HOW CAN I HELP? The ‘Big House’ WHERE CAN I GET FURTHER INFORMATION? If you or your community group would like Sites, which have public access include: Full details of each of these sites can be accessed on the Heritage Office section of carry out works or projects at any of these King House, Boyle www.roscommoncoco.ie under the heading ‘Access sites please contact your local Community Strokestown Park House, Strokestown to Heritage Sites in Roscommon’. Copies of the sur- Heritage Forum for advice and funding information: vey report can be viewed in all branches of the Frybrook House, Boyle County Library Service. CD’s containing the survey North Roscommon Community Forum, Dún Clonalis House, Castlerea report can be obtained from the Heritage Office of Maeve, Strokestown, 071 9634757 Roscommon County Council. Castlecoote House, Castlecoote in South Roscommon Community Forum, Abbeytown, Roscommon, 090 6637923. HERITAGE INTERPRETATION Urban Buildings Based on the findings of the audit, heritage Co. Roscommon Before carrying out work at any of these Sites, which have public access include: information panels highlighting local built, natural & Harrison Hall (Bank of Ireland), Roscommon cultural heritage will be erected at 3 sites around the sites, please contact the Heritage Office, county Tarmonbarry Amenity Area, Kilglass Lakes Roscommon County Council, Courthouse, The Old Gaol (Stonecourt Shopping Centre), Amenity Area & Kilteevan Graveyard. Roscommon, phone 090 6637100, email: Roscommon Why not go along and have a look at them? [email protected] for heritage County Library Building, Roscommon advice and best practice guidelines on how County Museum & Tourist Office, Roscommon TOURING ROUTES to improve access to sites. 4 suggested touring routes, containing many of the accessible sites listed here can be accessed at Military Fortifications www.visitroscommon.ie. Sites, which have public access include: The routes are Arigna Scenic Drive, Mid - ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Roscommon Drive, Roscommon - Roosky Eastern Shannonbridge Fortifications (The Old Fort The ‘A Heritage Access Audit of County Drive and South Roscommon Drive. Roscommon’ survey report and database, Restaurant) upon which this leaflet is based, is an action PUBLIC ACCESS KEY ISSUES Public liability insurance and public & private rights Industrial Archaeology of the County Roscommon Heritage Plan of way are issues of concern when accessing 2004-2008. Sites, which include public access include: heritage sites. Comhairle na Tuaithe, the Project assisted by The Heritage Council & Elphin Windmill, Elphin government advisory body on access & recreation has been, established to develop strategies to Roscommon County Council. Lobinroe Windmill, Four Roads improve the management of recreation in the Access Audit carried out by DARE Ltd. Claypipe Museum & Workshop, Knockcroghery countryside. Leaflet produced by Co. Roscommon Arigna Mining Experience, Arigna Heritage Forum. GENERAL INFORMATION Derryglad Folk Museum, Curraghboy Thanks to all who contributed information to There are many other useful websites: Hells Kitchen Rail Bar & Museum, Castlerea www.visitroscommon.ie - tourist information for Co. this project. Roscommon Information correct at time of survey but www.environ.ie - government heritage service subject to change. Famous Personalities information Where to go? Birthplace of Percy French, Clooneyquin, Tulsk www.heritageofireland.ie - details of state owned Cover Photographs: Knockranny Wood Amenity, Elphin Windmill, monuments Dr. Douglas Hyde Interpretative Centre, Portahard, Roscommon Castle. www.buildingsofireland.ie - National Inventory of Frenchpark Architectural Heritage What to see? www.walkireland.ie - details of Suck Valley Way Seán Ó’Neachtáin Birthplace, Clonellan, Drum Walking route County Roscommon Heritage & Genealogy Centre, www.heritagecouncil.ie - heritage information & Strokestown guidance www.pobail.ie - information on new countryside Keadue Heritage Park, Keadue recreation strategy WHAT IS HERITAGE? NATURAL HERITAGE SITES CULTURAL HERITAGE SITES Monuments Co. Roscommon is dominated by wetland habitats. Cultural Heritage can be defined as human Archaeological objects The county is bordered to the west by the River Suck interaction with the natural world. People have Heritage Objects and to the east by the River Shannon, which been influencing the natural landscape of County Architectural Heritage regularly spread out over the adjacent callows Roscommon for over 6,000 years and the results of Flora during the winter months. Lakes are abundant this interaction is a diverse collection of burial tombs, Fauna especially in the northern half of the county. settlement sites, artefacts, buildings, industries, art, Wildlife Habitats Seasonal lakes or Turloughs are regular features of music, folklore and traditions. Landscapes the landscape. Lakeshore and riverside amenity Seascapes areas provide public access to watercourses. A representative sample of cultural heritage sites Wrecks Boyle River, Knockvicar from different periods of human history in Geology Lakes Canals Roscommon, were surveyed as part of the Audit and Heritage Gardens and Parks Lakes, which have public access, include: Canals, which have public access include: have been grouped under diverse headings. Inland Waterways Lough Ree @ Hudson Bay Amenity Area, Portrunny Lecarrow Canal Prehistoric & Early Historic Sites Amenity Area, Galey Bay & Ballyleague Boyle Canal & Jamestown Canal Prehistoric & Early Historic Sites Sites, which have public access include: Lough O’Flynn @ Lakeside Amenity Area, Turloughs Knockranny Court Tomb, accessible from INTRODUCTION Ballinlough Turloughs, which have public access include: Knockranny Amenity Area @ Lough Meelagh Access to heritage sites was a major issue raised Kilglass Lakes @ Lakeside Amenity Area, Rooaun Loughnaneane Park, Roscommon Castlestrange Stone, accessible via the ‘Suck Valley at public consultation meetings during the Lough Key @ Tawnytaskin Amenity Area & Lough Way’ walking route preparation of the County Roscommon Heritage Key Forest Park Cruachan Aí Visitor Centre, Tulsk Plan 2004-2008. Lough Meelagh @ Knockranny Wood Amenity Area & Kilronan Castle entrance Amenity Area Ecclesiastical Sites This leaflet highlights where public access is Cavetown Lake @ Lakeside Amenity Area Sites, which have public access include: possible to heritage sites around the county. Lough Allen @ Scrabbragan Amenity Area Oran Round Tower, Medieval Church & Holy Well Cootehall Lough @ Lakeside Amenity Area Kilronan Church & Graveyard Based on Action 2.2.1 of the County Roscommon St. Lasairs Holy Well Heritage Plan - ‘Carry out an audit of heritage sites in Ogulla Holy Well the county, to identify those that have public access, Kilteevan Medieval Church & Graveyard Rahara Church & Graveyard including special needs access’, this audit was carried Kilbarry Church, Graveyard & Holy Well out on behalf of Co. Roscommon Heritage Forum by Fuerty Abbey & Graveyard DARE Ltd. Tisrara Medieval Church & Pilgrims Rest House Lecarrow Canal Ardcarn Medieval Church The ‘A Heritage Access Audit of Co. Roscommon’ Drum Monastic Site survey report and database contain details of 82 Bogs Nure Wake House heritage sites around Co. Roscommon. Each site is Public access to bogs is not recommended. St. Coman’s Church of Ireland, Roscommon described under headings of grid reference, However the ‘Suck Valley Way’ provides access for Sacred Heart Church, Roscommon Cistercian Abbey, Boyle ‘Discovery Series’ map number, site description, walkers across the raised bog of Dominican Friary, Roscommon access details, disabled access details, signage, on- Cavetown Lake Cooliskea/Trien/Cloonfelliv, while the ‘Miners Dominican Friary, Tulsk site interpretation, parking & facilities present, and Rivers Way’ provide access for walkers across the blanket St. Lasairs Holy Well, Kilronan ownership. Rivers, which have public access include: bog of Kilronan & Corrie Mountains. Ogulla Holy Well, Tulsk Not all sites included in the audit have public access. Suck River @ Suck Valley Way Walking Route Improvements could be made at some of the sites. Shannon River @ Tarmonbarry Woodlands Castles Full details of ‘A Heritage Access Audit of County Boyle River @ Mocmoyne Amenity Area, Pleasure Woodlands, which have public access include: Sites, which have public access include: Roscommon’ are available on the Heritage Office Grounds Amenity Area & Knockvicar Tow Path Lough Key Forest Park, Boyle Roscommon Castle section of www.roscommoncoco.ie Mote Park Forest, Roscommon Donamon Castle.