Lough Key Forest and Activity ParkLough Key's forest park runs along the shore near Boyle, with a canopy walk up in the trees and wooded islands out on the water.
Ros Comáin
Roscommon
Famine history, a Cistercian abbey and the lake shore at Lough Key.
- Connacht
- 20 places
- 3 events in the next 30 days
- 11 more listings
The list
Top 10 things to do in Roscommon
Roscommon holds the National Famine Museum at Strokestown, and the walk from its gates to Dublin follows the road 1,490 tenants were put out on in 1847. Lough Key has a canopy walk above the forest and wooded islands offshore. These are the ten we would start with, with ten more under them.
Lough Key Forest and Activity ParkLough Key's forest park runs along the shore near Boyle, with a canopy walk up in the trees and wooded islands out on the water.
Strokestown Park and the National Famine MuseumThe Georgian house and walled garden are at Strokestown, with the famine museum in the estate yards behind them.
Boyle AbbeyCistercians founded Boyle Abbey in 1161, and it stands roofless beside the Boyle River in the middle of the town.
Roscommon CastleCastle · RoscommonA large 13th century Norman castle ruin stands in a field on the edge of the town.- Rathcroghan Visitor CentreMuseum · TulskThe centre at Tulsk makes sense of the mounds and ringforts spread through the fields all around it.
Arigna Mining ExperienceMuseum · ArignaThe coal mine in the Arigna valley closed, and the underground tour is led by men who worked in it.
King HouseMuseum · BoyleAn early 18th century mansion in the middle of Boyle, run as a museum.
Clonalis HouseHouse and gardens · CastlereaThe Victorian house outside Castlerea is the O'Conor family home and is open for guided tours.
Roscommon AbbeyAbbey · RoscommonA ruined Dominican priory south of the town holds the carved tomb of Felim O'Conor.- National Famine WayWalk · Strokestown165km of waymarked route from Strokestown to Dublin, on the road 1,490 tenants walked in 1847.
Show 10 more
Elphin WindmillMuseum · ElphinThe 18th century windmill on the edge of Elphin was restored, thatched cap and all.
The Miner's Way and Historical TrailWalk · BoyleThe loop goes through the Arigna and Curlew hills, on the paths the miners used to get to work.- Suck Valley WayWalk · CastlereaWaymarked loop along the River Suck on the Galway border.
Derryglad Folk Heritage MuseumMuseum · CurraghboyFarm and trade tools collected privately at Curraghboy, south of Roscommon town.- Derryvunny Old Woodland TrailForest · BoyleShort trail through old oak woodland on the shore of Lough Key.
- Kilronan Castle LoopWalk · BallyfarnonLooped walk through woodland above Lough Meelagh at Ballyfarnon.
- Glendeer Open Pet FarmWildlife park · AthloneOn a farm outside Athlone you walk among the deer and the farm animals.
- Claypipe Visitor CentreMuseum · KnockcrogheryClay pipes are still made by hand in the workshop at Knockcroghery.
BoyleTown · BoyleBoyle sits under the Curlew hills, with the abbey ruin standing at one end of the main street.- Roscommon TownTown · RoscommonThe county town, with the castle ruin at one end of it and the Dominican priory at the other.
Where they are
Tap a pin to open the place.
13 of the 20 places are on the map. The rest are listed above.
What’s on in Roscommon
Coming up, soonest first.
Saturday 26th September
Friday 23rd October
Monday 26th October
Saturday 28th November
Towns
Towns with enough in and around them for a page of their own.
More to see in Roscommon
11 more places from Fáilte Ireland’s own listings, each linked to its official site.
- Ballaghaderreen CathedralAbbey or church · BallaghaderreenAfter Catholics attained religious emancipation in Ireland in 1829, they built many stone churches, including the one in Ballaghaderreen, County Roscommon.
- Castlecoote House and GardensAncient site · CastlecooteCastlecoote House, in County Roscommon, is an elegant Georgian mansion set in a rich pastoral woodland area, bounded on three sides by the beautiful River Suck.
- Drum Heritage CentreAbbey or church · DrumThere are also several transcripts of Sean O’Neachtain's Gaelic prose and poetry and some of the literary works of his son, Tadgh O'Neachtain.
- Drum Monastic Settlement and St Brigid's Holy WellAbbey or church · DrumVisitors interested in the ecclesiastical heritage of Ireland won’t want to miss the wonderfully restored ruins at Drum, in County Roscommon.
- Frances Crowe Fibre Artist at Grange StudioGallery · Four Mile HouseFrances Crowe's specialist tapestries range from large scale wall hangings to small, framed, textured treasure pieces.
- Douglas Hyde Interpretative CentreMuseum · FrenchparkDouglas Hyde was the first President of Ireland and co-founder of Conradh Na Gaeilge (the Gaelic League).
- O'Carolan Heritage ParkForest park · KeadueThe O'Carolan Heritage Park, in Keadue village, County Roscommon, features a specially commissioned work by sculptor Fred Conlon, modelled on the famous harpist Turlough O'Carolan's harp.
- Castlerea Railway MuseumMuseum · RoscommonOne of the major attractions at the Castlerea Railway Museum, Castlerea, County Roscommon, is locomotive A55, a Metropolitan Vickers of Manchester diesel electric dating from 1955.
- Roscommon County MuseumMuseum · RoscommonRoscommon County Museum displays a unique collection of artifacts relating to the history of County Roscommon, Roscommon town, and the local people.
- Shannonbridge FortificationsMuseum · RoscommonThe Shannonbridge Fortifications are located in Shannonbridge, County Roscommon.
- The Sacred Heart ChurchAbbey or church · RoscommonRoscommon Town’s Sacred Heart Catholic Church was designed by Walter Doolin and P.J.
Getting to Roscommon
- By air
- Ireland West (Knock) Airport
- By rail
- Stations at Roscommon, Castlerea and Boyle, on the Dublin to Westport and Dublin to Sligo line.
- By road
- The N5, N61, N60 and N4.
Questions
What are the best things to do in Roscommon?
Our top three are Lough Key Forest and Activity Park, Strokestown Park and the National Famine Museum and Boyle Abbey. The full list of twenty is at the top of this page, and every place on it has a page of its own.
What can you do in Roscommon for free?
Walks, beaches and open ground cost nothing to visit. On our list that includes <a href="/things-to-do/roscommon/lough-key-forest-and-activity-park/">Lough Key Forest and Activity Park</a>, <a href="/things-to-do/roscommon/national-famine-way/">National Famine Way</a>, <a href="/things-to-do/roscommon/the-miner-s-way-and-historical-trail/">The Miner's Way and Historical Trail</a> and <a href="/things-to-do/roscommon/suck-valley-way/">Suck Valley Way</a>. Check parking and access with the place before you go.
What is on in Roscommon?
5 events are listed in Roscommon over the coming weeks, from festivals to markets and gigs. See them all.
