When History Comes Alive: Knights & Conquests Bring Medieval Adventures to The Binding 2026
Medieval costumes, local legends, interactive theatre and even axe throwing — something exciting is coming to Longford Library this November!
What if children could step inside a story rather than simply read about it?
On Friday, 20 November, Knights & Conquests Heritage Centre (Granard) will bring history and storytelling together at the official opening of The Binding International Festival 2026! From 12:00 to 1:00 PM, families will have the opportunity to experience the first showing of the centre's brand-new Rolling Theatre, featuring three stories connected to Longford's history and folklore, alongside medieval costumes and interactive activities.
We spoke with Boni Plant from Knights & Conquests, one of our festival partners, about bringing history to life, the power of children's imaginations and why supporting creative initiatives in Longford matters.
When Medieval History Meets Children's Imagination
Knights & Conquests offers visitors a hands-on experience of medieval Ireland, particularly the Norman Conquest and the history of Granard and Longford. Visitors can explore replica artefacts, including weaponry, clothing and chainmail, and discover what life might have been like centuries ago. And sometimes, the reactions are just as entertaining as the history itself!
Have you ever had a particularly funny or memorable reaction from a child visiting Knights & Conquests?
Boni remembers two especially amusing moments. During a visit from a national school group of approximately 35 pupils, one young girl noticed that a medieval coif looked remarkably like an oven mitt! On another occasion, a secondary school student trying on a gambeson coif laughed because she thought she looked like a boiled egg!
Do you think experiencing history through play and imagination can encourage children to become more interested in reading, writing or creating their own stories?
"Definitely," says Boni. She explains that children visiting the centre often begin imagining who they might have been in medieval Ireland. Would they have been Normans? Knights? Blacksmiths? Would they have lived in castles or cottages? Handling historical objects and trying on medieval clothing encourages these questions and helps children connect what they learn about the past with their own imaginations.
For Little Beetle Press, this connection between storytelling, play and creativity is especially meaningful. We believe children should have opportunities to experience stories in many different ways — through books, illustration, music, games and performance.
A Very Special Premiere at The Binding!
We're delighted that Knights & Conquests will bring their Travelling Theatre to our official festival opening. What can families expect?
Boni shares that the team is particularly excited to present the first showing of their new Rolling Theatre. The performance will feature stories connected to the local area, including folklore and a poem by Shelley Corcoran from her collection Hidden Wonders, recently published by Little Beetle Press.
The team will also bring medieval costumes for children to try on, alongside medieval-inspired activities such as axe throwing. For Boni, the experience offers something increasingly valuable: an opportunity to step away from technology and enjoy authentic, in-person storytelling!
Bringing Written Stories to Life — Without Screens
How do you approach transforming traditional legends and contemporary poetry into interactive experiences?
Boni explains that the team wanted to find a way to capture and maintain young audiences' attention without relying on screens. Rather than inventing something entirely new, they turned to the past. Their Rolling Theatre revives a once-popular form of storytelling, using visual interpretations to bring traditional legends, folklore and poetry to life. The theatre itself was made at Knights & Conquests using recycled materials.
By combining existing texts with their own artistic interpretation, the team creates short visual stories that offer children something physical, personal and different from their everyday experiences. At The Binding, this approach will also give audiences an opportunity to discover contemporary poetry in an unexpected way.
Longford: A County Full of Stories Waiting to Be Discovered
Are there particular local stories or legends that deserve to be discovered by a wider audience?
For Boni, choosing just one is difficult! Among the stories that fascinate the Knights & Conquests team are those surrounding St Patrick's time in the local area, the Headless Horseman associated with Abbeylara and Granard, and Queen Maeve's adventures along the Táin Trail.These legends demonstrate just how rich Longford's storytelling heritage is — and how much inspiration it offers to curious young minds.
What made Knights & Conquests decide to become a festival partner, and why do you think The Binding is valuable for Longford?
For Boni, storytelling is an essential part of Irish culture and an important way of understanding and interpreting the past. She believes The Binding offers the community opportunities to express themselves through literature and artistic creation, connect with others and enjoy immersive experiences that create lasting memories.
But the partnership is also about supporting the wider Longford community. Boni emphasises how important it is for local businesses, artists and authors to support one another, regardless of how big or small their contributions might be.
As she puts it:
"Whilst we are our own unique individual business, together we are ‘Longford’."
This is exactly the spirit we hope to celebrate through The Binding. As a new international festival rooted in Longford, we want to bring people together through stories, creativity and shared experiences, while celebrating the talent and cultural heritage already present in our community.
We're delighted to have Knights & Conquests joining us as a festival partner and can't wait to see their Rolling Theatre come to life!
Join Us for a Medieval Adventure!
Friday, 20 November 2026
Official Festival Opening: 11:00 AM–1:00 PM
Knights & Conquests Rolling Theatre & Medieval Activities: 12:00–1:00 PM
Venue: Longford Library, Longford Town
Other events: https://www.littlebeetlepress.com/event-list
The Binding 2026 is organised by Little Beetle Press, with the support of our festival partners, including Knights & Conquests Heritage Centre.
