind the redesign is an early years book co-created last year through a NIMC project, which saw the Museum collaborate with Ballymoney Playgroup, Kerrie Illustrates and Tale Time.
The book was developed based on the children’s own experiences and ideas following their visit to the museum.
Their ideas and creativity have directly influenced the updated design and theme of the children’s area, as well as the accompanying activity sheets, ensuring the space reflects the voices and imaginations of its young audience.
The refreshed area now features a wide range of hands-on and imaginative play opportunities, including a tactile magnetic wall, a dress-up station, a train track table, colouring and reading spaces, puzzles, sensory toys, and an interactive tactile wall display.
These elements have been carefully designed to encourage creativity, learning, and exploration in a welcoming environment. As part of this grant the museum was also able to create four sensory packs, each with it’s own theme, to support children with additional needs who may benefit from extra comfort, calm, or hands-on activities while exploring the museum.
This development highlights Ballymoney Museum’s ongoing commitment to providing high-quality, accessible experiences for children and families.
The museum continues to be a valued community resource and has recently been nominated for a Family Friendly Museum Award, reflecting its dedication to inclusive and engaging programming.
Ballymoney Museum is open Monday to Saturday 9.30-4.30 (Closed 1-1.30 for lunch)
Benjamin Austin enjoys the new area at Ballymoney Museum.
Evelyn Austin and Lillian Austin are all smiles at the launch of the new children's area at Ballymoney Museum
Joshua Austin enjoys the new area opened at Ballymoney Museum
Julie Welsh, (Head of Community & Culture),Councillor John Wisener, Alan Finlay, Mayor, Councillor Oliver McMullan, Councillor Ciarán McQuillan, Eva Lynch (NIMC development Officer), Sarah Calvin (Museum Services Development Manager) and Jamie Austin, Museum Officer.