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heritage · Friday 10 July 2026 · 8:00pm 
Westmeath Historical Societies - Heritage Talks Series
At Various community halls across Westmeath · Westmeath
At Various community halls across Westmeath · Westmeath
If you have ever wondered about the medieval castles that dot the Westmeath landscape, the families who shaped the county’s market towns, or what life looked like along the Royal Canal during the famine years, these evening talks are the place to find out. County Westmeath has several active historical societies - among them the Westmeath Archaeological and Historical Society (founded in Mullingar in 1978), the Athlone Historical and Archaeological Society, Moate Historical Society, and the Castlepollard Historical Group - each running a programme of informal lectures drawing on local research, oral history, and specialist knowledge. The format suits anyone with a passing interest in the past, not just academics.
Talks run in community halls and parish centres throughout the county, with many of the Mullingar-based sessions held at the Greville Arms Hotel on the main street. Speakers range from professional archaeologists and university researchers to local historians who have spent years piecing together the story of a single townland or family. Topics are wide-ranging: medieval ringforts, the Westmeath landlord class, industrial heritage along the Royal Canal, the 1798 rebellion in the midlands, and local folklore. The atmosphere is relaxed - questions from the floor are expected and the conversation often runs on well after the formal talk ends. Admission is typically free for members and around €2 to €3 for visitors; no booking is usually needed.
Mullingar is roughly 80 km from Dublin via the N4/M4 - under an hour in clear traffic. Bus Eireann runs regular services from Busaras on the Dublin-Sligo route, journey time around 90 minutes. Town centre parking is available on Mount Street and near the shopping centre. For talks in Athlone, Moate, or Castlepollard, a car is the practical option; all towns are well signed from the main roads.
A summer evening talk pairs well with a walk along the Royal Canal or a look around the Cathedral of Christ the King, one of the more striking twentieth-century churches in the midlands. There is more to see in Mullingar and across Co. Westmeath.
Heading to Various community halls across Westmeath? Westmeath has plenty more to see. Browse the area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.