Boyle is steeped with history. The area is rich with historic houses and sites which offer an in depth look into life before the 20th Century and what Ireland was like in the midlands at that time. Hear the legends of Lough Key by taking the Lough Key Experience, see the lavish life King’s lived by taking the interactive tour at King House, or witness the impressive Boyle Abbey, all situated on Boyle’s doorstep. More details of all heritage sites in Boyle and the surrounding areas below.
Abbeytown bridge is one of the oldest of its kind in Ireland. It was 
built between 1190 and 1220 when the Abbey was founded. It is one of the only two built entirely of stone, not stone and masonry – It has not been changed since it was built. In the picture on the right you can see the bridge along with Mitchell’s B&B and Boyle Abbey before it was renovated.
Boyle, Co. Roscommon. Tel: 071 966 2604
Email: ceidefields@opw.ie Web: www.heritageireland.ie/en/west/boyleabbey
The Abbey is the daughter house of Mellifont, Co. Louth. Despite many mutilations due to several wars, it is still regarded as the finest of the Cistercian churches to survive in Ireland with the majesty of the south arcade unparalleled elsewhere in the country. An impressive and well preserved Cistercian Monastery which was founded in the 12th century under the patronage of the local ruling family, the MacDermotts. A restored gatehouse of 16th / 17th century houses an exhibition. Conducted tours of the Abbey and grounds are available (restricted access for people with disabilities). School groups are very welcome but please contact the Abbey staff on the above contact details prior to visit.
This bridge was built in 1846 for the sum of £500, half paid by the County and half by Lord Lorton, replacing a 5 arched bridge that was liable to flooding. The bridge has 3 arches, is 100ft long and 42ft wide with the longest span being 30ft.
A statue of William III on the bridge, erected originally in 1754 by Lord Kingston was removed to the Pleasure Grounds from where it disappeared in the 1930’s.
The Carrowkeel/Keshcorran Megalith complex is located west of Lough Arrow just outside the little town of Castlebaldwin and is the site of the largest concentration of passage tombs in Ireland.
Carrowkeel is spectacularly located in the Bricklieve Mountains. These tombs are most usually located high upon hills and mountains and dot the landscape around Sligo County, forming a larger network of ancient sites whose mysterious origin is still largely debated. The Carrowkeel complex, believed to have been constructed between 3000 and 2000 BC, remained in use until 1500 BC. The cairns, built of limestone with interior chambers roofed with large limestone slabs, range in size from 25 to 100 feet in diameter. The site was used in Christian times as a burial place for unbaptised children.
Keshcorran Mountain is capped by a large un-opened cairn, known as the pinnacle. Seventeen caves are located on the western side of the mountain. The hill and it's surroundings feature in a number of legendary tales including a story that tells of the birth of Cormac Mac Art. Cormac Mac Art was the most famous of the legendary kings of Ireland and was born at a well beneath the caves. His mother had given birth to him while trying to escape from Lughaidh Mac Conn who had killed her husband. While they lay sleeping baby Cormac was carried off by a wolf whose den was in a cave now known as Cormac's cave. Cormac was discovered years later playing on all fours outside the caves with wolf cubs. Cormac went on to become a famous High King of Ireland.
This church was built by Oliver Grace on land given by Lord Kingston in 1765, consecrated in 1773 and its bell was installed in 1784.
It was enlarged in 1818 to facilitate the increased number of soldiers from the local military barracks. Snipers were posted in the church tower during the Civil War in 1922 because of its commanding view.
The remains of Francis Edward Clarke MD LL D, Archdeacon of Elphin, Rector of Boyle for 26 years, who died in 1910, are buried in the adjoining graveyard.
This tower was erected circa 1880 in memory of Lawrence Harman King-Harman, who died 2nd September 1875, by the tenants on the Boyle and Rockingham Estate. He was the last member of the family to be buried in the family vault in Boyle Abbey.
A clock was placed in the tower in memory of Dame Frances Agnes Stafford, who died in 1916 and her son Edward Stafford-King-Harmon who died in 1914 at Ypres. A mechanised clock was mounted to the tower circa 1920 and replaced with an electrical clock in 1979. In the same year a plaque was installed to the memory of Gerard Dodd, TC, MCC, PC (1927-78), the first President of the Boyle Chamber of Commerce, for his services to the community.
The Dolmen located outside Boyle, Co.Roscommon, is a fine example of a portal dolmen, and was built before 2000BC. The word “dolmen” is Celtic in origin and means “stone table”. The great capstone, 4.5m x 3m wide, is one of the largest to be seen in Ireland.
Find it by taking the R294 for 5km (3 miles) from Boyle. Continue under railway bridge and on your right there is a gate into a field. This field is privately owned and one should seek permission before entering andand should only be accessed with care via the gates at the railway crossing provided by Iarnrod Eireann.
A single large celtic cross was erected by the Board of Guardians who administered the Workhouse and especially during the famine. The Local Residents Association have had the cross cleaned and an altar erected. Mass is celebrated there every year for the Holy Souls. It is now also a children’s playground.
Two miles north of the town of Boyle, is the site of the Battle of the Curleius, which took place in 1599. It is commemorated by one of Ireland's most magnificent road-side pieces of sculptured metal of a Gaelic Chieftain, sculptured by Maurice Harron. There is a picnic area provided allowing one to sit and take in the magnificent views over Lough Key.
The Battle of Curlew Pass was fought on the 15th of August 1599, during the campaign of the Earl of Essex in the Nine Years' War, between an English force under Sir Conyers Clifford and a rebel Irish force led by "Red" Hugh O'Donnell. The English were ambushed and routed while marching through a pass in the Curlew Mountains, near the town of Boyle, in northwestern Ireland. The English forces suffered heavy casualties. Losses by allied Irish forces were not recorded but were probably minimal.
Boyle, Co. Roscommon. Tel: 071 966 3242 Fax: 071 966 3243
Email: kinghouse@roscommoncoco.ie Website: www.visitkinghouse.ie
King House was built by Sir Henry King around 1730; it is a house of unique architectural and historical importance.
With the aid of exciting special effects and life size models in recreated scenes you are taken back through the long and compelling history of the house and the people who lived in the area. Every opportunity has been taken, with the use of interactive displays, to ensure that visitors, children and adults alike, are able to experience life as it was for the people who occupied the house and lived and work locally.
King House, Boyle. Email: info@boylearts.com Website: www.boylearts.com
Boyle Civic Collection is now widely considered as a collection of paintings and sculptures by the very best of contemporary Irish artists. The acquisition of works commenced in 1990, and the ever-expanding collection now is in excess of 150 paintings and sculptures.
It is available for viewing in King House all year round.
Boyle town library is located in the basement of King House and originally would have been the kitchens, stores and servant quarters of the House. The original flag floor and barrel vaulted ceiling are still in place in this excellent facility. A comprehensive reference section within the library house many important local documents and books including the annals of Boyle, the annals of Lough Key, histories of the Earls of Kingston and the Connaught Rangers, Estate records from the Rockingham Demense and Griffiths Valuation in the reference section.
The Connaught Rangers museum is a unique display of donated artefacts and family mementos belonging to the soldiers who served in this famous Irish regiment before the foundation of the Irish state. King House is also home to the Connaught Rangers Association, an organisation dedicated to remembering this proud regiment. As well as taking part in memorial ceremonies the association provides genealogical support for ancestors of men who served with the Rangers.
Former President McAleese has kindly donated state gifts from her time as President of Ireland to the nation through the Office of Public Works for the enjoyment of the people of Ireland. Roscommon County Council is delighted to present the exhibition of these State Gifts at the historic King House in Boyle.
Maureen O’Sullivan was born just yards from King House as her father was a Captain in the Connaught Rangers. Follow this Hollywood icon’s journey from local girl to movie star. Maureen starred in 70 movies but is perhaps best known for her turn as Jane Parker in the Tarzan movies of yesteryear alongside Johnny Weissmiller. A true queen of the silver screen.
Tel: 071 9673122 Email: info@loughkey.ie
Web: www.loughkey.ie
Lough Key Forest Park, a popular destination for recreational walkers. The park, opened in 1972, covers 865 acres (350 ha) formerly part of the Rockingham estate. The Moylurg Tower, standing on the site of the old Rockingham house, now stands overlooking the lake to the north and lawns to the south.
Sir Cecil Stafford-King-Harman (1895–1987), second (and last) Baronet of Rockingham, ensured that the land went back to the people of Ireland through the Irish Land Commission, who subdivided the pasture land into several farms of approximately 50 acres (20 ha) and granted these to local people. An extensive area around the then-derelict Rockingham house became the Forest Park and this was looked after by the Department of Forestry.
Discover how this fascinating landscape has been shaped; from underground to up amongst the treetops, ‘Irelands only Tree Canopy Walk, a truly unique experience immersing you in the history, flora and fauna that make Lough Key so unique.
This is a self-guided tour so therefore there is no time limit on your journey through time…… The beauty of this is that you can spend as much or little time as you want on this magical journey.
This Mass Rock was typical of many used in mid-17th Century Ireland as a location for Catholic worship.
Owing to the difficulty and danger of religious practices at the time, as a result of Cromwell’s campaign in Ireland and the Penal Laws, this banned congregation and worship. A stone was usually taken from church ruins and relocated to an isolated rural area with a simple cross carved on its top. Masses were held in secret.
The stucco decorated building now known as Sheerins on Main Street, Boyle was the birthplace of film actress Maureen O’Sullivan (1911 – 1988), the original Jane in the first Tarzan films of the 1930s. Maureen had seven children (including Mia Farrow) with husband John Farrow. Her career, spanning 64 years and over 60 films, included Francis Ford Coppola’s ‘Peggy Sue Got Married’ (1986) and ‘Hannah and her Sisters’
Her father Captain C. J. O’Sullivan was adjutant to the Connaught Rangers in the town. In 1988 she visited the town after a 40 year absence and unveiled the plaque on the house in which she had been born. She also attended a celebration mass in St Josephs Church, a parade through Boyle to Main Street, planted a tree on Military Road, attended a variety concert in the Royal Hotel, planted a Monkey Puzzle tree in Riversdale House, Knockvicar and went on a boat trip around Lough Key.
The pleasure grounds were created by Lord Kingston in front of his castle (before the building of King House) as one of two parks where the gentry might ‘promenade and discourse’. The other for the people of the town extended west of Bridge Street to St. Patricks Well. Initially, these parks restricted the development of the town to Bridge Street and Green Street.
From here one will get the best view of King House. The house has an eleven bay front, set off by a central three bay pediment. containing a large Venetian Window. The regular chimneys, dormer windows and vaulted roof giv an impressive glance.
Next to the existing children’s playground is the pedestal of a monument. This was the base of the statue in honour of King William, erected by Sir Edward King in 1763 on the bridge beside the Royal Hotel. When the original bridge was replaced in 1846 the statue was moved here. During the ‘Troubles’ in the early 1920’s, the statue was beheaded. Eventually the rest of the statue was removed, leaving only the pedestal.
In 1809 Viscount Lorton commissioned the famous architect John Nash to build a lavish mansion in the Rockingham Demesne on the slightly elevated hill that overlooks Lough Key. Around the same time he also commissioned the famous landscape architect John Sutherland to create a landscaped park.
This involved building bridges, canals, follies as well as the planting of numerous trees. Rockingham Arch is an example of the numerous gate lodges that were built in the early 1800’s on the estate while Viscount Lorton was landlord. This was the entrance to the estate from Abbeytown.
This fine Gothic style gate house formed a spectacular entrance into the Rockingham Demesne, now Lough Key Forest Park. The gate house was possibly designed by the architect John Nash, who was responsible for the house, or by his draftsman Humphrey Repton who is credited with the design of many of Rockingham's lodges. This building, with its crenellated parapet and limestone dressings differs hugely from the other more classically designed lodges associated with the demesne. Built in a Gothic idiom, it is an outstanding and an impressive entranceway to the estate.
Consecrated in 1980, this modern building is redolent of Ireland’s past and reminds one of Newgrange. It was designed by Patrick Rooney & Associates of Sligo and Dublin. It is constructed of random quarried atone commonly found locally. The 34 metre roof span is achieved by the clever use of laminated spruce beams. The foundation stone of this church was blessed by Pope John Paul, on the occasion of his visit to Knock in September 1979 and laid in position by the Bishop of Elphin, Most Rev. Dr. Conway, on the feast of St. Joseph the worker. The organ was made by Kenneth Jones of Glendalough and Bray, 1981.
The above church replaced an 1876 neo-gothic church designed by George Goldie (who also designed Sligo and Ballaghaderreen Cathedral), it had a magnificent pitch pine, hammer beam style roof, and a striking rose stained glass window above the alter. It took over six years to build after laying the foundation stone, at a cost of approximately €8,000. The church was accidently burnt down in 1977. Prior to 1876 the Catholic Church was on the other side of Boyle in St. Patricks Hall.
Boyle to Lough Key Cycleway The mainly off road cycle path travels from Lough Key Forest Park to the First Gate of Rockingham before turning right down Drum road, across the Woodenbridge to meet up with the walkway along by the canal. From the Marina it heads into Boyle via the Woodenbridge and Sligo roads before crossing the N61 and into Boyle via Military Road. €500,000 was allocated to the project by Minister for Rural and Commun..
Find Out More
Boyle, Co. Roscommon, Ireland
