Brontë Group in Offaly has big plans for National Heritage Week

BANAGHER Brontë Group have organised a number of events for this year's Heritage Week over the weekend of Friday August 15th-Monday August 18th.

These include a garden party and a book launch as well as the premiere of a film regarding the marriage settlement of Charlotte Brontë.

Saturday 16th August

Gala Garden Party/Book launch at Charlotte's Way at 2pm (Eircode: R42 RY82).

Tickets are €50 and are limited to 100 patrons. Tickets can be booked online through Eventbrite (€54.50 which includes booking fee).

Included in your ticket price is a signed copy of Let Me In, The Brontës in Bricks and Mortar written by Ann Dinsdale, Principal Curator of the Brontë Parsonage, and Sharon Wright, biographer of Maria Brontë, née Branwell, mother of all the Brontës.

The book will be launched by Kay Sheehy, the recently retired RTE Radio 1 producer, presenter and reporter.

Also included in your ticket price is a buffet which will be served in a marquee setting.

Patrons are asked to bring their own drinks and perhaps have a means of labelling them to avoid unnecessary confusion.

Music provided by internationally acclaimed singing sensation, Bríd Gallagher, former lead singer with the Kate Bush tribute band, Army Dreamers.

While there is no official dress code for this gala, the BBG suggest that you might like to dress in Brontë themed or Victorian attire.

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Sunday August 17th

11am. Sunday morning service in St Paul’s or mass in St Rynagh’s Church.

12.45pm. Visit the graves of the Bell Nicholls family in St Paul’s Churchyard.

1.30pm. Lunch in The Crank Café and Restaurant.

2.30pm. Showing of Dr Maebh O Regan’s film Prenuptial Politics at the Brontë Parsonage, regarding the marriage settlement of Charlotte Brontë, and Arthur Bell Nicholls featuring an interview with Ann Dinsdale, Principal Curator of the Brontë Museum in Haworth. This showing will be followed by a Q&A session. This event is in Crank House.

3.30pm. Address from Nigel West, founding member of the Brontë Birthplace Thornton group and a descendant of the former occupants of Hill House now known Charlotte’s Way. This event is in Crank House.

4.30pm. Boat trip on the Shannon to Meelick Weir and Walkway with Silverlines’ River Queen.

Please book a seat through committee members. It is expected that the cost of the boat trip will be €12-€15.

7pm. Corrigans’ Corner Pub for open mic readings and nighttime revelry.

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Monday August 18th

All of the events on Monday will be happening in the nearby town of Tullamore in Offaly History Centre, Bury Quay, Tullamore (Eircode R35 Y5VO).

11am. Music recital by the Banagher Brontë Ensemble

12pm. A second launch, by James Scully, of Let Me INn: The Brontës in Bricks and Mortar by Ann Dinsdale and Sharon Wright.

12.20pm.Sharon Wright will give an illustrated talk on Balloonamania Belles and Daredevil Divas, an entertaining history of early female balloonists and parachutists, a subject matter particularly relevant to Tullamore in view of the great balloon fire there in 1785.

1.10pm. Showing of Dr Maebh O Regan’s film Prenuptial Politics at the Brontë Parsonage, regarding the marriage settlement of Charlotte Brontë, and Arthur Bell Nicholls featuring an interview with Ann Dinsdale, Principal Curator of the Brontë Museum in Haworth. This showing will be followed by a Q&A session and should finish by 2pm.

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