Rathcroghan Visitor Centre

Turas Treoraithe ar an Músaem agus an Suíomh Ríoga, Ráth Cruachan
2024-03-08 14:00 - 17:00 UTC | Rathcroghan Visitor Centre, Tulsk,, Co. Roscommon, Roscommon, F45 HH51, Ireland
Turas Treoraithe ar an Músaem agus an Suíomh Ríoga, Ráth Cruachan le haghaidh Seachtain na Gaeilge 2024.
(Guided Tour of Rathcroghan Museum and Site for Seachtain na Gaeilge 2024)
08/03/2024 @2pm
Tá an turas seo saor in aisce, ach le do thoil, cuir ticéad in áirithe roimh ré. Beidh muid ag déanamh bailiú beag don ospís ar an lá.
(This tour is free of charge, but please reserve a place in advance. We will do a small collection for the hospice on the day.)
Ionad Cuairteoirí Ráth Cruachan
Tuilsce, Co. Ros Comáin F45 HH51
info@rathcroghan.ie 071 9639268

Oíche Chultúir 2024 - Scéal na Tána agus Cruachán Aí
2024-09-20 19:30 - 21:00 | Rathcroghan Visitor Centre, Tulsk,, Co. Roscommon, Roscommon, F45 HH51, Ireland
Scéal na Tána agus Cruachán Aí
Chun an Oíche Chultúir 2024 a cheiliúradh, éist leis an Táin Bó Cuailnge i Ráth Cruachan, an áit ina thosaíonn agus a chríochnaíonn ár scéal eipiciúil náisiúnta.
Scéal agus comhrá le Mike McCarthy
Sólaistí ina dhiaidh sin.
(Beidh an chaint ghairid seo as Gaeilge)
To celebrate Culture Night 2024, hear the story of our national epic, An Táin Bó Cuailnge (The Cattle Raid of Cooley), in Rathcroghan, the place where the tale begins and ends.
Story and conversation with Mike McCarthy.
Refreshments to follow.
(This short presentation will be in the Irish language)
Tá an imeacht seo saor in aisce, ach le do thoil, cuir ticéad in áirithe roimh ré – This event is free of charge, but please book your place in advance – 071 9639268 info@rathcroghan.ie

Trasna na dTonnta
2024-10-22 20:00 - 21:00 | Online Event
For further information visit;
snag.ie/trasna

Rathcroghan Conference 2024: Archaeology Above & Below
2024-11-16 09:00 - 2024-11-17 17:00
Archaeology Above & Below, Ireland’s only annual community archaeology conference, is now in its ninth year. The purpose of this conference is to create a forum for discussion between communities and individuals who wish to interpret the story of the landscapes that we inhabit. This is achieved by a series of talks, workshops and field excursions, detailing the aims, techniques and results of community-led research throughout Ireland and further afield.
Join us this November as we host the presentation and discussion of the work and results of community groups, societies and individuals from around Ireland, as well as archaeological institutions and university departments across the island. This year, we will see contributions from places such as Clare, Galway, Dublin, Tipperary, Sligo, Waterford, Mayo & Roscommon, as well as research provided by the Ulster Archaeological Society, Farming Rathcroghan EIP, University College Dublin, University of Galway, Queens University Belfast, amongst others.
Our fieldtrip this year, on the afternoon of 17th November, will be to Roscommon Castle, and to the newly conserved and now accessible southeastern castle turret. Our guide for the fieldtrip will be Dr. Kieran O’Conor, Senior Lecturer in Archaeology at the University of Galway. Your own motor transportation will be required for the journey to Roscommon town to visit the castle.
We are delighted to welcome our keynote speaker, Prof. Aidan O’Sullivan, Head of the School of Archaeology at University College Dublin. In a lecture entitled “People and their Things in an Early Medieval Household – the evidence from early Irish laws, saints Lives and literature, archaeology and experimental archaeology”, we greatly look forward to exploring that topic with Prof. O’Sullivan.
Follow the link below to make a reservation on Eventbrite.

Turas Treoraithe chuig Ráth Beag & Ráth na dTarbh
2025-03-01 12:00 - 14:00 | Rathcroghan Visitor Centre, Tulsk,, Co. Roscommon, Roscommon, F45 HH51, Ireland
Turas Treoraithe chuig Ráth Beag & Ráth na dTarbh / Seachtain na Gaeilge 2025
01/03/2025 ag 12pm
Turas treoraithe as Gaeilge ar an Suíomh Ríoga, Cruachan Aí / Ráth Cruachan, an Príomhchathair Ríoga réamhstairiúil chúige Chonnacht. I mbliana, beidh muid ag tabhairt cuairt ar ‘Ráth Beag’, carn adhlachta ón Chré-Umhaois agus Ráth na dTarbh, an áit ina chríochnaíonn an Táin Bó Cuailnge, ag caint ar sheandálaíocht, stair agus miotaseolaíocht an tírdhreacha. Sóláistí ina dhiaidh sin.
To celebrate Seachtain na Gaeilge 2025, we will conduct an Irish language tour to both Rathbeg, a Bronze Age Burial Mound, and Rathndarve, the place where the Táin Bó Cuailnge concludes.
Tá an turas seo saor in aisce, ach le do thoil, cuir ticéad in áirithe roimh ré.
This is a free event, but please reserve your place in advance.
info@rathcroghan.ie 071 9639268

Reviving the Óenach: Bealtaine - A Two Lecture Seminar
2025-05-03 10:45 - 13:00 | Rathcroghan Visitor Centre, Tulsk,, Co. Roscommon, Roscommon, F45 HH51, Ireland
This two lecture seminar reflects on the rites and rituals of the Bealtaine festival and takes a look at the figure of the Cailleach.
10:45 – 01:00
Introduction: Reviving the Óenach: Bealtaine
11:00 – 12:00
Old Bealtaine Customs of Ireland – Dr. Marian McGarry
Celebrated on May 1st, Bealtaine welcomed in the summer months, reflecting Christian and pre-Christian beliefs. This Lecture looks at the rites and rituals our ancestors carried out to bring good luck at this time of year. Dr Marion McGarry is an art historian, author, independent researcher and lecturer at the Atlantic Technological University. Marian has authored a number of publications, among them Irish Customs and Rituals: How Our Ancestors Celebrated Life and the Seasons, The Irish Cottage: History, Culture and Design and An Illustrated Dictionary of Furniture & Interiors. (Fire Image: RTE).
12:00 – 13:00
Cailleach Feasa nó Cailleach an Uafáis? (A Wise Woman or a Hag of Horror?) – Mike McCarthy
The place of the Cailleach in the Irish imagination. This talk will explore aspects of the concept of the Cailleach in our language, literature and folklore and discuss the place she still holds in our modern day awareness. Mike McCarthy originally qualified and worked in the area of Community Pharmacy before a love of history, folklore and mythology brought him to Cruachan Aí / Rathcroghan, the Royal Site of Connacht in Co. Roscommon, where he works as a Tour Guide, Research Assistant and Deputy Manager of the Rathcroghan Visitor Centre. He has co-authored numerous publications pertaining to Rathroghan, including ‘Slí Seandálaíochta Ráth Cruachan’ – the Rathcroghan Archaeological trail and ‘Rathcroghan – The Guidebook’, published in 2018, with a second edition in 2023 (Image: Arthur Rackman).

Reviving the Óenach: Lughnasa – A Two Lecture Seminar
2025-07-26 10:45 - 13:00 | Rathcroghan Visitor Centre, Tulsk,, Co. Roscommon, Roscommon, F45 HH51, Ireland
Join us in welcoming Dr. Roseanne Schot and Ann Gerety Smyth in Reviving the Óenach: Lughnasa, our two lecture seminar in association with the festival of Lughnasa on Saturday, July 26th. Our speakers will emphasise the harvest festival’s connection with the royal sites and sacred hills of Rathcroghan, Uisneach and Brí Leith, their associated figures from the early literature, and its relevance in today’s society and in our efforts in environmental conservation.
10:45 – 11:00 – Welcome & Introduction

11:00 – 12:00
Gathering time: the assembly landscape of Uisneach, County Westmeath
Dr. Roseanne Schot

The royal site of Uisneach is one of Ireland’s most evocative ceremonial and assembly landscapes, with a history spanning five millennia. Ancient monuments, natural wonders and mythical and historical figures all feature prominently in early literary depictions of royal assemblies and gatherings at Uisneach. Such gatherings frequently provided a setting for transformative, supernatural events, reflecting the hill’s status as a portal or threshold (axis mundi) between temporal and otherworld spheres. This year marks the centenary of the first archaeological excavations at Uisneach by R.A.S. Macalister and R.L. Praeger (1925-30). Their investigation of the ‘royal enclosure’ of Rathnew revealed the earliest potential evidence of ritual practices consistent with an assembly, including feasting, the lighting of great fires and possible animal sacrifice. This talk will focus on the places, practices and politics of assembly on the hill of Uisneach and in its wider landscape, with particular emphasis on the harvest festival of Lughnasa, for which archaeological and placename evidence has grown significantly in recent years.

12:00 – 13:00
Étaín and Earth: Reclaiming Connection through Myth, Place and Festival
Ann Gerety Smyth

Ann Gerety Smyth explores how ancient Irish tales like Tochmarc Étaíne (The Wooing of Étaín) continue to echo in our landscapes, local traditions, and seasonal festivals like Lughnasa. Drawing on her recent thesis Harnessing Myth and Folklore to Inspire Biodiversity Conservation and Environmental Activism in Ireland, Ann delves into how reconnecting with story and place — particularly through the figure of Étaín and sites like Cruachan Aí and Brí Leith — can inspire a deeper environmental awareness and sense of belonging. This lecture weaves myth, heritage, and practical reflection, with a nod to Bilberry Sunday and the revival of ancient gatherings such as the óenach.
Bookings for this event are through Eventbrite:
https://tinyurl.com/2t24kwjn

Who Shot Queen Medb?
2025-08-21 20:00 - 21:30 | Rathcroghan Visitor Centre, Tulsk,, Co. Roscommon, Roscommon, F45 HH51, Ireland
Scéal na Tána agus Cruachán Aí / The story of the Táin & Cruachán Aí
Storytelling Evening with Mike McCarthy
Venue – Roscommon Arts Centre F42YX61 – Thursday 21st August 2025 @8pm
+353 (0)90 662 5824 artscentre@roscommoncoco.ie
Why not leave Netflix aside and journey back in time to prehistoric Iron Age Rathcroghan to share in an evening of storytelling recounting some of the oldest tales in Roscommon and Ireland. Hear firsthand about the origins of Queen Medb and her great cattle raid to Ulster, which features a host of legendary characters such as the boy hero Cúchulainn, the Connacht warrior Fráoch and immortals of the Otherworld including the vengeful Macha and the formidable battle goddess, Mórrígán, who dwells in the Cave of Cruachán, Ireland’s reputed “Gate to Hell”.
Tickets can be booked through Roscommon Arts Centre

Oíche Chultúir 2025 - ‘Tírdhreach’
2025-09-19 20:30 - 22:00 | Rathcroghan Visitor Centre, Tulsk,, Co. Roscommon, Roscommon, F45 HH51, Ireland
Oíche Chultúir 2025 – Tírdhreach’
Oíche filíochta, amhránaíochta agus ceol nua-chumtha le ‘Aiteall’ – Déaglán Ò Finnthigheirn & Aoife Bheilbigh
Sólaistí ina dhiaidh sin. Beidh fáilte roimh chách.
Culture Night 2025 – Tírdreach.
A night of poetry, singing and original music with ‘Aiteall’ – Déaglán Ò Finnthigheirn & Aoife Bheilbigh. Refreshments to follow. All are welcome.
Ionad Cuairteoirí Ráth Cruachan / Rathcroghan Visitor Centre
Tuilsce, An Caisleán Riabhach, Co. Ros Comáin F45 HH51
19/09/2025 – 8.30pm

Ireland West Camino: A Pilgrimage Reborn
2026-01-24 14:00 - 16:00 | Rathcroghan Visitor Centre, Rathcroghan Visitor Centre, Tulsk, Roscommon, F45 HH51, Ireland
This feature length film (1.5-hour) documentary follows the pilgrims’ spiritual journey across the west of Ireland, on what was historically known in the early Christian era as the Tóchar Phádraig, as they are embraced by the rich natural and cultural heritage of counties Roscommon, Sligo, and Mayo. From iconic cinematography of the landscape and Trad sessions to local mythology and listening to the pulse of ancient sacred sites along the way, the pilgrims’ deeper calling to the ancient path is revealed in a powerful story of turning darkness into light.
A collaborative Irish and American effort to revitalise the Bronze Age pilgrimage route followed by St Patrick in the 5th century from Rathcroghan to Croagh Patrick, came to fruition in the summer of 2024 when 20 pilgrims walked the entire +170-km route over eight days – arriving at Croagh Patrick on Garland Sunday with thousands of other pilgrims from around the world.
This is a free event but as places are limited please register on Eventbrite: https://tinyurl.com/28n5d3up
or contact the Centre: Tel : +353 (0)71 963 9268
or Email: info@rathcroghan.ie

Reviving the Óenach: Imbolc – St. Brigid’s Day Festival, Roscommon 2026
2026-01-31 10:50 - 13:30
We are delighted to participate in the 2026 County Roscommon, St. Brigid’s Day Festival, that will see a number of different events take place around the county.
At Rathcroghan Visitor Centre, we will host a two lecture seminar focusing on St. Brigid and also the launch of an art exhibition. Our event, titled Reviving the Óenach: Imbolc, will take place on Saturday, January 31st.

10:50 | Welcome & Introduction
11:00 | Dr. Elizabeth Dawson, Carlow College – St Brigit: earliest evidence, veneration and status
12:00 | Dr. Sharon Greene – Seeking Brigid: the archaeology of a saint
13:00 | Exhibition Launch- Maiden*Mother*Saint with short presentation by artist Natalie Folan

Dr. Elizabeth Dawson will deliver the first talk, entitled, “St Brigit: earliest evidence, veneration and status”.
Description: “Brigit is one of the most significant Irish saints of the early Christian period. The number of surviving medieval writings concerning the saint are testament to her success. Nonetheless, the origins and development of Brigidine veneration remain a matter of debate. This paper returns to consider the earliest written expressions of the cult to consider the avenues through which it is best understood.”
Dr. Elizabeth Dawson, a co-founder of the Irish Association of Professional Historians, is a medieval historian with an expertise in the early medieval history of Ireland and has lectured at University College Dublin and Queen’s University Belfast. Dr. Dawson is the recipient of numerous awards including the NUI Grant for Early Career Academics and IRC postdoctoral fellowship, and has worked with the Discovery Programme, the UCD Mícheál Ó Cléirigh Institute and the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland.
Dr Sharon Greene will deliver our second talk, entitled “Seeking Brigid: the archaeology of a saint”.
Description: Accounts of St Brigid in the Lives written in the 7 th and later centuries portray not only a remarkable, holy woman but one who seems grounded in the real world, taking part in household chores and interacting with people of all grades and with animals. But to what degree do these writings reflect the late 5 th / early 6 th centuries of Brigid’s world or that of her biographers a century or more later? Archaeological evidence can aid in answering this question, constructing a picture of the countryside she lived in and providing the opportunity to learn more about things and places she encountered and the people she met. As well as looking at some of the relics of her legacy, this talk will focus on trying to imagine the woman that became the saint.
Dr Sharon Greene is an archaeologist based in South Kildare. She is an independent researcher and an Adjunct Research Fellow at UCD School of Archaeology. She is a member of the Institute of Archaeologist of Ireland and of the Historic Monuments Advisory Committee for Kildare County Council. She was editor of Archaeology Ireland magazine from 2018 to 2023. She has been active in local heritage through Castledermot Local History Group for over ten years. Her research interests include the archaeology and history of early medieval Ireland.
Following the conclusion of our talks, Frenchpark artist, Natalie Folan will launch her art exhibition – Maiden, Mother, Saint.
This exhibition re imagines the figure of Brigid as goddess, Iron Age woman and saint, situating her as a figure of continuity and transformation. Through large-scale painted panels and a hand-carved idol referencing Iron Age ritual objects, the artist explores how one woman can represent both the divine and historic (Irish Arts Review).
Both in house and online bookings for this event can be made via Eventbright: https://tinyurl.com/282w465v
The County Roscommon St. Brigid’s Day Festival 2026 is supported by Roscommon County Council and CreativeIrl Roscommon Heritage News & Info #RoscommonCountyCouncil #roscommoncountycouncil #roscommoncountycouncilartsoffice

Seachtain na Gaeilge – Ó Ráth Cruachan go Reilig na Rí
2026-03-07 12:00 - 15:00 | Rathcroghan Visitor Centre, Tulsk,, Co. Roscommon, Roscommon, F45 HH51, Ireland
Ó Ráth Cruachan go Reilig na Rí
Turas treoraithe as Gaeilge ó Ráth Cruachan chuig Reilig na Rí ar an tSlí Seandálaíochta Ráth Cruachan. Sóláistí ina dhiaidh sin.
From Rathcroghan to Relignaree.
A guided tour in Irish going from Rathcroghan to Relignaree on the Rathcroghan Archaeological Walking Trail. Refreshments to follow.
Dé Sathairn / Saturday 07/03/2026 @12pm
Ionad Cuairteoirí Ráth Cruachan / Rathcroghan Visitor Centre F45 HH51
071 9639268 info@rathcroghan.ie

Reviving the Óenach: Bealtaine
2026-05-16 10:50 - 13:00 | Rathcroghan Visitor Centre, Tulsk,, Co. Roscommon, Roscommon, F45 HH51, Ireland
Our two lecture seminar to mark the ancient Irish Cross Quarter Festivals returns. Reviving the Óenach: Bealtaine this year will look at the tradition of Booleying & its associated folklore around May Day followed by a focus on Corlea Trackway, an Iron Age route way believed to link the ancient royal landscape of Rathcroghan to the Hill of Uisneach. Tickets from Eventbrite.
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM Booleying: An Ancient Farming Tradition in the Civil Parish of Achill, Co. Mayo Theresa McDonald, MA. Ph.D.

Booleying also known as Transhumance is a traditional, seasonal pastoral practice involving the movement of livestock between fixed summer and winter pastures to maximize grazing efficiency. This lecture will be based on Theresa McDonald’s recent book, Booleying in Ireland and will focus on the tradition of booleying in Achill, with particular emphasis on Slievemore Deserted Village and the folklore associated with the practice around May Day. Theresa McDonald is a professional archaeologist and founder of the well-known Achill Archaeological Field School, the oldest field school in Ireland. She has carried out extensive research on the archaeology and history of the Civil Parish of Achill, with a particular emphasis on the practice of transhumance or booleying as it is called in Ireland. Theresa holds a BSc. from the Institute of Archaeology in London and an MA and PhD from the University of Galway.

12:00 PM – 01:00 PM Corlea: An Iron Age Routeway Noel Carberry
Inside an interpretive centre, an 18-metre stretch of the ancient wooden structure is on permanent display not far from the village of Kenagh, Co. Longford. The Corlea Iron Age Road, a togher, is an inspiring relic of prehistory built c.148 BC and the largest of its kind to have been uncovered in Europe. Archaeologists believe it to have been a routeway of great importance. It may have been a section of a ceremonial highway connecting the Hill of Uisneach, the ritual centre of Ireland, and the royal site of Rathcroghan. Listen to Guide Noel Carberry reveal more about Corlea and how it sank into the peat after only a short time in use where it remained perfectly preserved in the bog for the next two millennia.

Ulidia 8 - The International Conference for the Ulster Cycle of Tales
2026-06-23 09:00 - 2026-06-25 18:00 | Rathcroghan Visitor Centre, Tulsk,, Co. Roscommon, Roscommon, F45 HH51, Ireland
Ulidia 8 – The Eighth International Conference for the Ulster Cycle of Tales.
Over a three day period this conference will feature talks on all aspects to do with the Ulster Cycle, including archaeology, toponymy, philology, literature and history.
Dr Daniel Curley and Mr Mike McCarthy have organised Ulidia 8 — The Eighth International Conference on the Ulster Cycle of Tales, starting with a plenary on ‘The Archaeology of the Rathcroghan’ by Mr Joseph Fenwick, University of Galway. A very special book launch and public lecture will be delivered by Prof Matthieu Boyd, editor and translator of the new book The Essential Táin Bó Cúailnge and Other Stories from the Ulster Cycle . This will be convened at the Roscommon County Library, in Roscommon Town, on the 24th June, as part of our public engagement.
Two fieldtrips will complement the proceedings, taking place on the afternoons of 23rd and 25th June.
The first fieldtrip will explore the Rathcroghan Archaeological Landscape, and will focus on the confluence between the built remains and their roles in the Ulster Cycle tales that pertain to Roscommon. Our guides for this fieldtrip will be Dr Daniel Curley and Mike McCarthy, of our own Rathcroghan Visitor Centre. The fieldtrip will be on foot across grassland from the outset.
The second fieldtrip will be led by Mr Paul Gosling, entitled: ‘The Topography of the Táin Route in Roscommon’. Within, Paul’s expertise and years of research on the route of Táin Bó Cúailnge, specifically, in this case, in the Roscommon landscape, will be brought to bear, and will serve as the most appropriate conclusion to Ulidia 8.
