FESTIVAL:History isn't bunk, it's funky, as the inaugural History Festival of Ireland aims to show, writes ALANNA GALLAGHER
IF HISTORY TURNS you grey with boredom then head to the History Festival of Ireland ( thehistoryfestivalofireland.com), where our past is dusted down and transformed into a living, breathing and sometimes rowdy event at Lisnavagh House, in Rathvilly, Co Carlow on Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th June.
Featuring the nation’s best historians, it includes discussions in the big house’s showstopping library. On Saturday, ‘Virtuous Villains’ takes a look at five people who put the hiss into history, including Lord Castlereagh, Oliver Cromwell and Dermot MacMurrough. At 10.30am on Sunday, round about mass time, a debate on ‘This weeks’ Eucharistic Congress is a sell out – but what has the Catholic Church actually done for us?’ takes place.
A €10 ticket will admit you to the marquee at Lisnavagh House for the day, in which a host of activities is programmed. Library events each carry a €10 admission. Buy your tickets from Carlow's GB Shaw Theatre on 059-9172400 or at gbshawtheatre.ie. Lunch and refreshments will be available to buy all day from Pieminister.
Why not make a weekend of it? A two-day pass to all events plus accommodation and breakfast at the nearby Mount Wolseley Hotel costs €139 pps. Call 059-9180100 to book. Ireland play Croatia at 7.45pm Sunday. After the festival, you can head to Molloy’s in the village to watch the game.
