Using a skeleton dug up on the site and other discovered relics, Carrickfergus Museum has developed a range of interactive games and puzzles exploring Medieval Carrickfergus.
Designed to appeal to KS1 and KS2 children, the challenges aim to be fun while also creating valuable learning experiences. Museum mascot Micah the monkey takes centre stage in ‘Micah’s Mischief’ where the user is challenged to find the naughty monkey and fix all the messes he has made.
You’ll learn about tower houses, knights and much more in the process. Next try an interactive board game where you are a stranger to the town and have to complete a number of challenges to reach safety!
Developed with funding from the Executive Office through Council's Good Relations Programme, the activities are part of the museum’s ongoing commitment to making the collections and the stories they tell more accessible to a wider audience – beyond the doors of the museum.
It builds on other similar work, such as the choose-your-own-adventure story, where you find yourself thrown back to 1210 and have to find your way home! The historic town has also been recreated in Minecraft, where you can go on a treasure hunt and build your own town. For those more interested in more serious endeavours, the museum has a number of digitised records available online such as old town records from 17th-19th centuries, thanks to funding from National Lottery Heritage Fund through the Carrickfergus Townscape Heritage Initiative.
Carrickfergus Museum’s exhibition gallery and community archive are now open 10am-3pm Mon-Fri. The main gallery remains closed for refurbishment.