Hear fascinating tales during Ballymote Heritage weekend
DID you know that the first person to have brought Christianity to Ireland may come from Egypt?
Or that money and cattle taken from Sligo churches by the Knights Templar helped fund the mediaeval Crusades in the Holy Land?
Or that ancient monastic slabs were once removed from Carrowntemple by an American priest and later found in a Leitrim antiques dealer?
These fascinating tales and more will be explored at the upcoming annual Ballymote Heritage Weekend.
A host of distinguished academics, retired diplomats, historians and authors will share their knowledge of the past with members of the public from Friday 3rd August - Monday 6 th August.
UCD Professor Mary Daly will give the opening lecture on Female Suffrage and the Irish Revolution 1912-’22 at the official opening at 8.30pm on Friday in the Teagasc Centre, Ballymote.
“We’re celebrating equality and female suffrage given it’s 100 years since Countess Markievicz was elected and women got the vote,” said Ballymote Heritage Group PRO Neal Farry.
The 51st edition of the Corran Herald will also be published during the event with 80 pages of photographs and articles penned by locals.
The weekend itself includes outings to Creevykeel Court Tomb, Ballintober Castle and graveyard, the Armada Interpretative Centre in Grange, Donegal Castle, St Attracta’s Holy Well at Clogher and Donamon Monastery in Roscommon.
BBC broadcaster and historian Malcolm Billings will give a talk on the crusades while retired diplomat Alf Monaghan will reveal compelling evidence that St Patrick was not the first missionary to bring Christianity to Ireland.
“It’s fascinating stuff, he has compelling evidence that they were missionaries who came from North Africa and Egypt in particular,” said Neal. See http://ballymoteheritage.com