Strokestown Park House was built in the 1730s. In the 1970s the house was bought by an Irish firm, restored and is now open to the public to view. Located in the stable yards of Strokestown Park House, the Famine Museum commemorates the Great Famine of the 1840s. Between 1845 and 1850, approximately one fifth of the population of Ireland either died or emigrated when blight devastated the potato crop. The Museum, using extensive estate papers, explains the historical and social significance of the famine nationally.

 

See: www.strokestownpark.ie

Located in Boyle, King House is a magnificently restored Georgian Mansion built around 1730 by Sir Henry King whose family were one of the most powerful and wealthy in Ireland. After its first life as a home, King House became a military barracks to the famous Connaught Rangers from 1788 until 1922. In more recent years King House has also been a barracks for the Irish Army. Even today there still remains an Army presence as the Reserve Defence Force are based in the West Wing of the House. Today visitors can explore the house and enjoy a range of exhibitions that offer an enchanting view of Ireland’s heritage and culture.

 

See: www.kinghouse.ie

 

 

Located in the nearby town of Tulsk, Cruachan was the pre-historic capital of Connacht and is reputedly the largest and best preserved Celtic Royal Site in Europe. It was a centre of ritual ceremony, inauguration of Kings and legendary home of Queen Medb, earth goddess and Warrior Queen. An amazing array of archaeological remains are located within a four mile radius of Tulsk village, dating from the Stone Age to the historic period and these are interpreted in the bright, modern exhibition rooms at Cruachan Aí Visitor Centre.

 

See: www.rathcroghan.ie

 

There are a number of quality golf courses located within a short driving distance of Glendel.

 

Strokestown Golf Club is a 9 hole golf course situated beside Cloofinlough lake, just outside the town.

 

Boyle Golf Course is a 9 hole golf course located within 5 minutes of Boyle town-centre off the N61.

 

Carrick-on-Shannon boasts an impressive 18-hole parkland course.

 

 

 

The museum has a unique collection of artefacts relating to the history of the county, the town and its people.

 

 

Visitor Angling Conference Centre & Riverside Cafe based in Athleague, on the 100km Suck Valley Waymarked Way Walk where angling & walking holiday packages can be booked all year round.

 

See www.suckvalley.com

 

 

 

Experience the art of cheese making, sheep shearing, brown bread making and visits to local sites.

 

See www.unabhan.net

 

 

 

Annual memorial festival of Irish traditional music, song and dance which takes place every October in Strokestown, Co. Roscommon. Féile Frank Mc Gann was established to honour the memory of one of Ireland’s best loved traditional Irish musicians, Frank Mc Gann. Frank, a bodhran player born in Lisalway, Co. Roscommon in 1923 and who sadly passed away in 2002 was renowned throughout the length and breadth of Ireland.

 

See www.feilefrankmcgann.com

 

 

 

The annual Strokestown International Poetry Festival takes place over the first weekend in May and aims to provide a forum for excellence in poetry, of different types and in both English and Irish, and to create new audiences for poetry.

 

The weekend consists of readings from poets across the spectrum, well-known and new voices – approximately twenty readings over three days. Recent participants in the festival include; Maura Dooley, John Wedgwood Clarke, Penelope Shuttle, George Szirtes, Theo Dorgan, Paddy Bushe, Sheila O’Hagan, Peter Fallon, Seamus Heaney, Louis de Paor, Peter Sirr, Michael Schmidt, Vona Groarke, Padraig Rooney, Joseph Woods.

 

See www.strokestownpoetry.org