heritage centres westmeath

The design resembles a traditional Irish Farmhouse with a large old-style open fireplace. It is in this setting around the fire that you can get a glimplse of the real Ireland. The magic and spontaneity of the dancers as they weave their intricate steps to the drone of the pipes, or listen to the storyteller as he recounts tales of long ago. Enjoy the hospitality of the woman of the house with tea and lovely wholesome brown bread.

OUR FARMING PAST
Horse Drawn Farm Mac...

This town is about 13 miles from Mullingar and was built in the late 17th century by the Pollard family under a charter from Charles II. The old National school has been converted into an agricultural museum and heritage centre. Just outside Castlepollard in Tullynally Castle, the home of the Earl of Longford's family, the Packenhams.

The gardens are open from May to September....

Ballymore is situated almost 5 miles from Mullingar on the R390. Mentioned in the Annals as far back as the eight century, its importance in ancient times was due to the fact that it lay on the trade route between royal "Uisneagh" and Athlone.

The remains of a fort dating from the Williamite campaign can be seen beside the lake, as well as Father Dalton's mass rock which was used during penal times....

Delvin is a picturesque village, approximately 13 miles north of Mullingar on the N52. Delvin Castle, situated on the southern approach to the town was built in the 13th century by the Norman family, Nugent. In the surrounding area, is Clonyn Castle, now home to Delvin Golf Club. Delvin was also home to Brinsley MacNamara, author of "Valley of the Squinting Windows"....

Situated on the shores of Lough Ennell is Lilliput Park. This was once owned by Boyd Rochfort, friend of Johnathan Swift, author of Gulliver's Travels. Johnathan Swift was a regular visitor to Lilliput and while looking across from Belvedere, the idea of little people intrigued him so much, he was inspired to write Gulliver's Travels.

Today at Lilliput, there is a par 3 golf course and an historic house, Dean Swift House, currently being restored to its' former glory and which when...

Fore, approximately 15 miles from Mullingar has the most extensive Benedictine remains in Ireland. It is the site of the ruins of St. Fechin's Monastery and was a Benedictine Priory until 1539 when it was suppressed by Henry VIII.

The present building belongs in the main to the 15th century. There are nine ancient crosses within a radius of a mile from the village. Near the foot of Ben Fore (713 feet) is a large moat, reputed to be an early Anglo-Norman Fortification. There are a...