Heritage weekend brings people on history

Ballymote Heritage weekend proved to be a magnificent success over the course of the bank holiday weekend.

As usual, a large crowd descended on the town for the weekend’s activities.

These included a number of lectures, documentary screenings and tours both locally and in other locations.

There was particular interest in the official opening of the weekend on Friday evening when Anne Haverty delivered an intriguing lecture on the subject of Constance Markievicz, entitled Being Miss Gore- Booth.

The weekend included two day trips – on Saturday, a bus load of interested observers travelled to Cong and Ballinrobe in Co Mayo, where they visited Cong Abbey and Harry Clarke windows.

Local historians Micheál Murphy and Noel O’Neill were there to lend their expertise on the day.

On Monday, the bus headed to Ulster where attendees went to Monaghan for a guided tour with Kevin Mulligan, an Architectural Historian and author of the book ‘ The Buildings of South Ulster’.

There were also local elements to the weekend, with tours of the ruins of the castle at Temple House, as well as a lecture of the History of the World in the Book of Ballymote by Dr Elizabeth Boyle from NUI Maynooth.

It represented another enjoyable and interesting weekend for the Ballymote Heritage Group, who are now in existence since May 1984 and they said it was a great weekend of history.

A section of the walk beside Ballymote Castle, the new area where the walk will be extended.

Phyllis Keating, Orla Keating and Bridie Brogan at Garland Sunday at Keash ( Pic; Tom Callanan )

Aimie Mullen enjoying a tea partry with Bridie and Sean ( a creation of Tom Scanlon of Ballymote ) Pic: Tom Callanan )

Chairman of Sligo Co Council, Hubert Keaney speaking at the launch of the 27th Ballymote Heritage Weekend ( Photo; Tom Callanan).