Congratulations to Jim Callery, owner of Strokestown Park House, (home to our festival) and friend of our festival, who won the EU Prize for Cultural Heritage/Europa Nostra Award 2017.  He received the award on the 15th of May 2017.    He was also honoured with a Civic Award, Honorary Freedom of Administrative Area of County Roscommon on June 7th 2017 by Roscommon County Council.  The award took place in the Council Chamber, Roscommon.

The Europa Nostra Awards are awarded to recipients who promote best practice related to heritage conservation. Jim Callery, the only winner from Ireland, took the Award in the category ‘Dedicated Service to Heritage’ as founder of the Irish National Famine Museum which is situated at Strokestown Park House.