Updated: Heritage Week will take place this year from Saturday August 15th to Sunday August 23rd and there are a number of interesting events taking place in and around Boyle:
Saturday August 15th
11am-12pm – Around the Bridges: in the Footsteps of Margaret Gillespie Cousins – Reminiscing on times past, people, buildings and bridges that continue to echo within the memories of people who will always call Boyle home, including the popular saying of ‘going for a walk round the bridges.’ Especially recalled in the book, ‘We Two Together’, written by Margaret and James Cousins in India in 1950.
This guided walking tour will start outside No. 7 The Crescent and end in the grounds of King House. Maire Egan Paul will summon up the heartbeat of Boyle’s most iconic buildings and pathways, while sharing some interesting and surprising facts.
11am-4pm – Felting Fun Day in King House. Workshops, exhibitions and sales.
2pm-3.30pm – Echoes of Immersion Art Exhibition – This exhibition presents a collection of artworks created in response to the Immersive Art Workshop held at Willowbrook Park in early June. The exhibition reflects a shared creative journey inspired by place, close observation, and immersion in the surrounding landscape. Hosted by the New Art Gallery Boyle, a welcoming space dedicated to showcasing contemporary art and supporting artists from the region and beyond, the exhibition celebrates creativity, collaboration, and community.
2.30pm – 3.45pm – Uilleann Pipes at Boyle Abbey – Boyle Abbey will host an afternoon of music on August 15th as musician Martin Byrne brings the haunting sound of the uillean pipes to this magnificent twelfth century historical structure. Visitors will be treated to a selection of traditional tunes as they explore what is the finest example of medieval Cistercian church architecture in Ireland. Portions of the event are outdoors so please plan for weather.
Wednesday August 19th
3pm-4pm – From Planters to Platoons: A History of King House – UCD graduate and long-serving museum guide, Thomas Campbell, will deliver a complimentary lecture exploring the King family dynasty, societal change in Ireland during the 17th and 18th centuries, life in the big house, the Connaught Rangers, and the magnificent architecture of King House. Booking is recommended and can be made by contacting King House.
Thursday August 20th
11am-4pm – Free Entry for King House Tours – Explore King House, Boyle’s stunning Georgian mansion. Tour historic rooms, exhibitions & enjoy a unique cultural experience in Roscommon. A grand Georgian mansion built in 1720, King House is an important classical townhouse representing the Ascendancy period of Irish history. King House is home to The Gaelic Ireland Exhibition, which brings to life the times of High Kings and Chieftains. It’s an intriguing insight into the celebrations, legends and difficult times of people in Ireland during the Middle Ages. History is a the heart of King House, from its time as a home of a wealthy landowning family to its use as military base, first as a headquarters for the Connaught Rangers and later as a barracks of the Irish Free State.
Friday August 21st
11am – 3pm –The Big Dig – Join The School of Irish Archaeology in the courtyard at King House, Boyle on the 21st August for free family fun and entertainment exploring the past! The replica ‘Viking House’ workshop and excavation is designed around children from 6 – 12 years of age.
12noon – 1pm – Roscommon’s Forgotten Heroes – A Talk by Author Danny Tiernan. Úna Bhán Tourism Co-operative will host a public talk during National Heritage Week entitled Roscommon’s Forgotten Heroes, presented by author Danny Tiernan. The talk will explore the lives and stories of men and women from County Roscommon whose contributions and sacrifices during times of war have often been overlooked. Drawing on years of historical research, archival records, family histories, and local stories, Danny Tiernan will share the remarkable stories behind the people featured in his book.
8pm-9.15pm – Is Our Heritage at Risk? – Laura Burke, Social Historian, will discuss the impact of AI and technology for information gathering in Ardcarne Church of Ireland. She will examine the credibility of resources on the internet versus the reality on the ground. She will explore trusted sources of reference.
Saturday August 22nd
2pm- 3.30pm – Boyle Abbey, Patronage and its Influence on Connacht’s Stonemasonry in the 12th & 13th Centuries – The majestic setting of Boyle Abbey will serve as the focal point of a lecture on patronage and its impact on the work of stonemasons in medieval Connaught delivered by Gary Dempsey, co-founder and creative director of Digital Heritage Age and lecturer at Atlantic Technological University (ATU) – Galway City.
That are a large number of other events taking place around the County for Heritage Week with details here.
