A MUSEUM set up in honour of the Gregory family of Coole Park, near Gort in Galway, was officially opened yesterday by the President, Mrs Robinson.
The President praised the Kiltartan Gregory Cultural Society, whose efforts helped realise the dream of creating the museum.
The society hopes the museum, which is in a 104 year old red bricked schoolhouse, will fill the void left by the demolition of Coole House in 1941.
The Kiltartan Gregory Museum houses photographs, manuscripts, first editions, memorabilia and estate maps relating to the Gregorys of Coole Park and especially Lady Gregory, one of Ireland's key literary figures.
In its day, Coole House opened its doors to poets, actors, artists, Gaelic scholars, statesmen, folklorists and wandering musicians.
The grand daughters of Lady Augusta Gregory, Ms Anne de Winton and Ms Catherine Kennedy, otherwise known as "Me and Nu", attended yesterday's opening.
The State training and employment authority, FAS, the National Heritage Agency, the National Lottery, Galway County Council and the Office of Public Works were involved with the local committee in restoring the Kiltartan Cross schoolhouse which closed in 1960.