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heritage · Wednesday 1 July 2026 · Various 
Breifne Historical Society Heritage Events and Lectures
At Various venues across Breifne region · Breifne (Cavan, Leitrim, South Fermanagh)
At Various venues across Breifne region · Breifne (Cavan, Leitrim, South Fermanagh)
If you have ever wanted to understand the landscape around you - the ring forts on a Leitrim hillside, the ruined tower house by a lake, the townland name unchanged in five centuries - an evening with Breifne Historical Society is a good place to start. Founded in January 1956 at the Farnham Arms Hotel in Cavan, the society has spent seventy years bringing together historians, researchers and curious members of the public to explore the medieval Kingdom of Breifne: the territory once ruled by the O’Rourke and O’Reilly chieftains across Cavan, Leitrim and South Fermanagh. All events are free and open to anyone who turns up.
The society runs public lectures throughout the year, usually on Thursday evenings, plus an annual summer heritage tour to a site of historical interest. Speakers range from university historians to local researchers, and topics cover the breadth of Breifne history - ecclesiastical sites, landlordism, literary figures, archaeology and key regional events. The annual journal Breifne, first published in 1958, is regarded as one of Ireland’s more authoritative local history publications and comes free with membership. 2026 is the society’s 70th anniversary year. Specific lectures for July are confirmed on a rolling basis, so check breifnehistory.com for the topic, speaker and venue close to the date. Venues are typically in Cavan town - the Johnston Central Library and the Pastoral Centre are the usual hosts.
Carrick-on-Shannon, about 10 km south of Leitrim town, is the main transport hub for the area and is served by Bus Eireann from Dublin and Sligo. For Breifne Historical Society events held in Cavan town, the N3 from Dublin takes around 90 minutes, with regular Bus Eireann services from Busaras. Parking around both Cavan and Carrick is generally straightforward and free in the evenings.
The Breifne landscape repays a bit of extra time - the Shannon-Erne Waterway, Iron Age hill forts in south Leitrim, and abbey ruins throughout the region all connect directly to the history discussed at society events. There is more to see in Leitrim and across Co. Leitrim.
Heading to Various venues across Breifne region in Leitrim? Leitrim has plenty more to see. Read the Leitrim area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.