At the launch of the audio trail guide on Monday evening in Multyfarnham, were, from left, Mary Sharry, Mairead Greene, Minister of State Robert Troy, Minister of State Peter Burke, Bernard Mulhern and Angela Cocoman.

New audio guide app showcases Multy’s ‘amazing’ heritage

A new audio trail guide that showcases the rich heritage of Multyfarnham is now available to download for free.

Bernard Mulhern, a member of Multyfarnham Tidy Towns, and Mairead Greene worked with Abarta Heritage on the Multyfarnham Heritage Trail Audio Guide, which was funded by the Heritage Council.

Speaking to the Westmeath Examiner, Bernard said that everyone associated with the project is happy with the end product and paid tribute to the work Mairead did.

“Mairead is great, she has done her own research in relation to the history in the area. She has a wealth of knowledge and had lots of points of interest that were worth showing.

“The good thing about Alberta is that they will only include something that can be referenced back to a source. We are very happy with it. It’s professionally done. It’s a great thing to have as a community.” The audio trail guide starts in the centre of the village and includes pieces on the Friary, Lough Derravaragh and the Children of Lir, Lacken monastic site, which has links to St Patrick, and St Cremin, and mottes built in the early 13 century by the Normans.

Other sites featured on the audio guide include Leny Catholic Church, which has stained glass windows made by Harry Clarke, the acclaimed Irish stained glass window artist and illustrator, and the ruins of Leny Church of Ireland Church, where the founder of Wilson’s Hospital School, Andrew Wilson, is buried.

Bernard says that at 52 minutes long, the audio guide, which features around 10 different sites, gives the listener a comprehensive overview of the many heritage gems in and around the village. The guide will also be a valuable research tool for people interested in the heritage of the village and can be enjoyed from the comfort of your home, Bernard says.

“People will have a great appreciation for what’s on their doorsteps. I’m not originally from the area, I’m from Galway, but when I moved to the area, I was taken aback by the amount of history and sites,” he said.

“It’s a beautiful village. There are so many places on our doorstep and so much history attached to all of those sites. There is so much history in the village. It’s amazing really.”