(Photo caption: Members of the Freeman Boating Club and some from the District Heritage Society at the start of their heritage tour and walk of the town from the Marina.)
The Ballinasloe and District Heritage Society has had a busy summer, and also looks ahead to a major exhibition in the autumn.
Society member Padraic Kilduff delivered a fantastic lecture on June 12th in the Aughrim Interpretative Centre. At a very well attended event, Padriac gave a fascinating study of the work of James Forth Kempster, the architect responsible for many of our public buildings in Ballinasloe and houses across East Galway.
Padraic’s talk kicked off the Aughrim Summer Series 2026. Another society member, Patricia Johnston, will deliver a lecture here on September 18th, entitled ‘Sure that’s Women for you’. This event is free of charge.
ATU Mountbellew Agricultural College hosted the Aleen Cust Symposium on Friday, 4 July, with over 200 attendees celebrating her legacy as Ireland and the UK’s first female veterinary surgeon in the early 1900s. The Heritage Society had a strong visible presence at the event, which was attended by Uachtarán na hÉireann, Catherine Connolly.
June 29th saw the Heritage Society welcome its friends from the Freeman Cruisers for the second year, for a historical wander around the town, with the new heritage trail map.
For Heritage Week 2026, Ballinasloe Stories – A Walk Through Ballinasloe’s History & Heritage, took place on Sunday, August 23rd. Members of the public joined the society for a guided walk through Ballinasloe’s historic town centre, detailing aspects of its beautiful architecture and rich social history. The tour took in key locations and people in the story of this important area, an ancient crossing point to the thriving market town of today.
The Society also put a call out for town centre businesses to display some historical Ballinasloe photographs in their shop windows. A number of businesses are looking to participate. Work is continuing ahead of the Limestone Legacy Exhibition later in the autumn, part of which will be a 2-episode podcast series, produced and narrated by well-known radio and media personality, Fergal D’Arcy, native of Beagh in Creagh. Fergal is the son of the late Tony D’Arcy, a historian and writer.
Work is underway on “Hostings”, Volume 3 and the society was delighted to announce that Damian Mac Con Uladh will return as editor for the 3rd year running. The first two volumes have been very well received with high sales locally, nationally and internationally.
Attending the Ballinasloe and District Heritage Display and Stand at Mountbellew Campus for the Coost Seminar were members: Conor Johnson, Cllr Michael Connolly, Dr. Evelyn Parsons Chair MDC. Pat Johnson, Andrew Reddington, Chair Galway Co Co, Evelyn Donnellan, and Oliver Donnellan.
