Tuesday, 13 October 2020

Irish Fly Fishing and Game Shooting Museum

 The Irish Fly Fishing and Game Shooting Museum is a hidden gem located at Attenagh in Laois.

 Irish Fly Fishing and Game Shooting Museum

Although once a sea angler myself I've never been involved with Fly Fishing nor Game Shooting but the museum at Attenagh seems awash with antiquities relevant to both and well worth a visit.

Irish Fly Fishing and Game Shooting Museum

Passing by with no proper glasses to see 
I didn't stay long enough to see all the exhibits on display
The aging process does not suit me.

Irish Fly Fishing and Game Shooting Museum

I met the curator and owner Walter while there. He seemed very welcoming and friendly and I explained that my eyesight wasn't great and I'd like to come back another day to take a good look around with my proper reading glasses.

Irish Fly Fishing and Game Shooting Museum

The backroads and Boreens of this area in south Laois are relatively quiet and a pleasure to wander around and there are waymarked routes for cycling but I've still to find out if they are listed somewhere online for route descriptions.

Irish Fly Fishing and Game Shooting Museum

Nearby is the town of Durrow which would have been quite an industrious little place at one time and is home to Bob's Bar and High Nellie Museum and a Church organ in Ireland built by the famed firm of Samuel Green which is in Saint Fintans Church. 

Irish Fly Fishing and Game Shooting Museum

Originally the organ was commissioned in the 18th Cty and given to Trinity College Dublin but was moved to Durrow in 1842. There is another Samuel Green organ in Down Cathedral at Downpatrick in Ulster.

Green built many organs for several well known Churchs and Cathedrals but for some reason died in poverty at Middlesex in 1976.

Co-ordinates here :

52°50'02.7"N 7°20'50.1"W

52.834072 - 7.347255

 

 
Not too far away from Attanagh is the Ladywell which is signposted. It is actually about 100 yards on the Kilkenny side of the border with Laois and is a site which was once visited by thousands of people.
More information here : Ladywell(Dermot Dorgan)

 
The ruins of the medieval 13th Century Abbey Church at Rosconnell are also nearby. The Church was partially restored until it was attacked and destroyed by Cromwellians in the mid 1600's.
Information here : 

Irish Fly Fishing and Game Shooting Museum

 

This area in South Laois and Kilkenny would once have been part of what was known as the Kindom of Ossory during medieval times.