Improvements to the front as award-winning trench re-opened

The award-winning WWI Trench Experience at Cavan County Museum has been officially re-opened, following extensive renovation and improvement works.

The largest replica WWI trench in either the UK or Ireland, the immersive outdoor installation ‒ featuring over 350 metres of frontline, communication, and support trenches ‒ was designed according to the specification used by the Royal Irish Fusiliers at the Battle of the Somme in 1916.

First opening in 2014, it was not originally envisaged as a permanent structure, however the installation went on to attract tens of thousands of visitors from across the globe and its popularity was such that Cavan County Council has taken steps to secure its future for generations to come.

Contractors Brackley Landscaping and Consultant Engineers O’Connor Sutton Cronin were engaged to complete an extensive renovation and improvement project, which involved a complete rebuild, adding a new retaining wall and improved on-site drainage, in an investment of over €480,000 by the local authority.

In addition to these structural works, new features and experiential improvements were added, including more trench length, a viewing platform and a separate exit from the exhibition. Accessibility has also been improved, with the trenches widened to allow for mobility aids, a ramp added to the viewing platform, and Perspex panels fitted around the viewing platform, allowing a full view of the trench complex.

Officially re-launching the hugely popular tourist attraction and immersive historical experience, Cathaoirleach of Cavan County Council, Cllr John Paul Feeley said, “I want to congratulate the Museum team and our own council engineers for their efforts in not only renovating but significantly improving this wonderful installation, one of the jewels in the crown of our tourist offering”.

“Over 210,000 Irish men fought in the Great War, and 49,000 of those ‒ including 752 Cavan men ‒ were killed. They were victims of imperialism. Those who died or returned injured were part of our complex history. This immersive experience allows visitors young and old to engage with that history in an innovative and exciting way. These important works will help preserve the memory of those who lost their lives and will continue to attract visitors to Cavan for many years to come,” continued Cllr Feeley.

Chief Executive of Cavan County Council, Eoin Doyle said, “In the little over ten years since this installation opened, it has become a firm favourite among locals, tourists, and indeed teachers and students across the country, for whom the trenches provide a soberingly visceral window into the conditions endured by Irish soldiers at the time. When it became clear that the elements had taken a toll on the installation, both management and the elected members were united in their determination to preserve and further develop this award-winning attraction for years to come, and it’s clear from the quality of the finished product, that the investment has been most worthwhile”.

Cavan County Council’s Director of Service with responsibility for Cultural Services, Lynda McGavigan, added, “Cavan boasts one of top local museums in the country, and with this newly improved flagship installation now open to the public, staffed by a dynamic, passionate, and committed team, locals and visitors alike can continue to enjoy a top-class museum experience at Cavan County Museum”.

To learn more about the award-winning WWI Trench Experience, and the many other exciting exhibits and installations at Cavan County Museum, visit cavanmuseum.ie.