Latest News and Updates
Portumna De Burgo's in Fresh Controversy, not long after the Cromwell one in the 1600's!!
Visit Portumna based in Portumna, Co. Galway has today called for the retracting of the ‘Magically Becoming a City Lad’ De Burgo when it suits them, the poor man only went in to #Galway City to do a bit of shopping.
A spokesman for #Portumna accused the City reps of ‘playing the system’ in Ireland, stating it was “illegal” and “wrong” of them to avail of the opportunities given to them for the bad traffic in the city!!
Marketing manager of Portumna Ulick O'Burke, third cousin of the man in question is quoted as saying "Never let a good controversy go to waste!! Take the time out to Visit Portumna this year."
Portumna CEO stated that, De Burgo was painted as someone who magically became a City lad when it suited them: “Isn’t this the same guy who jumped at the chance to build his big house in Portumna?
Inconvenient Truth: How convenient it is now for the city boys to say he built his house in Quay street and had pints with his mates there now, do you think the poor olde De Burgo's could afford to build a house on Quay Street? Only the likes of the Comers could do that!! No wonder he had to build in Portumna and had the hardship of the commute in and out of Galway when needed, like the rest of us"
"We are delighted with the publicity that #Portumna has got through the controversy between Ciaran Cannon & Mark Lohan and the coverage by Galway Bay FM and Independent.ie, etc. Hard to buy the coverage. They are very welcome to battle it out here in the Castle grounds, like they did a while back"
DNA tests have now been asked to be carried out and it is said that "“no son of Portumna would turn his back on his Town like that’. Mr. De Burgo is in a long line of great Portumna people to that the city before have tried to claim."
Town councilor Richard Burke told local satellite TV station "Portumna Castle TV" that the Councillor may be no longer welcome “after that craic, '#WhoDoYouThinkYouAre and probably could not find his way past Renmore anyway"
Remember that Portumna Castle and it's Coachouse being renovated to accommodate, Tea Rooms, Toilet facilities and Exhibition Areas for the new season is the perfect way to spend the day along with a visit to the World renowned Irish Workhouse Centre - Portumna.
Portumna is also a great shopping town that will not have you stuck in traffic all day with the added bonus of #FreeParking!!
All the names have been changed to protect the #innocents!
Dragons, Elves & More National School Creative Writing Workshop with Marguerite Tonery – 10.00am
Film Programme Launch & Documentary: His and Hers – 1.30pm
Barbara Kennedy Annual Writing Awards '17 – 3.30pm
Shorelines Film Shorts: Love, Loss & Leaving – 5.00pm
Official Opening of Shorelines 2017 – 7.00pm
Percy French Singing Competition 2017 – 9.00pm
Drama: Turf presented by Rowan Tolley Company – 12noon
Stories, Songs & Sambos: Martin Malone, Helena Mulkerrins & Simon O’Faoláin – 1.30pm
Shorelines Film Shorts: Love, Loss & Leaving – 2.30pm
Guided Tour of The Gallery with Aideen Monaghan – 3.30pm
Essentially French: Celebrating the life, words and music of Percy French – 4.30pm
Film Documentary: His & Hers – 5.00pm
Two Plays presented by Half Day Thursday Theatre – 6.30pm
Jack O’Rourke in Concert – 8.30pm
Willow Dome - All Day
Workshop: Enjoy Calligraphy with Eithna Joyce – 10.00am
Heritage Walk – 11.00am
Film Documentary: His & Hers – 11.30am
Literary Lunch with Mike McCormack, Fergus Finlay & Eithne Hand – 1.00pm
Workshop: Make a Ring (SOLD OUT) – 2.00pm
Poetry Reading with Leanne O’Sullivan & Katie Donovan – 4.00pm
Shorelines Film Shorts: Love, Loss & Leaving – 5.00pm
The Man In The Woman’s Shoes by Mikel Murfi – 6.30pm
Julie Feeney in Concert (SOLD OUT) – 8.30pm
Notions: My Fellow Sponges + New Pope + Jackie Blake – 10.00pm
Workshops with The Brickx Club - 10.00am and 12noon
Professor Plunger – 2.00pm
Face-Painting with Giselle – 2.00pm
Mojo Creations Origami Demonstration and Workshop – 2.00pm
Loughrea Craft Club – 2.00pm
Circus Fergus – 4.00pm
Shorelines Sunday Mass with The Park Singers - 11.00am
Lines Learned by Heart – 12.00noon
Shorelines Film Shorts: Love, Loss & Leaving – 2.00pm
Guided Tour of The Gallery with Aideen Monaghan – 2.30pm
Workshop: Singing Adults with Órla Gillen – 3.00pm
Workshop: Community Spirit Drumming Workshop – 3.00pm
Shorelines Special Screening of 2 Film Documentaries by Wilma Rekkers – 4.30pm
Shorelines Island Discs – 5.30pm
Cherish The Ladies in Concert – 8.00pm
Art Exhibition (from 4th to 24th September)
Portumna Community School Art Exhibition
Shorelines Megaloceros by Donnacha Cahill
10 Words with Portumna Pen Pushers
Shorelines Pop-Up Museum
Book Birds at Shorelines
Shorelines Number 10s
Art Exhibition: St. Dympna’s Adult Day Service
Various locations around Portumna - Check out Shorelines Arts Festival website for more information Hayes & Hayes Pharmacy
Palmerston Stores (Kenny's)
The Beehive Restaurant
The Cottage Store Antiques
Booking online is the fastest and most convenient way to secure your tickets. Payments are accepted via PayPal or via debit/credit card.
Buy Shoreslines Arts Festival Tickets Online We would advise advance booking to avoid disappointment as venues have a strict capacity limit.
Online tickets can be purchased until 7.00pm on Thursday, September 14th.
Any remaining tickets will be sold via the ticket outlets or at the door on the night.
Sat 19th (12-4pm): Folklore, Fossils, and the Forge
Sun 20th (10:30am-2:30pm): Reaching Out: Autism Day
Mon 21st (10am to 4pm): Lá Gaeilge
Tue 22nd (11:30am-12:30pm and 1:30pm-2:30pm): Artefacts Day
Wed 23rd (12:30pm to 3:30pm): Sounds of the Workhouse
Thu 24th (1-6pm): Who do you think you are?
Fri 25th (12-5pm): Cures in Nature
Sat 26th (9:30am-5pm): Workhouse Heritage Day
Sun 27th (12-1pm and 2-3pm): Chase a fairy, find a bee…
Sat 19th: Portumna Priory Inscriptions. Launch at Portumna Library at 12pm
Sat 19th: Clonburmen in the British Army. Launch at the Clonbur lecture
Sat 19th: Congmen in Crown Forces in C19. Launched at Cong at 3pm
Sat 19th: The Inn of Glentane. To be launched at Ruanes Bar at 8pm
Thu 24th: Workhouses of the Region. Launch at Loughrea & Scariff Libraries
Thu 24th: The most harmless.... Launch by Eoin O'Neill at the Workhouse at 8:30pm
Sat 26th: Folklore Booklet (gathered from National Schools), launch at noon
Sun 27th: Meelick Medieval Church by Christy Cunniffe at 12pm at Meelick
Sun 27th: The Lawrences of Lawrencetown. Launched at Pardy’s at 7:30pm
Sat 19th (All Saints Heritage Centre, 12pm): Clonburmen in the British Army
Sat 19th (Crossroads Community Centre, 2pm): Congmen in Crown Forces
Sat 19th (Ruanes of Glentane, 7:30pm): The Inn of Glentane
Tues 22nd (Athenry Heritage Centre, 4:30pm): Athenry 200
Wed 23rd (Ballinasloe Library, 2:30pm): Cricket in Co Galway
Thu 24th (Birr Library, 11:30am): The Head Family and their Legacy
Thu 24th (Scariff Library, 12pm): The Workhouses of the Region
Thu 24th (Loughrea Library, 2:30 - 6pm): Exhibition on Loughrea Workhouse
Fri 25th (Kilbarron Hall, 8pm): Kilbarron Terryglass Soldiers in HM Forces
To book or for more information on events contact the Irish Workhouse Centre on (090) 97 59200 or via email at info@irishworkhousecentre.ie
19th to 27th August - Exhibition celebrating 185 years of the OPW
Sun 20th - 2pm to 5pm - "Hands of History" Medieval afternoon with costume and weaponry. Vintage car display.
21st and 22nd August - Guided tour of the 17th century Walled Kitchen Garden with Lynn O'Ķeeffe
Sun 27th August - 3pm - An illustrated talk on the work of the OPW by Angela Rolfe
Free Admissions Friday 25th, Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th August.
A brand new Dancing festival announced for Ireland with some very exciting headline guests
Multi-award-winning country superstar Mike Denver, country music singing sensation Jimmy Buckley and local legends Tradstone.
The festival will be over three days with live entertainment taking place in O'Meara's Marquee on Friday 21st, Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd July 2017, Portumna, Co. Galway, Ireland.
A brand new DaIt will feature not only the 3 major acts at the festival but also another music stage with the likes of Sabrina Fallon, dedicated dancing sessions, food stalls, large BBQ and much much more.ncing festival announced for Ireland with some very exciting headline guests
Tickets are on sale from O Mearas Bar Portumna and SuperValu Portumna, or contact the ticket office on 090 9741076 to purchase by credit card and have them posted out to you.
Friday Night - Jimmy Buckley - Marquee
Saturday Afternoon - Sabrina Fallon - Bar Stage
Saturday Night - Mike Denver - Marquee
Saturday Afternoon - Sabrina Fallon - Bar Stage
Sunday Afternoon - Tradstone - Marquee
Please ensure to order tickets early to avoid dissappointment!! Different ticket types available from indivuidual events from weekend pass to Dine and Dance. Contact us for more details at O'Meara's Bar and Restaurant, Supervalu Portumna or or Ticket line on 090 9741076.
Portumna Dancing Festival 2017 is part funded by Galway County Council.
To book or for more information on events contact the Irish Workhouse Centre on (090) 97 59200 or via email at info@irishworkhousecentre.ie
The Irish Workhouse Centre will be offering free late tours of the Workhouse from 6pm to 8pm. For those working all week, the centre will be giving free tours from 6pm-8pm on the opening Friday evening... discussing the ‘Workhouse at Night’. Find out what life was like in the evenings and at night-time for inmates and staff, and comparing life ‘inside’ and ‘outside’ in the nineteenth century. “One of the best events and flattest route in Ireland”. From 7am on Saturday, Portumna Forest Park will be host to both half and full marathon runners. For more information, email info@sportsireland.ie,
For more information - Enter Portumna Forest Marathon Online Exploration Dome at The Irish Workhouse Centre – a state of the art ‘Full dome’ (360 degree, 3-D digital projection). There will be ‘astronomy shows’ and films suitable for all ages at a subsidised rate of €2. A must for those with children interested in astronomy, the environment, and our planet. There will also be fun (and free) outdoor activities for children from 11am-1pm.
For more information - www.explorationdome.ie Kid’s Exercise Course (and History Quiz) in the Workhouse Fun (and free) outdoor activities will be will be held in the Workhouse complex on Saturday from 11am-1pm. PodUmna’s Dick Ridge, and SCEAL’s David Broderick will take groups of children through their paces with a mini obstacle course presenting a wide variety of challenges.
Please book via email at info@irishworkhousecentre.ie
The River Shannon is closely bound up with Ireland's social, cultural, military, economic and political his-tory. This free conference showcases the role the wa-terways has played in the history of Portumna.
Time Speaker Topic
10:00 Donal Boland The past and the future of our Waterways
10:30 Declan Kelly Discriminatory Waters of Baptism: burial grounds for the unbaptised
11:00 Tea/Coffee
11:30 Dolores O’Shea Overview of Portumna’s relationship to the Water
12:00 Christy Cunniffe Evidence for early settlement on the mid-Shannon
12:30 Aron Donnolly The Vikings are coming...Viking presence on rivers
The IWC warmly welcomes the University College Dublin Women’s Graduate Association (Cumann Banchéimithe Coláiste Ollscoile Baile Átha Cliath) as our guests.
Get active and get to know your heritage, with our special guests for the morning, the Galway Archaeological and Historical Society. All free, all welcome!
11am Workhouse Tour with Steve Dolan
12pm Tour of Portumna Bridge with Paul Duffy
1pm Tour of the Priory with Christy Cunniffe.
Fun Cycle for local charities (11am-1pm).
Portumna & District Lions Club Annual Fun
Cycle at 12pm — The Square, Portumna.
All proceeds go to local charities – prizes for funniest bike/cyclist, best individual/club fundraised. Donations accepted. No entry fee. Ph: 087-7427950.
Port Omna Beo is delighted to invite everyone to attend the launch of their first publication on local woodland flora.
Please come along Sunday 11th June at 3pm in Portumnna Forest Park carpark, Portumna, Co. Galway.
A fantastic new publication that enhance your experience when navigating the trails in Portumna Forest Park.
Meeting in Portumna Forest Park for 3.00pm
Lego Sessions at the Irish Workhouse Centre hourly from 3pm with Brickmaster Ben Cunningham. The charge is €10/child and booking and payment in advance is necessary.
For more, phone (090) 97 59200.
Boys’ sessions at 3pm and 5pm, girls’ session at 4pm.
If families want to mix, no problem, but the particular session may be primarily geared to boys or girls depending on numbers.
The hour will be broken down as follows:
The first 15 minutes will be a mini-tour of the Workhouse so kids can get their bearings,
They will then be brought into the schoolroom where they will each make their own version of the Workhouse for a half-hour.
Finally, they will be brought into the kitchen for a little party for 15 mins before they go.
On leaving, each child is given a pack with Lego poster and various stuff (colouring pages, poster, jellies, etc) and a Lego gift to the value of €5-€6 min.
The website for Visit Portumna is now online, and will aim to provide all the information that could be needed for visitors and locals alike. Portumna and the surrounding area has a wealth of activities, natural beauty spots, historical attractions, fine restaurants, welcoming bars and a huge range of local services and businesses.
Latest News and Updates
Shorelines Arts Festival - Portumna
Thursday – 14th September
Friday – 15th September
Saturday – 16th September
Family and Childrens Events - Saturday – 16th September
Sunday – 17th September
Free events over the Arts Festival
Contact Shorelines Arts Festival
Ticket Outlets
Buy tickets online
19th August to 27th August 2017 - "Heritage Week - Portumna"
At the Irish Workhouse Centre - Portumna
The Irish Workhouse Centre Publications for Heritage Week
The Irish Workhouse Centre - Portumna on Tour
Heritage Week at Portumna Castle
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21st July to 23rd July 2017 - "Portumna Dancing Festival"
9th June to 11th June 2017 - "Fit for Fun Festival"
Schedule of Events for 2017
Friday 9th June
Saturday 10th June
Half & Full Marathon, – Forest Park Marathon
Exploration Dome
History on the Run...
Conference, in partnership with Waterways Ireland
Portumna and its Waterways
On Sunday, June 11th
Portumna ‘Active’ Heritage Morning
Lions Club Charity Cycle
Port Omna Beo - "Guide to Wildlife"
Booklet Launch - Portumna Forest Park - 3.00pm
Lego Afternoon
In the Irish Workhouse Centre, sessions commencing from 3.00pm
Events are free, except where stated.
The conference is free to attend
Donations to the Irish Workhouse Centre welcomed.
17 March 2017 - Visit Portumna Website Launches!