History of the Museum Building

Donegal County Museum is the only remaining building of the Letterkenny Workhouse complex.  

Letterkenny Workhouse was designed to accommodate 500 inmates by George Wilkinson, Architect to the Poor Law Commissioners in Ireland.  The final cost of the building was £6,450 plus £1,475 for fixtures and fittings.   

The Workhouse buildings followed Wilkinson's typical layout. An entrance and administrative block at the east contained a Porter's room and waiting room at the centre with the Guardians' Boardroom on the first floor above (this is the building which now houses part of the Museum). The main accommodation block housed the Master's and Matron’s quarters at the centre with male and female wings to each side. At the rear, a range of single storey utility buildings contained the kitchen and washhouse which were connected through to the infirmary and idiot wards via a central spine containing the chapel and dining-hall.  

George Langan was appointed as the first Master, and he was also the Letterkenny Town Clerk. His wife Anne became the Matron. Jane Thompson was the School Mistress.  On the 14th March 1845, 46 inmates were admitted. Letterkenny Union Workhouse was administered by a Board of Guardians until their last meeting on 27th October 1922.  

From August 1923, the Watt and Co Ltd, Wholesale Bottlers and Aerated Mineral Water Manufacturers, leased a large part of the complex. In 1948, the company was renamed LYMAC.   A Fever Hospital opened in the Reception Block on 28th December 1928 and remained in operation until 1954, when it became St Anne’s Maternity Hospital. This operated until 1960, when it moved to the new County Hospital. After this, the Letterkenny Urban District Council Offices, a branch of the County Library and the Assistant County Engineer were housed here, along with an office used by the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registry.  A portion of the end block was used as a Dispensary by Dr Mc Ginley and Dr Scally. The Letterkenny Boxing Club was based here until the mid-1950’s. The site was also the headquarters for the Local Civil Defence for several years.  It was also used as a yard by Donegal County Council and Letterkenny Urban District Council.   

In 1987 the Reception Block was converted and opened as Donegal County Museum. An extension was added to the Museum and opened in 1991. On the 14th January 1988, the Workhouse building (the main accommodation block) was demolished to provide a site for a new Garda Station and Divisional Headquarters at New Line Road.