Boyle, County Roscommon

All you want to know about Boyle, County Roscommon

Boyle
Mainistir na Búille
Location
Location of Boyle
centerMap highlighting Boyle
Irish grid reference
G803019
Statistics
Province: Connacht
County: County Roscommon
Elevation: 83 m

Population (2006)

 2,522[1]
Website: , http://homepage.eircom.net/~greenst/ www.realboyle.com , http://homepage.eircom.net/~greenst/

Boyle (Irish: Mainistir na Búille) is a town in County Roscommon, Ireland. It is located at the foot of the Curlew Mountains near Lough Key in the north of the county. The renowned fishing lakes of Lough Arrow and Lough Gara are also close by. The population of the town was 2,522 in 2006.[2]

Market Square, Boyle



Contents

History

On 15 August 1599, the Battle of Curlew Pass between English and Irish forces was fought in the Curlew mountains.

King House

Roscommon County Council, recognising the historical, architectural and cultural importance of King House, began the restoration project in 1989. Using highly skilled artisans and local craftsmen employing traditional techniques and materials all three floors and the basement have been impressively restored. Of particular note are the main entrance gallery with its tripate windows and original fireplace, the extensive vaulted ceilings on all floors and the splendid main salon which is in use once again as a superb venue for recitals and banquets. Since 1788, when the King Family moved to Rockingham, the house has been used as a military barracks - recently by the Irish Army but originally by the Connaught Rangers who fought bravely and with honour until, while in India, they heard of the atrocities being committed back in Ireland by the 'Black and Tans' and mutinied. The other rooms in the house are used for important temporary exhibitions and these are open to visitors, usually at no extra charge. KINGS OF CONNAUGHT - using dynamic special effects and sound, visitors are led through a series of stunningly created tableaux and encouraged, with interactive pieces, to experience life as it was in the house and in the locality. The displays, ranging all over the floors, cover four main themes; - The Kingdom of Connaught - from the earliest recorded times showing the importance of the clans and their Kings. - The King Family - meet the families who lived in the house from Sir John King who came to Boyle in 1603 to the fascinating accounts of life, both for the family and the staff, at Rockingham Estate, now Lough Key Forest Park. - The Restoration - a room has been left partially-restored so that visitors can see the fabric of the house and with the aid of photographs and models see the skill and craft employed in the building and restoration. - The Military Usage - From 1788 until recent times.

Boyle Cistercian Abbey

The Cistercian abbey is one of the best preserved in Ireland. It was colonised from Mellifont in 1161. The building of the chancel and the transepts with their side-chapels probably began shortly after this date, though the lancet windows in the east gable were inserted in the 13th century. There is a combination of rounded and pointed arches in the transepts and crossing. The existing large square tower formed part of the church from the beginning, though it was raised in height at a later stage. The five eastern arches of the nave and their supporting pillars were built at the end of the 12th century, and have well-preserved capitals typical of the period. Although built at the same time, the arches of the northern side of the nave are different in type, and have differently shaped columns and capitals. The three westernmost arches in the south arcade which have leafed and figured capitals, were built after 1205, as was the west wall, before the church was finally consecrated in 1218. Nothing remains of the cloister, but on the eastern side there are two doorways of c.1200, now blocked up. On the west side there is a two-storey gatehouse, which acts as an interpretative centre. The rest of the buildings surrounding the cloister are largely 16th or 17th century. The Abbey was one of the most important in Connacht, and was invaded by Richard de Burgo and Maurice Fitzgerald, and Justiciar, in 1235. In 1659, the Cromwellians occupied the monastery and did a great deal of destruction.

Places of interest

The Cistercian Monastery in Boyle, Boyle Abbey, was founded in the 12th century under the patronage of the local ruling family, the MacDermotts. Though mutilated during the 17th and 18th centuries when it was used to accommodate a military garrison, Boyle Abbey is one of the best preserved structures of its type, and attracts many thousands of visitors per year. A restored gatehouse 16th/17th century vintage houses an exhibition. Guided tours are available. King House home to the King family has been fully restored and guided tours are available all year.

Boyle Abbey - restored Gatehouse, centre

Transport

Boyle railway station opened on 3 December 1862.[3] Boyle lies on the railway line from Dublin to Sligo, and the N4 Dublin-Sligo main road skirts the town. The town is linked to the River Shannon navigation system via the Boyle canal, the River Boyle and Lough Key.

People

See also

External links

References

  1. ^ CSO census 2006
  2. ^ CSO census 2006
  3. ^ "Boyle station". Railscot - Irish Railways. Retrieved on 2007-09-07.
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