Rathcroghan Visitor Centre

'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

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.

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

Táin Bó Cuailnge – Mar a cumadh Eipic na hÉireann
2023-05-12 19:30 - 21:30 | Rathcroghan Visitor Centre, Tulsk,, Co. Roscommon, Roscommon, F45 HH51, Ireland
Cuntas ar an gcaoi inar tháinig forbairt ar An Tain Bó Cuailnge thar tréimhse 300 bliain agus na nithe stairiúla nó neamh-stairiúla atá le fáil inti – Léacht agus plé le saineolaí ar an tréimhse, Colmán Ó Raghallaigh. Ceol agus sóláistí ina dhiaidh sin.
Irish language lecture and discussion with Colmán Ó Raghallaigh on how the Táin Bó Cuailnge developed over a period of 300 years, with music and refreshments to follow.

Tá an imeacht seo saor in aisce, ach le do thoil, cuir ticéad in áirithe roimh ré.
This is a free event, but as capacity is limited, please reserve your place in advance.
info@rathcroghan.ie / 071 9639268

"Finding the Famine Irish: Insights from Archaeological Sites in Ireland and Canada"
2023-06-22 20:30 - 22:00 | Rathcroghan Visitor Centre, Tulsk,, Co. Roscommon, Roscommon, F45 HH51, Ireland
“Finding the Famine Irish: Insights from Archaeological Sites in Ireland and Canada”
Dr. Katherine L. Hull, PhD.
We are looking forward to welcoming Dr. Katherine L. Hull, PhD, who will speak on her work, “Finding the Famine Irish: Insights from Archaeological Sites in Ireland and Canada” at an evening event, here at Rathcroghan Visitor Centre on Thursday, June 22nd, at 8.30pm.
Dr. Katherine L. Hull is Partner and Principal Historical Archaeologist for Archaeological Services Inc. (Toronto, Ontario) and Archaeological Advisor of the Canada Ireland Foundation.
“Why bother looking for the famine Irish? They were too poor to leave behind anything”— this is a commonly held idea that confronted her team of archaeologists in the mid-1990s as they began a research program on the rural Irish in the Strokestown area. Rather than being faced with a dearth of material culture, this multi-year excavation on the Nary holding in Ballykilcline, as well as the townland of Gorttoose and village of Mulliviltrin, demonstrated that even those considered to be at the bottom of the socioeconomic scale, left significant evidence of their occupation. Once in Canada, the Irish of the diaspora seem to blend into the melting pot of emigrants.
The challenge to finding the Irish in their new home isn’t a lack of artifacts, but the homogeneity of the types of artifacts that all settlers purchased, used, and discarded. During this presentation, we will examine the archaeological difficulties and successes of finding the Irish at home and tracing Irishness across the Atlantic.
This is a free event, but places are limited. Please reserve your seat by emailing the Centre at
info@rathcroghan.ie
or by phone
071 963 9268

Táin March 2023 - Storytelling Event
2023-07-07 19:30 - 20:30 | Rathcroghan Visitor Centre, Tulsk,, Co. Roscommon, Roscommon, F45 HH51, Ireland
To celebrate the Táin March Festival 2023, why not come down to Rathcroghan Visitor Centre on Friday 7th July at 7.30 pm to hear the stories of Queen Medb, Cúchulainn and An Táin Bó Cuailnge – The Cattle Raid of Cooley, our national epic tale, re-told in all their glory.
This fun, free event will be delivered by the staff of Rathcroghan Visitor Centre and will feature a number of special guests, including Queen Medb herself.
Please contact us by phone or email to book your place. All are very welcome.
071 9639268 info@rathcroghan.ie

The Great Aviva Road Trip
2023-08-16 13:00 - 17:00 | Roscommon
We are delighted to learn that The Great Aviva Road Trip will include Rathcroghan Visitor Centre as a destination . Aviva in partnership with Citroën has given the lucky winners the opportunity to travel across Ireland and experience some fantastic home-grown family fun, all in an eco-friendly hybrid vehicle to see the sights of the Emerald Isle up close. We are looking forward to welcoming the winners and letting you know what they get up to. Stay tuned to our Social Media pages for updates and visit Aviva.ie, rated 4.5/5 stars by their car insurance customers.

Brigid's Awakening Festival - Two Lecture Seminar Celebrating Women
2024-02-03 10:45 - 13:00 | Rathcroghan Visitor Centre, Tulsk,, Co. Roscommon, Roscommon, F45 HH51, Ireland
We are delighted to collaborate once again with Strokestown Park & Gardens, Keenan’s Hotel, Tarmonbarry and Tarmonbarry Men’s Shed this year in hosting the Brigid’s Awakening Festival.

As part of Rathcroghan Visitor Centres involvement in the Brigid’s Awakening Festival 2024, a two lecture seminar reflecting on aspects of women in history will take place on Saturday February 3rd.
Our first speaker, Dr. Catherine Swift (Mary Immaculate College), will present her talk on “Celtic goddesses and Women of power” followed by Elaine Conroy (Rathcroghan Visitor Centre) who will present her talk on “Re-Affirming the Position of Women in the Story of Roscommon”.

Dr. Catherine Swift, Mary Immaculate College
“Celtic goddesses and women of power”
Abstract: In the twenty-first century, there is considerable interest in the history of pre-Christian goddesses called Brigit and their potential influence on our understanding of the woman commemorated as the Christian St Brigit. In Ireland, our traditional approach has been to try and disentangle one from another through careful reading of the documentary sources. In this lecture, it is proposed to begin rather with consideration of various depictions of goddesses from those countries in north-west Europe who spoke Celtic languages in the centuries before the adoption of Christianity and to consider which attributes, if any, they share with the descriptions of Brigit found in Irish texts.
Elaine Conroy, Rathcroghan Visitor Centre Tour Guide & Research Assistant.
Re-Affirming the Position of Women in the Story of Roscommon
Abstract: For much of recorded history, the role of women has been overshadowed by the history writers, meaning that many fascinating and inspiring women have been neglected on the record, and their influence and achievements not fully recognised. This talk, inspired by the theme of the Brigid’s Awakening Festival and the speaker’s own career experience at Rathcroghan, will take a look at some notable women who contributed or left an impression on this county. Elaine will look at a number of women down through the centuries – their involvement in religion, literature, art, politics and their lived experiences. Some were born here, some came to settle here, some spent only a brief time here but all contributed in some way to Roscommon’s story.

To book your place, see:
https://www.eventbrite.ie/…/brigids-awakening-festival…

Friday February 2nd, The Bridies, Irish traditional music group, will play Keenans Of Tarmonbarry from 8.30 – 10.30pm

On Sunday February 4th @StrokestownPark will present ‘Storybook – The Songs of Brendan Graham’ performed by the highly renowned singer Cathy Jordan a native of Co. Roscommon and noted composer and pianist Feargal Murray. This promises to be a magical evening, click here for more information and tickets:
https://strokestownpark.ie/event/cathy-jordan-concert/

From February 1st, on Tarmonbarry Bridge, what we believe to be the largest Bridget’s Cross in Ireland will be erected and lit for the month of February in honour of St Brigid.
This Connacht styled Cross, created for last years festival will feature additional branches for 2024, created by The Tarmonbarry Men’s Shed.

Brigid’s Awakening Festival is supported by the Roscommon County Council and Creative Ireland.

Turas Treoraithe ar an Músaem agus an Suíomh Ríoga, Ráth Cruachan
2024-03-08 14:00 - 17:00 | 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 | Roscommon
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 | Roscommon
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
