The On the Brink project explored the local impact of the Battle of the Somme and the Easter Rising. The project supported communities to develop a shared understanding of events from the period, highlighting how the broader context of the war interconnected with events in Ireland.

The three-year project was a partnership between two regional museum services and was developed in line with the Government-led ‘Decade of Centenaries’ programme, which aims to commemorate the history of Ireland between 1912 and 1922.

Through the project, volunteers created touring exhibitions which attracted over 11,000 visitors. These were accompanied by workshops for schools and community groups, which were attended by over 300 participants. A digital learning resource for Key Stage 3 pupils is planned to create a legacy of the project.  

Training was an important aspect of the project. A group of volunteers learned to become tour guides through an accredited process led by the museums. They led tours around physical sites of remembrance such as war memorials.