County Roscommon is located in the Midwest of Ireland and is a long county bordering seven other counties. Longford, Sligo, Leitrim, Galway, Westmeath and Offley
The area is known for great farming and wonderful farming, but full of great and wonderful history and extensive things.
After as much research and experience as we can, we’ve compiled this list of the top 10 things in Roscommon. Everything on the list has been tried and tested by ourselves.
See also: What to do with children in western Ireland
Top 10 Things to Do in Roscommon
If you are looking for fun and interesting things at Roscommon, here are a few options.
1. See the ruins of Roscommon Castle
Shortly after the center of Roscommon Town, there are ruins of Roscommon Castle.
The castle, now in ruins, is a 13th-century Norman castle once owned by King Hugh O’Connor of Conte. It has a quadrangular plan with a round tower in the corner and a double tower entrance.
The attraction is free to view and always open to visitors all year round. The tops of the towers and the other stairs are inaccessible but otherwise you can wander inside.
This area includes a park area, lake, walkway and children’s playground.
See also: Walking trail in the Midwest of Ireland
2. See Stroketown House and the Famine Museum
A Grade One listed building, this 300-year-old manor house is steeped in history. The house and field are now in the hands of the Irish Heritage Trust.
The house is also home to the National Famine Museum of Ireland and, following a huge government grant, they have just completed the renovation of the museum and visitor center, enriching the experience and enabling to show this great part of history for many years. Come on
Peak season tours of the house and museum are available alongside a forest walk, and the Stroktown house has its own walled garden.
The ground is also home to a famine walk. This huge 165 km Heritage Walk is in honor of the 1490 men, women and children who walked during the Irish Famine in 1847. The walk has been arranged in the preferred part of many to be completed within the time limit of seven days. The tracks are known to be very medium
3. Take the kids to Glendeer Pet Farm
Glendeer Pet Farm is a children’s pet farm on the northern edge of County Roscommon, very close to the border between Westmeath and Galway.
The farm begins to revolve around a selection of pens with very friendly animals. The first category includes goats, chickens, deer, emus, ducks, monkeys and even a bearded dragon. Moving to a second part through the farm leads to a granary area where all the local and local pigs live.
In the next section of the farm you will find donkeys. The area has alpacas, horses, cows and belted gallows (a breed of Scottish cow that adapts to live in poor and windy lands) – Walabi, a native Australian animal, is found here.
At the far end of the farm are mercats and partridges, and several wild birds.
The farm has many playgrounds, including a full host of indoor and outdoor slides, swings, courses and children’s play equipment. Other additions include a fairy path through the jungle and an old 1850s restored cottage, complete with original fixtures and accessories.
See also: Waterfalls in northwestern Ireland
4. Go to Lough Key Forest Park
Lough Key is a 300-hectare park, forest and lake in the center of County Roscommon.
The park has a lot to offer including boat rides, SUPs, field trips, tree walks, jeeping tree adventures, kids playgrounds as well as many walking tracks and even a cafe.
The most notable attraction is the 16th-century McDermott Castle, located on an island in the middle of a leap.
The castle has its own romantic short story.
“The local legend tells the story of a girl named Una, the daughter of the McDermott chief, who fell in love with a lower class boy.
Her father refused to let her leave the island, hoping it would hinder a growing relationship.
Unbeknownst to her father, her boyfriend begins to swim across the loaf key to reach the castle. Tragedy struck one of these crossings and the boy drowned.
He was pronounced dead at the scene and has since been buried under two trees on the island.
5. A tour through Arigna Minus
Arigna Mines is a top Raskomon attraction, a mine that enjoys a long mining history that was actively used as a coal mine from the 1700s to the early 1990s.
It was not until 2003 that the mine, a community initiative, reopened as a tourist attraction. The mining experience at Arigna records the first and last coal mining countries. Tours are taken with ex-miners so you always know that knowledge is best available.
The mine also marks the beginning of the Miners Way Walk, a walking 118-kilometer roundabout that begins and ends in the village of Arigna.
6. See Elphin Windmill
Opened in 1996 as a tourist attraction, the Elphin Windmill is the only fully restored windmill in western Ireland.
The mill was originally used to grind corn and some other grains, and is now the center of a visitor’s center that shows how the windmill is operated and displayed.
Next to the windmill is a newly constructed walking track.
7. Take a look through Boyle Abbey
Boyle Abbey is a Cistercian monastery founded by monks from Melifont Abbey in the early twelfth century. It was the strongest of the early Cistercian foundations in Ireland and the highest among the Provence of Connaught.
The Abbey Gatehouse has been restored in recent years, and the entire Abbey is open to visitors as visitors to this fascinating part of Irish history.
8. Lose yourself in Mote Park
Total Park is a Woodland Park area just north of the town of Roscommon.
The park has plenty of walking paths that inter-loop with each other the largest of which is the 11 km walk across the entire park area. As parking is available in different parts of the park and at the beginning of some trails, the tracks are well paved and maintained and accessible to all.
Check out places like Bluebell Walk where the forest floor is covered in bright blue bell colors. A Fairy Walk for Kids Also on this site are fun fairy houses that are produced by the locals.
9. Hike Sleeve Bown Wind Farm
Sleeve Bowen is a wind farm in the Roscommon Hills. In total, the sleeve bun has 20 wind turbines and a sub-station generating electricity for homes, schools, hospitals and other businesses in Ireland.
The entire Sleeve Bown site has a total of 6 walking tracks, all at different distances and connecting with each other, giving you many options to get out and see. If you reach the summit, you’ll be at the 3rd highest point in County Roscommon.
Traditional areas with mountaineering include a huge rock, church ruins, a sacred cross, as well as an area of activity such as spreading gym equipment for you to enjoy, and a children’s playground.
10. Walk around the Castleria dementia
Enter through the town square of Castleria and you will find the great site of Castleria Demons which is part of the huge Sac Valley Way walking track.
Damens is a very well maintained walkway along the famous Sack Valley River that runs through this forest.
Along the way there is a fairy garden in Dimens, a musical area for the kids and a local swimming pool at the north end of the walk and the children’s playground is very impressive and very well maintained.
Another area of Demense is a field is a track that runs through dense jungle that takes you back on an amazing and peaceful ride along the river.
See also: The best experiences and do’s and don’ts in Ireland
Where to stay in Roscommon
When checking your to-do list at Roscommon, you need to find a good place to stay. There are three main hotels scattered along Roscommon County.
- The Hudson’s Bay: It is located on the northern edge of Roscombe, near Athlon, the capital of Westmeath. A premium hotel 4 * and spa conveniently located just off the main Dublin Galway Motorway.
- The Abbey Hotel: This 4 * hotel is perfectly located in downtown Roscommon. Great access to all facilities, including links to local trains in Dublin and many food stalls and shops within the city center.
- Kilronan Castle: This is probably the hotel featuring Roscommon, this 4 * rated restored country house and the 40 acre ground is a perfect place to relax and unwind. Combining one of the best spas and leisure complexes in western Ireland. Kilronan is also known for its excellent dining experience with the award-winning kitchen.
