Tours ofacultural andhistoricalnature
network in Ireland’s north-west is reminiscent of the railway development in the western frontier of the U.S. that was proceeding at the same time. No doubt Peter’s presentation of the advent of our railways will be a dramatic and exciting historical narrative.
Martin A. and Mary B. Timoney will demonstrate the unique features of the Churches of Collooney, a number of significant archaeological and geological sites at Rathdooneybeg, Carnareee and in the Ox Mountains. Our touring party will benefit immensely from Martin’s and Mary’s deep and abiding interest in our local archaeology and in the ecclesiastical architecture and art of our nearest urban neighbour.
The monument and grave of Archdeacon O’Rorke and the Sergio Benedetti (Roscommon) mosaics in the Church of the Assumption in Collooney are indeed impressive. The priestly carving on the gatepost of the R.C. Church car park will be discussed. We will note the work of Collooney born architect, Sir John Benson, who directed the construction of Collooney Catholic Church and the renovations in St. Paul’s Church of Ireland, Collooney. A visit will be made to the home of Collooney born physicist, William Higgins, who first perceived the Atomic Periodic Table. Three hours will be the duration of this relatively local tour.
Coach tickets at €12 may be purchased at the usual venues i.e. Casey’s Pharmacy or at any previous lecture. There will be no lunch during the Collooney tour.
Alf Monaghan will be the lecturer for Sunday evening’s discussion. This lecture is ‘Monastic Ireland – A Gift of the Nile’. Castlebar born Mr. Monaghan grew up in Enniscrone and now resides in Carrick-on-Shannon.
Alf spent ten years in Syria, Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan and Egypt as a business advisor to five Middle East governments. His lingering in this region sparked off a deep interest in early Christianity and the links and influences between this area and Ireland, many of which are now lost or forgotten.
Our 9.00 a.m. outing on Bank Holiday Monday 7 th August, will bring us to Belvedere House and Gardens, Mullingar and to the Church in Multyfarnham Friary. Belvedere House was built in 1740 for Robert Rochfort and was designed by the famous architect Richard Cassels. The story of the Follies, especially the Jealous Wall and the accounts of stormy romantic relationships are more dramatic than anything found in novels. The Walled Garden, the Fairy garden, the Woodland Walks and the Lake Shore are visual delights waiting to be savoured.
On the return journey Ballymote our coach will visit the Church in Multyfarnham Friary for about half an hour. Fr. Loman McCoy OFM will outline the story of the Abbey church that was originally built in 1270 by William Delamer. Combating suppression, the church and the friars experienced many turbulent years but the order continued to minister in the locality through penal times. The church was partially restored in 1827 and was finally modernised with some medieval features between 1973 and 1975. Peace abides beneath its arches.
Lunch will again be included in the itinerary. All inclusive coach tickets for Monday’s tour at €35 can be purchased in the usual venues, Casey’s Pharmacy or at any previous lecture in the Teagasc Centre.
Monday’s 8.30 p.m. lecture will be the work of Sam Moore, Archaeologist. Surely the people of the Barony of Corran will derive bewildering benefit from Sam’s research of the subject ‘Ancient Pathways: The Bealach Buidhe, the Red Earl’s Road and Bóthar an Chorainn in Counties Sligo and Roscommon’. The significance of Bóthar an Chorainn and the Red Earl’s Road, respectively west and east of Keash Hill, for the development and indeed the very existence of the settlement of Ballymote, will be outlined by Mr. Moore, who will demonstrate, townland by townland, the alignments of the two medieval roads that linked Boyle and Ballymote. These two routes have greatly impacted on the lives of the people of Corran during the last two millennia. It will be fascinating to come to realise that many of the roads we daily use were equally important to generations of our ancient ancestors who are now consigned to the mists of time.
Entry to lectures at the Teagasc Centre will be €10. Coaches for the outings depart from the Catholic Church car park. For further information please contact 087 4169557.