Louis XIV's historical maps finally '˜back home' in Carrickfergus

An exhibition of fully restored historical maps gifted to a County Antrim soldier-turned diplomat has been officially launched.
Pictured at the opening event are, from left: Daniel Taylor ⬠Northern Ireland Museums Council; Ron Bishop ⬠Guest speaker on Richard Kane; the Deputy Mayor, Alderman William McNeilly; Shirin Murphy ⬠Collections Access Officer, Mid and East Antrim Borough and Laura Patrick ⬠PhD Student Placement.Pictured at the opening event are, from left: Daniel Taylor ⬠Northern Ireland Museums Council; Ron Bishop ⬠Guest speaker on Richard Kane; the Deputy Mayor, Alderman William McNeilly; Shirin Murphy ⬠Collections Access Officer, Mid and East Antrim Borough and Laura Patrick ⬠PhD Student Placement.
Pictured at the opening event are, from left: Daniel Taylor ⬠Northern Ireland Museums Council; Ron Bishop ⬠Guest speaker on Richard Kane; the Deputy Mayor, Alderman William McNeilly; Shirin Murphy ⬠Collections Access Officer, Mid and East Antrim Borough and Laura Patrick ⬠PhD Student Placement.

While on route to Minorca in 1712 to become Lieutenant-Governor of the then British-ruled island of Minorca, Richard Kane, who was born in December 1662 and grew up in Carrickfergus, was received at the Palace of Versailles, by Louis XIV.

The King gave the County Antrim man the beautifully detailed atlas ‘of the Terrestrial and Aquatic Globe’ and following extensive conservation, the actual maps can now be displayed for the first time.

The exhibition, titled ‘Mapping the World: Exploring the importance of Richard Kane and his Atlas’ runs until Saturday, January 14 2017 and was launched by the Deputy Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Borough, Alderman William McNeilly.

The Deputy Mayor also welcomed special guest Ron Bishop who gave a fascinating account of Richard Kane’s life and his remarkable achievements.

The maps now on display at the museum form a magnificent atlas which was presented to Kane by Louis XIV, the Sun King of France.

The Museum purchased the atlas in 2001 and thanks to grant assistance from the Northern Ireland Museums Council, the maps contained within the atlas are now on display for the first time.

For more information, you can visit discovernorthernireland.com.