- Rathcroghan (Cruachan / Rath Cruachan): This vast archaeological complex near Tulsk is one of Ireland’s foremost pre-Christian royal and ceremonial sites, identified as the ancient capital of Connacht and home to Queen Medb in the Táin Bó Cúailnge epic. It features over 240 monuments, including ringforts, burial mounds, standing stones, and the iconic Rathcroghan Mound, long associated with kingship rituals, seasonal gatherings, and possible inauguration ceremonies. The site blends profound pagan reverence with later folklore and draws visitors exploring Ireland’s mythological and prehistoric sacred geography.
- Ogulla Holy Well (Tobar na nGealt / Cliabach Well): Located near Rathcroghan, this renowned holy well is traditionally the site where St Patrick baptised the daughters of High King Laoghaire (Eithne and Fidelma) in the 5th century, marking a pivotal moment in Ireland’s conversion to Christianity. Known for its healing waters and spiritual significance, it attracts pilgrims honouring St Patrick’s legacy in a landscape of deep pre-Christian importance.
- Carnfree (Carn Fraoich): A prominent inauguration mound near Rathcroghan, this site served as the ceremonial place where the O’Conor kings of Connacht were inaugurated in medieval times, continuing earlier traditions of kingship rites. Linked in legend to Fráech (Medb’s son-in-law) and ancient royal burial customs, it represents the enduring use of sacred hills for sovereignty rituals and draws those interested in Ireland’s ancient inauguration heritage.
- Clonmacnoise: Although primarily in County Offaly, this world-famous monastic site lies on the Shannon’s banks with strong ties to Roscommon’s landscape and saints. Founded in 544 by St Ciarán (Kieran), one of Ireland’s Twelve Apostles of Ireland, it includes a cathedral, high crosses, round towers, churches, and St Ciarán’s grave. It was a major centre of learning and pilgrimage, with visitors honouring the saint’s ascetic life and the golden age of early Irish Christianity.
- Drum Monastic Settlement and St Brigid’s Holy Well: Near Athleague, this restored early medieval site features Romanesque abbey ruins, a medieval church, and a holy well dedicated to St Brigid, Ireland’s patroness. The well, restored in modern times with a statue of the saint added, serves as a place of devotion and healing, reflecting Brigid’s widespread veneration and possible pre-Christian roots in goddess traditions of fertility and protection.
- St Patrick’s Well, Oran: Situated near ringforts and church ruins with a damaged round tower, this holy well is associated with St Patrick and his missionary journeys through the region. It exemplifies the many Patrician wells in Roscommon, where pilgrims seek blessings and cures, tying into the saint’s foundational role in Christianising ancient sacred landscapes.
- St Lassair’s Well, Kilronan: Dedicated to St Lassair (Laisre), an early Irish female saint, this holy well includes prayer stations and a mass rock altar under which pilgrims crawl for cures, particularly for back ailments. It blends folk healing traditions with early Christian devotion in a serene rural setting, highlighting the continuity of sacred water veneration from pre-Christian times.
- Boyle Abbey: Founded in 1167 as a Cistercian monastery, this impressive ruin represents the later medieval phase of Irish monasticism in Roscommon. While not directly tied to the earliest saints, its location in a historically sacred area and its peaceful ruins attract visitors exploring the evolution of Christian sites amid Connacht’s ancient spiritual heritage.
County Roscommon:
Ireland’s county Roscommon combines historic sites with tranquil landscapes, with Roscommon Castle’s imposing ruins offering a glimpse into medieval Ireland. Lough Key Forest Park provides boating and treetop canopy walks, while the Arigna Mining Experience explores the county’s industrial past. Other attractions include the sacred site of Rathcroghan, linked to ancient mythology. Roscommon is Ireland’s 11th largest county by size (2,463 square km) and eighth smallest by population (70,259). Population peaked at 253,591 in 1841 and reached its lowest point, 53,519 in 1971. In terms of hospitality, Roscommon is Ireland’s 31st most visited and Ireland’s second least visited tourist county with around 25,000 international visitors per year.
Introduction – Adventure – Anthem – Archaeology – Attractions – Awards – Birdwatching – Camping – Castles – Churches – Contact list – Cycling – Dining – Equestrian – Festivals – Fishing – Folklore – Gardens – Golf – Graveyards – Happening – Haunted – Highest – Hiking – History – Holy Wells – Hotels – Hotels8 – Instagrammable – Itineraries – Largest town – Luxury – MICE – Movies – Musicians – Name – New – Novelists – Off the beaten track – Poets – Pubs – Quotes – Random Facts – Restaurant Awards – Sacred Places – Saints – Spas – Sports – Sunsets– Sustainable – Things to do – Towns – Video – Villages – Walking – Wanderlist – Weddings – Wild swimming – Writers – 1837 – 1846– 1852 – 1909 – 1955 – 1980 –
Sacred Places
Antrim – Armagh – Carlow – Cavan – Clare – Cork – Derry – Donegal – Down – Dublin – Fermanagh – Galway – Kerry – Kildare – Kilkenny – Laois – Leitrim – Limerick – Longford – Louth – Mayo – Meath – Monaghan – Offaly – Roscommon – Sligo – Tipperary – Tyrone – Waterford – Westmeath – Wexford – Wicklow
