Listed building hub of 10-day festival

By Johnny Caldwell
BBC News

Richhill Castle is a grade-A listed building

A County Armagh village is holding a 10-day festival in the hope of literally putting a roof over its best known landmark.

Richhill Castle's roof, parts of which are thought to date back to the 1600s, are in need of emergency work before another winter sets in.

Subsequently, a number of community groups have got together to organise to festival centred around the grade-A listed building, hoping to raise funds to have the roof repaired.

The programme includes ghost tours of the castle, separate folk and rock nights, a talent contest, a golf competition and a 60-mile bicycle ride.

The festival coincides with the European Heritage Open Days scheme with re-enactors lined up to bring the past to life as visitors tour the castle and its grounds.

Much of the festival is being held in a marquee in the castle's grounds

Visitors might, for example, come across Dolly Munroe who was in her heyday said to be the most beautiful woman in Ireland.

"Hopefully, we'll raise enough to get work started on the roof," said local publican Peter Lyness, who is one of the festival organisers.

See more of Richhill Castle

"We've looked at other funding options, including the National Lottery, but with the 2012 Olympics in London, this is going to be even harder to get.

"In addition to raising money, the festival is also about making people aware of, and interested in, the restoration of the castle."

In the future, it is hoped to turn part of the castle into a community based facility and also find some way of showcasing its history.

Money raised is to put towards having the castle's roof repaired

Although a concern for cause, Richhill Castle's roof has recently attracted the attention of a team of researchers from Queen's University in Belfast.

"A team came down from Queen's and dated the timbers," continued Peter Lyness.

"Although we don't know their findings yet, it's thought some of the timbers could be over 350-years-old."

The festival gets under way on Friday 12 September with an Armagh Rhymers' schools event followed by a fun run.