Laois Lores Culture And Heritage Trail.
Route Map (Proposed).
There are still a lot of I’s to be dotted, T’s to be crossed, roads to be cycled and routes to bossed; but the above map is a preliminary route for this year’s Laois Lores Culture & Heritage Trail Cycle, which is one of two cycles which comprise the Bulfin Heritage Cycle 2018.
For those of you curious about the route, this map will give you an idea of the roads that lie ahead, but please note that the final route has yet to be decided upon, and will be updated here accordingly.
Should you have any questions, no matter how trivial, please use our Contact Page, to get in touch, and we will reply asap.
Proposed Itinerary
Laois Lores Culture And Heritage Trail
BULFIN HERITAGE CYCLE RALLY 2018 – AUGUST 24th
10am: Assembly at the Pavillion, Castle Durrow, Country House Hotel: Registration, Event Heritage Briefing, Welcome Reception and Introduction to our Austrian Visitors. “I am Owney McRory O’More” (Oisin Conroy, in period costume) introduction to Laois Sept, O’More Family. Opportunity to view CastleDurrow Gardens (tea/coffee served)
Attanagh: Irish Fly Fishing & Game Shooting Museum: Heritage talk with Walter Phelan. (Fish & Game, period breakfast) Irish & Austrian traditional/folk music.
Heywood Gardens Ballinakill: Heritage Talk: In the early 1900s, Colonel Hutchenson Poe hired the eminent architect Sir Edwin Lutyens to create formal gardens around Heywood House. The gardens were probably landscaped by Gertrude Jekyll. Although the house is gone, the gardens are among the best surviving example of Lutyens’ work in Ireland. (Courtesy of Laois Heritage Trail).
Round Tower & Heritage Centre, Timahoe: (Heritage talk) (O’ More Family History with Oisin Conroy) (light refreshments + Irish & Austrian traditional/folk music).
Stradbally: Music, Dance and light refreshments at the Old Bandstand. (A unique building which has stood in the centre of Stradbally since 1899 and is a rare and architecturally significant example of a pagoda style corrugated structure) (Source: Laois Partnership)
Arrival: Rock of Dunamase: Merge here with Kerry cyclists arriving from Listowel with “7 Sept Family Torches”. Pageant: “Return of the The Seven Septs” (based on the novel “From Laois to Kerry” by Michael Christopher Keane), (O’ More Family History with Oisin Conroy),
Souvenir parchment, copy presentation of original “Transplantation” treaty,
Camping or B&B at The Gandon Inn, James Gandon architect (1742-1823) heritage talk,
evening meal & Irish & Austrian music night.
BULFIN HERITAGE CYCLE RALLY – SATURDAY AUGUST 25th
Details for Day 2: Saturday August 25th The “Laois Legends” Culture & Heritage Trail with “William Bulfin” (Sean Conroy) & an adult, “Owney McRory O’More” (Michael Creagh) Breakfast at Treacy’s The Heath. “The Battle of Mullaghmast” Heritage talk: with “William Bulfin” (Sean Conroy).
Depart Treacy’s for Emo Court, to music of “March of the High Kings of Laois” horse & carriage (chariot) & Owney McRory O’ More (Michael Creagh)
(all in period battle dress) Medieval Horse & Carriage/High Nelly Cycle to Emo Court.
(Guided tour of Emo Court & Gardens).
Horse & Carriage/Chariot/High Nelly Cycle to Ballyroan.
Lalor’s Mills, Site of the Laois Septs Treaty Signing 1607: (Heritage talk) Re-enactment of original signing. Souvenir parchment signed by all Bulfin participants.
Ballyroan: “Pass of the Plumes” 1599 battle re-enactment at Rockview Walkways & Resource Centre.
“Owney McRory O’More soldiers” (Bulfin Heritage Cyclists) intercept “Earl of Essex soldiers” (Durrow High Nelly Club) (Essex “soldiers” in period outfits of Plumaged/Feathered head dress).
Heritage talk with Willie McGrath. Irish & Austrian Traditional/Folk Music and Dance. (Light refreshments served).
Abbeyleix: Heritage House: (Heritage Talk) (High Nelly/Vintage bike cycle to Durrow via Killamuck and Clonking)
Alyward’s Heritage Museum; viewing of artefacts.
Durrow: Ashbrook Arms: Bulfin Heritage Cycle Rally 2018 Finale; Event Celebratory Meal.
Followed by: Music, Entertainment/Sing-Song at Bob’s Bar with Irish & Austrian musicians.
Opportunity to view Bob’s High Nelly Bike Museum. Distance 32K approx
