Rathcroghan Visitor Centre

Turas Treoraithe go dtí Oweynagat (Uaimh na gCat)
2023-03-04 12:00 - 14:00 UTC | Rathcroghan Visitor Centre, Tulsk,, Co. Roscommon, Roscommon, F45 HH51, Ireland
Turas Treoraithe go dtí Oweynagat (Uaimh na gCat)
Turas gearr as Gaeilge go dtí Oweynagat (Uaimh na gCat), uaimh le bealach isteach chuig an Domhan Eile nó an Alltar / A short tour in Irish to Oweynagat, Ireland’s entrance to the Otherworld.
Tá an turas seo saor in aisce, ach le do thoil, cuir ticéad in áirithe roimh ré / This tour is free of charge, but please book your place in advance.
Ionad Cuairteoirí Ráth Chruacháin / Rathcroghan Visitor Centre
Dé Sathairn / Saturday 04/03/2022 @12pm

Brigid's Awakening Festival - Roscommon's Newest Festival
2023-01-28 - 2023-02-05 | Roscommon
Brigid’s awakening festival is a collaboration between Rathcroghan, Strokestown Park and Keenans of Tarmonbarry. Featuring local art, performances, and the incredible history of County Roscommon.
Roscommon’s newest festival takes place over two weekends from the 28th of January until the 5th of February with a mixture of cultural events from art exhibits, to short plays and historical talks. There will be something for everyone. The Brigid’s Awakening Festival celebrates the earliest versions of Brigid as the goddess and as the saint, that are recognised today.
As part of the Brigid’s Awakening Festival, you are invited to view a number of different pieces of visual art in Strokestown Park. Pieces from some of Roscommon’s finest female artists will be on display along with the illumination of Strokestown Park House, by HerStory, that will include the artwork from local schools and a short display of shadow puppetry. On Wednesday the 1st of February Ireland’s largest St. Brigid’s cross will be unveiled at the bridge in Tarmonbarry. The Connacht cross, that would appear to have been the most popular cross created to mark St. Brigid’s day in the province, is being used in place of the more familiar Kildare cross. This will be followed by the Tarmonbarry Players performance of an original piece, titled “Brigid’s Cloak”. On Saturday, February 4th, Rathcroghan Visitor Centre, Tulsk will host a morning of talks on the topics of early female divinity by Mike McCarthy, (Deputy Manager of Rathcroghan Visitor Centre) and the customs of Brigid’s Day, by Dr Marion McGarry (lecturer in Heritage Studies at A.T.U., Galway).
This festival would not be possible without the funding from Creative Ireland and the support of Roscommon County Council. Special thanks must also go out to the Men’s Shed, Women’s Shed, Tarmonbarry Players and all the local historians and artists without whom there would be nothing to celebrate.
Follow us on social media for more information and images.

'Idols and unclean things': a one-day conference and photographic exhibition on the Gortnacrannagh figure and its context
2022-08-20 | Rathcroghan Visitor Centre, Tulsk,, Co. Roscommon, Roscommon, F45 HH51, Ireland
Rathcroghan Visitor Centre, in association with Roscommon County Council, Roscommon NRDO, Transport Infrastructure Ireland and Archaeological Management Solutions, is delighted to be able to host a special one-day archaeology conference and photographic exhibition, exploring the Gortnacrannagh figure and its context, on August 20th 2022.
An exciting archaeological discovery was announced in autumn of 2021, with the discovery of an eight-foot-tall wooden figure in reclaimed wetlands to the north-east of Tulsk village, Co. Roscommon. This Iron Age artefact was uncovered by archaeologists from Archaeological Management Solutions (AMS) during work on the N5 Road Project.
The Gortnacrannagh Idol, as the find was dubbed, is a 1,600-year-old wooden sculpture, cut from the split trunk of an oak tree. It is thought to have been deliberately deposited in the wetlands. In addition to the idol, researchers discovered animal remains and a dagger, suggesting that the site may have been used for animal sacrifice for the worship of a pre-Christian deity of late-Iron Age Ireland.
This fascinating discovery will now be the subject of a one-day conference in autumn 2022, designed to glean insights into the artefact itself, as well as its wider significance. This conference will be blended event, due to a limited capacity for in-person attendance, therefore the event will be simultaneously streamed online via a platform to be confirmed in due course.
The keynote lecture, and launch of the replica Gortnacrannagh figure, will be delivered by Dr. Melanie Giles, University of Manchester, alongside a series of talks provided by Dr. Katharina Becker (UCC), Dr. Eve Campbell (AMS), Dr. Daniel Curley (RVC), Dr. Ben Geary (UCC), Cathy Moore (Archaeological and Built Heritage) and Dr. Ros Ó Maoldúin (AMS).
This is a free event, but as places are limited, booking is essential.
Tickets can be booked on eventbrite by following the link
HERE

Telling the Táin - Before the Beginning - Candlelit Tales
2022-06-25 19:00 - 22:00 | Rathcroghan Visitor Centre, Tulsk,, Co. Roscommon, Roscommon, F45 HH51, Ireland
Telling the Táin – Before the Beginning – Candlelit Tales visit Rathcroghan Visitor Centre
The Irish epic, An Táin Bó Cuailnge, often called the Irish Iliad, features compelling stories and characters, known to the Irish people. Come away with us on a candlelit journey as we weave these stories together, bringing them to life for all people, regardless of their nationalities or familiarities to the tale.
As part of the Táin March Festival 2022, we are excited to tell this story with renewed zeal and passion after a long break in telling stories together. Over the course of three nights, we will be following the Táin Trail and ending where it all began, in Rathcroghan, where Meabh first had her instinct to march for the Brown Bull. In each location we will tell the story that most closely links to the geography that surrounds it.
Rathcroghan Visitor Centre will host the retelling of this epic tale’s origins, entitled ‘Before the Beginning’

What happened to start this whole tale off in the first place. Some say it was an argument that started from pillow talk. Others say the tale has its origin in moments of fury and rage that came far before Queen Meabh of Connacht lifted a finger to fight.
Brother-sister duo Aron and Sorcha Hegarty started Candlelit Tales in 2014. Candlelit Tales brings you traditional, stripped-down storytelling with a mythic and musical twist. Accompanied by live atmospheric acoustic guitar, we tell the greatest stories of Irish mythology in what was once described as
“The quintessential Irish experience” Lonely planet 2018.

This is a free event, but as places are limited, booking is essential.
Tickets can be booked on eventbrite by following the link
HERE

This event is organised by the Táin March Festival Committee and Roscommon County Council, in assocation with Rathcroghan Visitor Centre.
This event is funded by the Roscommon County Council Creative Ireland Programme 2022

Traidisiún agus Nuálacht sa Táin Bó Cuailnge
2022-05-13 19:30 - 21:30 | Rathcroghan Visitor Centre, Tulsk,, Co. Roscommon, Roscommon, F45 HH51, Ireland
Cuntas le léaráidí ar mhóreipic na hÉireann, ‘An Táin Bó Cuailnge’. Ceisteanna agus plé le saineolaí ar an tréimhse, Colmán Ó Raghallaigh. Ceol agus sóláistí ina dhiaidh sin.
(Tá an imeacht seo saor in aisce, ach le do thoil, cuir ticéad in áirithe roimh ré.)
An account of the great Irish epic, ‘An Táin Bó Cuailnge’ with Colmán Ó Raghallaigh. Music and refreshments afterwards.
(This is an Irish language event sponsored by Conradh na Gaeilge and is free of charge, but please book a ticket in advance)

Book Launch ‘Rathra – A Royal Stronghold of Early Medieval Roscommon’ by Joe Fenwick, NUI Galway
2022-04-22 18:00 - 20:30 | Rathcroghan Visitor Centre, Tulsk,, Co. Roscommon, Roscommon, F45 HH51, Ireland
Cllr Joe Murphy, Cathaoirleach of Roscommon County Council in association with Co. Roscommon Heritage Forum cordially invites you to the launch by Prof. John Waddell of ‘Rathra – A Royal Stronghold of Early Medieval Connacht’ by Joe Fenwick, NUI Galway.
Please RSVP to heritage@roscommoncoco.ie no later than 20th April.

THE TÁIN MARCH FESTIVAL 2021
2021-05-14 11:00 - 2021-06-02 17:00 | Rathcroghan, Roscommon
The Táin March begins in Rathcroghan in Co Roscommon, where Queen Maeve began her quest for the Brown Bull of Cooley and ends in Bush, Cooley, Co. Louth on the June bank holiday. The march itself takes place over three weekends and 12 walking days in total.
Queen Maeve will assemble her warrior army and dispatch them to retrieve the Brown Bull in Cooley. Local schools and heritage groups will assemble on the mound of Rathcroghan to retell stories and recite poems. The Táin March itself will commence at 11am where walkers will leave Rathcroghan and visit the medieval village of Tulsk. Followed by a reception at 1 pm in Rathcroghan Visitor Centre.
At 2 pm the walk continues to Lissonuffy graveyard arriving at 4.30pm. Walkers will be taken to Strokestown for 5pm where Queen Maeve will march with her army through the main town. Music, food and local attractions will ensure a fantastic evenings fun.
This event is open to the public with no need to book! Come along and join in the fun!
For more information please contact us directly on info@rathcroghan.ie.
Visit -> Tain March

MICHAEL HERITY ANNUAL MEMORIAL LECTURE
2020-08-20 19:00 - 2020-08-21 21:30 | Rathcroghan Visitor Centre, Rathcroghan Visitor Centre, Tulsk, Roscommon, F45 HH51, Ireland
Michael Herity was a prestigious archaeologist and Emeritus Professor of UCD, specialising in the Neolithic and early Christian sites including Rathcroghan, who regrettably died at the age of 86. In honour of his long and active career and important contribution to Irish archaeology a memorial lecture is held yearly in August at Rathcroghan Visitor Centre. This years lecture which will be delivered by archaeologist and early Irish historian, Dr. Brian Lacey, is entitled – ‘St. Colmcille – Memories and Commemorations’ and will take place at the Visitor Centre on Wednesday 21st August at 7.30pm.
As a further part of our Heritage Week programme this year , on Tuesday 20th August at 7pm, we will host a talk entitled ‘An Introduction to N5 Ballaghadereen- Scramoge Archaeology’, where Deirdre McCarthy, N5 Resident Archaeologist will outline the current archaeological works ongoing along the route of the proposed N5 Ballaghadereen- Scramoge Road Project.
NB – please note that while our Heritage Week events are free of charge, booking is essential as places are limited.
Places can be booked by phone 071 9639268 or by email info@rathcroghan.ie
Please contact us directly for more information. We update our Facebook page regularly with event details, follow us to stay up to date

RATHCROGHAN WINTER LECTURE SERIES
2019-11-01 19:30 - 2019-12-01 21:30 | Rathcroghan Visitor Centre, Tulsk,, Co. Roscommon, Roscommon, F45 HH51, Ireland
Rathcroghan Visitor Centre hosts a winter lecture series, over the five Thursdays of November at the Visitor Centre, beginning on Thursday 1st November. Talks will begin at 7.30pm sharp on each evening, details of individual talks are available on our Facebook page here.
Entry is €5 per person, and light refreshments will be served afterwards. Please book early by calling 071 963 9268 or emailing info@rathcroghan.ie as spaces are limited.
This event cannot be booked online, all bookings are to be made via email or by telephone.
For more information on these events including booking please contact us directly on 071 963 9268, email info@rathcroghan.ie
