Pop-up shop opens following closure of Collon Irish Military War Museum

A pop up shop at the Irish Military War Museum in Starinagh, Collon, this weekend will give the public an opportunity to return to the site and take home a piece of the museum’s history, following its closure last week.

The museum, which opened in June 2014, has now closed after more than a decade at Starinagh, with owner William Sullivan previously saying the rising costs of running the facility meant he could no longer continue.

The weekend pop-up comes as the future of the museum’s extensive collection remains uncertain.

The collection, built up by William over many years, includes military vehicles, uniforms, memorabilia and deactivated weapons, with displays covering conflicts from the Napoleonic Wars and American Civil War through to the World Wars, the War of Independence, the 1916 Rising, Vietnam and the Gulf War.

The museum became particularly well known for its hands-on approach, with visitors able to get up close to the vehicles and other exhibits.

William personally brought many visitors around the collection, sharing the stories behind individual pieces and explaining how he had acquired them.

The closure marks the end of a remarkable 12-year chapter for William, who has previously said that the museum was never established as a money-making venture.

“We never made a profit here, we just broke even, but now we are losing money and cannot continue,” he said when the closure was announced.

“I would love to be able to keep going but I would end up heavily in debt. I would love if the government took it over, I would love to see it continue.”

A petition was also created by local businessman Peter Whelan calling on the Government to consider acquiring the museum and preserving it as a national asset.

Peter described the museum as “a cornerstone of our community and an incredible educational resource for generations”.

“This museum, with its extensive collection that brings to life the history of the Irish military forces, plays an invaluable role in teaching both young and old about the sacrifices made by our nation's heroes,” he said.

“It is a repository of collective memory and a tribute to those who have served, offering a tangible connection to our rich historical past.”

The museum’s closure followed a number of challenges, including the impact of Covid, rising operating costs and a reduction in school tours.

William said the cost of hiring buses had made it increasingly difficult for schools to visit, while the arrival of large numbers of refugee children into Irish schools had also affected demand.

“I was never in this to make money, I haven't been able to take a wage out of it for the past five or six years but I have to say that running the museum has been the best twelve years of my life,” he said.

“I loved every minute of it and met so many fantastic people. I will be sad to see it close.”

William’s passion for military history dates back to childhood. He began collecting at the age of eight after finding a coin belonging to his grandfather, who had served with the Royal Irish Fusiliers and received an award for being a marksman.

That early interest eventually grew into the huge collection which became the Irish Military War Museum.

Among its most striking attractions were detailed recreations of World War I trenches and a collection of Allied and Axis vehicles from World War II.

William previously described the museum as a place where visitors could “get up close and personal” with military history.

Peter Whelan had argued that the collection was too significant to simply disappear and said State support could potentially turn it into a national attraction.

“The government would have the resources to run something like this, market it and make it profitable,” he said.

“The preservation of this museum would contribute to the local economy, boosting tourism and fostering a deeper appreciation for Irish history and military heritage.”

For now, however, the doors of the museum have closed.

The pop-up shop this weekend will provide another opportunity for members of the public to return to Starinagh, browse the items available and remember a museum which attracted visitors from Meath and much further afield over the past 12 years.

And while the museum itself may have closed, there remains hope among supporters that the story of the Irish Military War Museum is not quite over.

The pop up shop is opened Saturday and Sunday from 10am - 4.30pm on the premises of the former Irish Military Museum (no access to the museum)