The Luck Penny

The Luck Penny is a gallery space in Newry that punches above its weight for a town this size. It's essentially a contemporary art venue that rotates exhibitions throughout the year, so what you'll see depends entirely on when you visit. The space itself is compact but well-used - think white walls, decent lighting, the kind of place that takes itself seriously without being pretentious about it.

This is squarely for art enthusiasts and anyone with even a passing interest in contemporary work. It's not a destination in itself, mind you. If you're the sort who spends ten minutes looking at a painting then moves on, you'll be done in thirty minutes flat. But if you actually read the artist statements and sit with pieces for a bit, you could easily spend ninety minutes here. The admission is free, which removes any barrier to popping in when you're exploring Newry town centre.

Newry itself sits between Dublin and Belfast, which makes it a logical stop rather than a major detour. If you're staying at Greenview Glamping nearby, you could combine a gallery visit with a proper walk around the Mourne Mountains - they're literally on your doorstep. The town centre is walkable and the gallery sits alongside independent shops and cafes, so you can make an afternoon of it without planning anything too elaborate.

Check what's on before you go. You might catch something brilliant or something that doesn't speak to you. That's galleries for you.