Dún Bleisce Historical & Literary Society

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Dún Bleisce Historical & Literary Society

Welcome to Doon Historical Society! We host talks, community events & an annual tour celebrating the rich history of Doon and beyond.

27/10/2026

Dún Bleisce Historical & Literary Society | Annual Summer Outing 2026 ☀️

A wonderful day of history, heritage and good company!

On Wednesday, 12 August, members and friends of the Dún Bleisce Historical & Literary Society enjoyed our annual summer outing, taking in some fascinating historical sites across Clare and Limerick.

Our first stop was Ardnacrusha Hydroelectric Power Station, where we enjoyed a guided tour of one of the great engineering achievements of the early Irish State. Commissioned in 1929, Ardnacrusha played a hugely significant role in the development of modern Ireland. It was fascinating to learn about the scale and ambition of the project and the remarkable engineering involved.

From there, we travelled to St Flannan’s Cathedral in Killaloe, where we explored the rich religious and architectural heritage of this beautiful medieval building, before enjoying a lovely lunch together at the Lakeside Hotel overlooking Lough Derg.

Our final visit brought us to Mount St Lawrence Cemetery in Limerick City, where we gained a fascinating insight into the social history of Limerick and the lives of generations of people who helped shape the city and its surrounding communities.

What made the day particularly enjoyable was the wonderful company throughout. Our annual outing is as much about bringing people together, sharing stories and enjoying each other’s company as it is about exploring our rich history and heritage.

A sincere thank you to everyone who joined us, to our excellent guides who shared their knowledge so generously, and to all those who helped organise the day. Your support and enthusiasm are what make these outings so worthwhile.

We are already looking forward to next year’s outing and would warmly encourage anyone with an interest in history, heritage or simply a good day out to join us. New faces are always very welcome!

Here are a few photographs capturing some lovely moments from a memorable day. 📸

Dún Bleisce Historical & Literary Society

Esb Networks

St Flannan's Cathedral

09/08/2026

Doon Historical Society Annual Summer Outing – Wednesday 12 August ✨

Hi everyone, just a quick reminder ahead of our Annual Summer Outing this Wednesday (12th of August). We ask that everyone attending please be at Doon Community Centre for 8.00am, ready for departure.

We have a great day planned, beginning with our visit to Ardnacrusha Power Station, followed by St. Flannan’s Cathedral in Killaloe. We’ll then have lunch together in the Lakeside Hotel before travelling to Limerick for our guided tour of Mount St. Lawrence Cemetery. We’ll finish the day with an evening meal in Hayes’s Bar & Restaurant, Cappamore, on our way home.

We’re very much looking forward to the day and to seeing everyone on Wednesday. It should be a really enjoyable day of history, heritage and good company!

09/08/2026

⛪ Abington Church Open Day – Sunday, 9th August
Why not spend a relaxing afternoon exploring the beauty of Abington Church, often described as a "mini cathedral" because of its beautifully ornate interior and rich heritage?
🕑 Open Day: 2:00pm–4:00pm
While you're there, be sure to visit the Parish Room, where there will be a sale of handcrafted textile and embroidery items in support of the São Paulo, Brazil Women's Project.
It's a wonderful opportunity to discover one of the hidden gems of Limerick City Parish, support an important international ministry, and enjoy a warm parish welcome.
We look forward to seeing you on Sunday, 9th August.

14/07/2026

🌞 Doon Historical Society Annual Summer Outing – Wednesday, 12 August 🌞

Just a quick update to let everyone know that places are filling up fast for our Annual Summer Outing. If you’re thinking of joining us, we’d encourage you to get in touch as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

The day includes a guided tour of Ardnacrusha Power Station, a visit to St. Flannan’s Cathedral in Killaloe and a guided tour of Mount St. Lawrence Cemetery in Limerick. We’ll also enjoy lunch together in the Lakeside Hotel, Killaloe, followed by our evening meal in Hayes’s Bar & Restaurant, Cappamore, before returning home.

If you’d like to reserve a place, please contact Luke on 083 102 4554 as soon as possible.

We look forward to another great day of history, heritage and good company!

01/07/2026

🌞 You’re Invited! Join Doon Historical Society for Our Annual Summer Outing 🌞

Doon Historical Society is delighted to invite members and friends to join us for our Annual Summer Outing, which promises to be a fascinating and enjoyable day exploring some of the Mid-West’s most interesting historical and heritage sites.

We hope to depart Doon at approximately 8.00am on Wednesday the 12th of August for a day filled with history, learning and great company.

Our itinerary includes:
⚡ A guided tour of Ardnacrusha Power Station
⛪ A visit to St. Flannan’s Cathedral, Killaloe
🪦 A guided tour of Mount St. Lawrence Cemetery, Limerick

🍽 We’ll enjoy lunch together in the Lakeside Hotel, Killaloe, before stopping for our evening meal on the journey home in Hayes’s Bar & Restaurant, Cappamore.

Whether you’re a long-time member or simply enjoy discovering our local history and heritage, we’d love to have you join us for what promises to be another memorable day in great company.

Please note: As part of the guided tour of Ardnacrusha Power Station, visitors will be required to negotiate a flight of 86 steps during one section of the visit. While much of the site is accessible, this part of the tour may not be suitable for those with significant mobility difficulties. Visitors are also asked to wear sturdy footwear suitable for walking. All necessary safety equipment, including high-visibility jackets, safety helmets and safety glasses, will be provided on arrival.

🎟️ Places are limited to just 30 people, so we encourage you to book early to avoid disappointment.

📞 To reserve your place, please contact Luke on 083 102 4554.

We look forward to sharing another wonderful day of history, heritage, friendship and good company with you!

30/06/2026

📢 Our New WhatsApp Group is Now Live!

The Doon Historical & Literary Society is delighted to launch our new official WhatsApp group.

Going forward, this will be one of our primary ways of keeping members informed about upcoming talks, outings, events, meetings and other society news. The group is set up as an announcements-only group, so members will receive important updates without unnecessary notifications.

If you are a member of the Society and would like to join the WhatsApp group, simply contact me directly on 083 102 4554, and I’ll be happy to add you.

If you know someone with an interest in local history who would like to become a member, they are very welcome to get in touch too.

We look forward to keeping everyone connected and sharing plenty of exciting events and updates in the months ahead!

Luke Ryan
Chairperson
Doon Historical & Literary Society

21/04/2026

📢 Upcoming Talk – Doon Historical and Literary Society

We are delighted to invite you to our next history talk:

“The Lloyds of Towerhill, Portnard, Beechmount and Meldrum: Middlemen, Clergy, Politicians and Litigants”

🗓 Monday 27th April
🕗 8.00pm
📍 Father McGrath Hall, Doon Community Centre

The talk will be delivered by John Hassett, who will explore the fascinating history and influence of the Lloyd family across the region.

All are very welcome to attend.

☕ Light refreshments will be served afterwards.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Address

Doon
Limerick

Telephone

+353831024554

Website

https://www.doonbleisce.com/Historical%20Articles.htm

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