Location
Boyle , Co. Roscommon
History
Situated in the town of Boyle in County Roscommon, King House is one of Ireland's best-preserved Georgian country houses and today stands as a museum to life in Ireland in the 18th Century. King House dates back to 1730 and was home to one of the most powerful and wealthy families in Ireland. The house was built for Henry King and his wife Isabella, the sister of Viscount Powerscourt, of the equally impressive Georgian residence, Powerscourt in County Wicklow .
The Kings were an Anglo Irish family and landed gentry, who owned vast tracks of land around Boyle. In later years King House was used as a Barracks for the Connaught Rangers up until 1922. This local militia were called into battle throughout the world, fighting in the Crimean Wars and the trenches of World War One. The rich history of King House is told through a range of excellent exhibitions from the Kingdom of Connaught outlining Ireland's old Gaelic culture and early Christianity to exhibitions on the house and the King family as well as a collection of memorabilia on the famous Connaught Rangers. King House also contains the Boyle Civic Art Collection, one of the finest collections of contemporary Irish paintings and sculptures in the country, with over 150 works on permanent view. Each July, King House and its grounds serve as a venue for the Boyle International Arts Festival with a range of exhibitions and concerts of classical, jazz and traditional Irish music. King House also has a restaurant and craft shop with locally made produce.
Opening Times
1st April - 30th September daily 10.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. - Last admission 5.00 p.m.
Visit Length
1hr
Admission
Prices: Adults EUR 7, Children EUR 4, Family EUR 18
Information
Leaflets: Yes Guided Tours: Yes Audio Visual: Yes Exhibition: Yes
Facilities
Restaurant: Yes Car Park: Yes Coach Park: Yes Disabled Access: Yes
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