King House is a magnificently restored Georgian mansion located in Boyle, County Roscommon. It was built in the early 1700s for Sir Henry King, whose family was one of the most powerful and wealthy in Ireland. After its first life as a home, King House was converted into a military barracks in the 19th Century for the famous Connaught Rangers. At the end of civil war, in 1923, the barracks passed into the control of the newly formed Irish Free State Army. Following many years as a merchant’s store, King House was saved from demolition in the late 1980s and restored to its former Georgian style by Roscommon County Council. A visit to King House today is a truly unique ‘big house’ experience. As you wander through the period grandeur of the house at your leisure, you will encounter life size historical figures, voices from the past, sound effects and hands-on family activities that bring the building and its residents alive. Writing with a quill and ink or building a brick vault are just some of the many things to do and a tour of King House would not be complete without a visit to the cold and forbidding jail cells!