County Roscommon, nestled deep within Ireland’s “Hidden Heartlands,” is a landscape of serene beauty and deep historical resonance. A place where rolling green pastures meet tranquil lakes, the county serves as a quiet custodian of Ireland’s royal and mythological past. From the ancient, legendary seat of the High Kings at Rathcroghan to the imposing stone ramparts of its mediaeval castles, Roscommon offers a remarkably peaceful yet profoundly enriching escape for those seeking a truly authentic Irish experience.
The county’s storied history is most powerfully felt at Rathcroghan, one of the most significant archaeological landscapes in Europe. This ancient complex, featuring burial mounds and ring forts, was the spiritual and political heart of the kingdom of Connacht. This royal legacy is matched by the county’s spectacular mediaeval architecture, most notably the 13th-century Roscommon Castle. Its massive stone walls and dramatic gatehouse still dominate the skyline, while the hauntingly beautiful ruins of Boyle Abbey and the Roscommon Friary offer tranquil glimpses into a bygone era of monastic devotion.
Beyond its ancient monuments, Roscommon reveals a world of natural wonders and unique cultural experiences. The sprawling 400-acre Lough Key Forest Park provides an idyllic setting for woodland walks and lakeside adventures, while the Arigna Mining Experience offers a fascinating and powerful underground journey into the region’s industrial heritage. Cultural life flourishes in the county’s historic market towns through lively festivals like the Roscommon Lamb Festival and the world-renowned Strokestown International Poetry Festival. Whether exploring the powerful exhibits at the National Famine Museum or enjoying a quiet moment by the River Suck, County Roscommon rewards every traveller with its warm hospitality and remarkably enduring spirit.
Arigna, roscommon
Step into the dim, 10 °C tunnels of Arigna, where former coal miners guide you through authentic, widened shafts. Above ground, interactive exhibitions, a renewable energy showcase and a café with panoramic valley views round out a compelling industrial heritage experience.
Roscommon, roscommon
A quiet riverside village on the River Suck, Athleague blends medieval O’Conor castle ruins with a vibrant angling centre and well-marked walking trails. Explore the historic ten-arch causeway bridge, follow the Suck Valley Way along the riverbank, or discover the area’s rich early Christian and Iron Age heritage.
Ballaghaderreen, roscommon
Ballaghaderreen is a working market town in north-west Roscommon, near the Mayo and Sligo borders. Its landmark is the spired 1860s Cathedral of the Annunciation and St Nathy; its best short walk is the climb to the cross on Bockagh Hill, which looks over mountains in six counties.
Ballintober, roscommon
Medieval grandeur collides with open sky at Ballintober Castle, where towering polygonal walls once sheltered the O’Conor lords of Connacht. Today, this free-access ruin invites visitors to wander its grassy courtyard, trace the outlines of a great hall, and soak in the quiet atmosphere of rural Roscommon.
Northern County Roscommon, roscommon
Set among a cluster of six loughs in the foothills of the Arigna Mountains, Ballyfarnon blends rural charm with deep cultural roots. Visitors can explore the 14th-century Kilronan church gable, walk the historic Miner’s Way trail, and enjoy lakeside scenery just minutes from the Arigna Mining Experience.
Ballyforan, roscommon
A quiet riverside village on the Roscommon–Galway border, Ballyforan is now the gateway to the 3.1km Derryfadda Bog Greenway. Opened in 2025, this EU-funded trail winds through restored peatland habitats, while the village retains its traditional pubs, community spirit and 19th-century church.
Boyle, roscommon
Set on the Boyle River at the edge of the Curlew Mountains, this small Roscommon town packs a 12th-century Cistercian abbey, the restored Georgian King House and the woodlands of Lough Key Forest Park into a compact, walkable centre. It is also Moone Boy country, Chris O'Dowd's home town and the setting for his TV series.
Boyle, roscommon
Founded in 1161 and consecrated in 1218, Boyle Abbey is one of the most complete Cistercian ruins in Connacht. Its squat crossing tower and the carved corbels of the 'School of the West' – monks, beasts, a Sheela-na-Gig – are what set it apart from the usual monastic austerity.
Castlecoote, roscommon
The walls of Castlecoote’s 17th-century fortified house were built from salvaged nunnery stone and bound with a blood-mixed mortar, giving them remarkable resilience. Set beside the River Suck, the restored estate now offers guided heritage tours, a rare apple orchard, and direct access to the scenic Suck Valley Way.
Castlerea, roscommon
Castlerea sits on the River Suck in west Roscommon, best known for Clonalis House, where the O'Conor family, descendants of Ireland's last High Kings, still live. Tour the house for O'Carolan's harp and the O'Conor inauguration stone, walk the free demesne park, or pick up the Suck Valley Way.
Athleague, roscommon
Amid the rolling fields of County Roscommon, the skeletal remains of Castlestrange House loom over a quiet riverbank, whispering tales of aristocratic life and pioneering veterinary science. Just beyond the crumbling walls lies the Castlestrange Stone, a 60 cm granite boulder etched with spiralling La Tène designs, one of only four such Celtic monuments in Ireland.
Rathcroghan, roscommon
Beneath a lone hawthorn near Tulsk lies Oweynagat, the Cave of the Cats – a narrow souterrain that opens onto a natural limestone chamber the Book of Leinster called Ireland's gate to hell. It's bound up with the warrior Nera, Queen Medb and the Morrígan, and reached only on a guided tour from the Rathcroghan Visitor Centre.
Castlerea, roscommon
Clonalis House stands as the last remnant of the ancient Kingdom of Connacht, home to the O’Conor Don for over fifteen centuries. Visitors explore a late-Victorian manor filled with royal heirlooms, including Turlough O’Carolan’s harp and the coronation stone, before wandering 700 acres of parkland along the River Suck.
Cloonahee, roscommon
Cloonahee is a townland north of Strokestown remembered for one document: a petition from its starving tenants during the Great Famine, whose rediscovery helped found the National Famine Museum at Strokestown Park. The Victorian country house here is a private residence, visible from the road.
Boyle, roscommon
Rising 259 m above the Connacht countryside, the Curlew Mountains offer sweeping vistas of Lough Key and the Shannon valley. Walkers can trace the 1599 Battle of Curlew Pass, while bird-watchers listen for the mournful call of the Eurasian curlew. A network of well-marked trails makes the ridge perfect for a day hike or a longer trek on the Miners Way.
Frenchpark, roscommon
The Douglas Hyde Centre occupies Portahard Church, a 1740 building near Frenchpark where Ireland's first president grew up and lies buried. Inside is the 1938 letter nominating him for the presidency, signed by both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, alongside a garden planted to old Irish folklore. Open Saturdays in summer, or by prebooked tour year-round.
Elphin, roscommon
Set in the green heart of County Roscommon, Elphin is best known for its striking 18th-century tower windmill, which still turns its timber sails to grind corn. Visitors can enjoy guided milling demonstrations, explore a small agricultural museum, and wander along the peaceful banks of the River Suck.
Elphin, roscommon
Perched between Elphin and Boyle, the thatched, rotating cap of Elphin Windmill stands as a testament to 18th-century Irish engineering. Restored by local volunteers in 1996, this working tower mill still turns its sails to grind corn, while the adjacent visitor centre preserves centuries of rural farming heritage.
Tullamore, meath
The Esker Riada is a chain of low gravel ridges left by Ice Age meltwater that runs across the midlands from Dublin to Galway. As the only dry path over the bogs it became the Slí Mhór, the Great Way, linking Clonard, Durrow and Clonmacnoise and marking the ancient boundary between the north and south of Ireland. The N6 still roughly follows it, and the Esker Hills golf course near Tullamore is built on it.
Frenchpark, roscommon
Set along the N5 in north Roscommon, Frenchpark blends quiet rural charm with rich local history. Explore the interpretative centre for Ireland’s first president, wander the grounds of the former French Park estate, and enjoy peaceful walks through drumlin countryside.
roscommon
Weathered stone walls and 8th-century grave slabs mark the site of a once-thriving Celtic abbey just outside Roscommon town. Fuerty offers a peaceful, free-to-enter stop for history lovers and walkers, with striking views across the rural Heartlands.
Northwest of Athlone, roscommon
A quiet lakeside parish where early Christian heritage meets 18th-century architecture. Visit the ancient burial mound, St Patrick’s holy well, and the striking Church of the Risen Christ, all set against sweeping views of Lough Ree.
Boyle, roscommon
Step into County Roscommon’s past at King House, a beautifully restored Georgian mansion turned visitor centre. Wander through period rooms, explore archaeological finds, and discover the legacy of the Connaught Rangers before relaxing in the courtyard garden.
Knockvicar, roscommon
Knockvicar sits on the banks of the Boyle River, offering a peaceful riverside towpath, historic connections to O’Sullivan Beare, and hands-on experiences at the local alpaca farm. Just minutes from Lough Key Forest Park, it makes a rewarding stop for walkers and nature lovers.
Boyle, sligo
Hosting the greatest concentration of crannóg islands in Ireland, Lough Gara spreads across 16.9 km² of shimmering water between Sligo and Roscommon. Designated as both an Important Bird Area and a Ramsar wetland, the lake draws birdwatchers eager to spot the rare Greenland White-fronted Goose amid its reed-fringed shallows.
Boyle, roscommon
Lough Key Forest Park blends ancient woodland, lake scenery, and the remnants of the grand Rockingham estate into one of Ireland’s most versatile outdoor destinations. Visitors can wander historic service tunnels, climb the Moylurg viewing tower, or try their hand at canopy zip-lining and indoor puzzle challenges.
Roscommon Town, roscommon
Loughnaneane Park offers a tranquil escape on the outskirts of Roscommon town, combining landscaped walking paths with a natural seasonal lake. The park’s open spaces frame dramatic views of the nearby 13th-century Roscommon Castle, making it an ideal spot for a leisurely stroll, wildlife spotting, or a family outing.
Roscommon, roscommon
The Miners Way and Historical Trail is a 118 km figure-of-eight that loops out of Arigna, where coal was mined until 1990. It threads three loughs, the low Curlew and Bricklieve ranges, and one of Ireland's densest clusters of Neolithic passage tombs at Carrowkeel. About half of it is on tarmac.
Lough Key Forest Park, roscommon
Moylurg Tower is a six-storey brutalist column built in 1973 on the foundations of Rockingham House, the John Nash mansion that burned down in 1957. A 45-minute self-guided loop links the estate’s 300-metre service tunnels, Ireland’s first tree-canopy walkway and the view of all 32 islands on Lough Key. The lift is out of service, so the platform is currently stairs only.
Roscommon, roscommon
In May 1847, over 1,400 Strokestown families were forced to march to Dublin for passage overseas. Today, their journey is preserved as the National Famine Way, a 165 km trail marked by bronze children’s shoes, waymarked for walkers and cyclists, and supported by a free app that brings their stories to life.
Rathcroghan, roscommon
Oweynagat, the Cave of the Cats, is a tight, pitch-dark souterrain opening into a natural limestone fissure in a field near Tulsk, at the heart of the Rathcroghan royal complex. Folklore made it Ireland's 'Gate to Hell', the home of the war-goddess the Morrígan and a source of the chaos that gave rise to Samhain. You see inside only on a guided tour from the Rathcroghan Visitor Centre, April to October – a genuinely muddy crawl, not for the claustrophobic.
Tulsk, roscommon
Spread across 6.5 km² of rolling plains, Rathcroghan is Ireland’s largest unexcavated royal complex, home to Neolithic mounds, Iron-Age ringforts and the legendary Cave of the Cats. Step into the world of Queen Medb and Samhain rituals at this evocative landscape of earthworks and ancient pathways.
Roscommon, roscommon
The River Suck runs 133 km from above Lough O'Flynn to the Shannon, holding brown trout, bream, rudd, tench and pike along the way. The waymarked Suck Valley Way follows it through nine villages and past the Castlestrange scribed stone, one of only four known Iron Age decorated stones in Ireland.
Roscommon, roscommon
Housed in a modern purpose-built venue in the heart of Roscommon town, the centre brings professional theatre, independent cinema and visual arts to the heart of the midlands. With a flexible 194-seat auditorium, exhibition gallery and workshop studios, it serves as the cultural hub for both touring companies and local creators. Visitors can enjoy everything from family-friendly matinees and comedy nights to contemporary art exhibitions and creative workshops.
Roscommon Town, roscommon
Perched above Roscommon town, the ruined Norman stronghold of Roscommon Castle watches over the modern Loughnaneane Park. Walk the historic walls, discover a seasonal turlough, and follow a myth-laden sculpture trail – all within a 14-acre riverside oasis.
Roscommon, roscommon
Housed in a striking former church on The Square, the volunteer-run Roscommon County Museum offers free entry and a focused look at the region’s past. From early medieval stonework to agricultural heritage, it serves as both a cultural hub and the local tourist information centre.
Roscommon, roscommon
1269 saw Hugh O’Connor, King of Connacht, raise the stone walls of Roscommon Castle, a fortress that still crowns the town’s skyline. Today the ruin frames Loughnaneane Park’s tranquil turlough while the bustling market square buzzes with cafés, arts exhibitions and weekly stalls, linking medieval power to modern Irish hospitality.
Boyle, roscommon
The Shannon-Boyle Waterway connects the calm waters of Lough Key and Lough Gara to the River Shannon, threading past the historic market town of Boyle. Visitors can hire a boat, paddle the gentle currents, or follow riverside trails framed by the Curlew Mountains and centuries of local history.
Strokestown, roscommon
A sweeping avenue leads visitors straight to Strokestown Park House, an elegant Palladian estate that now safeguards Ireland’s most poignant famine archive. Step inside for guided tours, explore the atmospheric walled gardens, or follow the historic trail into the countryside.
Strokestown, roscommon
Step into the elegant Georgian world of the Mahon family and explore meticulously restored reception rooms before descending into the National Famine Museum, where immersive displays and original tenant letters bring the Great Hunger to life. Set within a sprawling County Roscommon estate, the site combines aristocratic history with powerful storytelling, making it an essential stop for history enthusiasts, garden lovers, and families.
Tarmonbarry, roscommon
Tarmonbarry sits on the River Shannon where Roscommon meets Longford, its old lifting bridge still rising for taller cruisers through the summer. A marina, a lock gate and a stone shrine to Saint Berach cluster around the crossing, with the Royal Canal Greenway reachable a short way east at Cloondara.
Tulsk, roscommon
Tulsk serves as the quiet village gateway to one of Ireland’s most significant mythological landscapes. Step into the Rathcroghan Visitor Centre to explore the Óenach Cruachain collection, then walk the ancient mounds to Oweynagat, the legendary “Gate to Hell” linked to the origins of Samhain.
