Bianconi Festival aims to mark the 150th anniversary of Charles Bianconi’s passing and to celebrate his lasting legacy as the “man who put Ireland on wheels” by establishing the country’s first regular public transport system. From Thursday 18th September to Sunday 21st September Boherlahan village will be a hive of activity. On Thursday evening 18th September in Ardmayle Church the former director of the National Museum of Ireland, Pat Wallace, will give a talk on Charles Bianconi’s pioneering contribution to Irish transport. The Black Fort Players under the direction of Tom FitzGerald will stage their production of Conor McPherson’s play The Weir on Friday 19th and Saturday 20th September in Boherlahan village hall. Sunday morning the 21st September will be a community event and it would be very much appreciated if as many attendees as possible could don Georgian or Victorian era dress. St. Patrick’s Brass Band will begin events by leading a parade through the village to Bianconi Park where a commemorative mass will be celebrated by Rev. Fr. Michael Mullaney. Following this, members of the community in conjunction with local schools will provide musical and dramatic entertainment while attendees enjoy a bring your own picnic within the historic grounds of Bianconi Park. The remarkable Bianconi Mortuary Chapel, which houses beautiful bas-reliefs carved in Italy by Benzoni, will be open to the public throughout the festival and an exhibition on the life and legacy of Boherlahan’s distinguished parishioner Italo-Irish entrepreneur Charles Bianconi will be on display.