Buildings

McDermot's Castle, Lough Key, Boyle

This is a colour tinted postcard of McDermot's Castle, Lough Key, Boyle. Carrig Mac Diarmada, or Rock stands on a small island in Loch Key. This rock has a romantic, but sad story associated with it, the story of Una Bhan or Winifred the only daughter of Charles Mac Dermot, the last of it's chieftains. A young man named MacCostelloe, fell in love with Una. However, her father refused to allow her to marry into the MacCostelloe tribe. The MacCostelloes attacked the fortress. Una who was locked in a room to prevent her escape, became ill and died. Her body was buried on Trinity Island. The story goes that MacCostelloe swam every night to Una's grave, and he too became ill, and finding that he was near death, sent a last request to MacDermot, that he be laid to rest beside his beloved Una. The chief granted this favour, and on his death, his body was placed beside that of his amour Una.

McDermot's Castle, Lough Key, Boyle

McDermot's Castle, Lough Key, Boyle

This is a colour tinted postcard of McDermot's Castle, Lough Key, Boyle. Carrig Mac Diarmada, or Rock stands on a small island in Loch Key. This rock has a romantic, but sad story associated with it, the story of Una Bhan or Winifred the only daughter of Charles Mac Dermot, the last of it's chieftains. A young man named MacCostelloe, fell in love with Una. However, her father refused to allow her to marry into the MacCostelloe tribe. The MacCostelloes attacked the fortress. Una who was locked in a room to prevent her escape, became ill and died. Her body was buried on Trinity Island. The story goes that MacCostelloe swam every night to Una's grave, and he too became ill, and finding that he was near death, sent a last request to MacDermot, that he be laid to rest beside his beloved Una. The chief granted this favour, and on his death, his body was placed beside that of his amour Una.

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The built heritage of Boyle, owes much to the King family. Boyle was the first home to the Earls of Kingston.

They created the Pleasure Grounds, the Waterfall and the Abbey Bridge.

When they left their town centre dwelling and built the Rockingham classical mansion in 1810, they naturally chose a splendid site on the shores of Lough Key.

They then added to the beauty of the area by building a couple of entrance gates, creating the Beech Walk and developing a boat harbour with gazebo for relaxation purposes.

They added the folly castle too, which was for fishing and entertainment.

Gallery

Beech Walk, Rockingham, Boyle

This is a beech avenue, three quarters of a mile long, passing beneath the main entrance Gothic gatehouse. The lady in charge of the donkey and cart was possibly the governess, taking the children for a drive around the seventy to eighty miles of driveways. Unfortunately many of these beech trees were felled by Hurricane Debbie some years ago. Only a few remain standing today.


Beech Walk, Rockingham, Boyle -

Entrance gate, Rockingham, Boyle

The visitor to the Rockingham Estate, having got past the guard on the first gate, then had to encounter the sentry on the impressive second entrance gate seen here. The uniformed guard was on duty to protect the estate from unwelcome visitors. This fine Gothic style gatehouse, with it's crenellated parapet and limestone dressings was built c.1810. The sender of the card posted from Longford in 1904 notes "Isn't this a pretty view wish you could see it"


Entrance gate, Rockingham, Boyle -

Boat Harbour, Rockingham, Boyle

This pleasant harbour, still in use today, portrays the majesty and wealth of the Rockingham estate. Taken circa 1900 the two boatmen have nautical attire and are in charge of a rowing boat with the British flag proudly mounted on the stern. The building in the background with the arched bridge is a crenellated gazebo known as "The Temple". It provides an ideal spot from which to observe the lake and folly castle on the opposite island. It was built as a fishing house by the King family, but was also used for relaxation and reading. The beautiful wrought iron lamps are now gone, but the boarding points are still there, as is the gazebo.


Boat Harbour, Rockingham, Boyle -

Military Barracks, Boyle, Co. Roscommon

This view from a southerly perspective of the Military Barracks Boyle, formerly the King House, taken at the turn of the 19th century is much the same today, thanks to the efforts of Roscommon County Council. They purchased it in 1987 and embarked on a slow process of restoration as the original splendid stately home of the Kings had fallen into considerable disrepair. The west wing, running at right angles to the Boyle River, and to the left of the photo, is believed to have been the original house of the King family. It is owned by the state and the Department of Defence uses it for military training. The main building running parallel to the river dates from 1722. It is now a focal point for tourists in the town, focussing as it does on the skilled craftsmen who built the King House, the achievements of the restoration team, the King family history from 1603 and the battles of the Connaught Rangers. It also houses the town library in it's basement, which is serving the cultural and literary needs of the environs since 1998.


Military Barracks, Boyle, Co. Roscommon -

Waterfall and Military Barracks, Boyle

This sepia tinted postcard was posted from Altoona PA in 1947, the sender waiting until his return to the USA to tell his sister that "this town is away from the rest of the world, if you know what I mean" The man made waterfall is no longer part of this idyllic setting.


Waterfall and Military Barracks, Boyle -

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