The Irish Times

Readings and recitals about eight of Ireland's heritage houses and castles will start next weekend in Co Laois. Organised by the Office of Public Works (OPW), the programme opens at Heywood Gardens, Ballinakill, and concludes on October 16th at Emo Court, Co Laois. At the launch of the series on family connections to houses and castles, Minister of State at the OPW Tom Parlon said: "The humour and humanity of family events and emotional occasions are startling in their proximity. We have put them together over eight evenings in these eight properties to bring together the physical evidence of another time." At Heywood Gardens on Sunday, Charles Lutyens, a descendant of designer Sir Edwin Lutyens, will speak.