County Roscommon

A quiet county between the Shannon and the west: Lough Key's forest park, Rathcroghan's royal landscape and castles without the crowds. The charm is the lack of hurry.

County Roscommon facts

Province: Connacht
County town: Roscommon
Setting: Inland
Best for: history, castles, family, hiking
Places in the planner: 5

Between the Shannon and the west sits one of Ireland's quieter counties, and the quiet is its charm. Lough Key, in the north, is among the country's prettiest lakes, with a forest park and island castle, while the Shannon and Lough Ree frame the east.

The county's history runs deep: Rathcroghan, near Tulsk, was the ancient seat of the kings of Connacht and the otherworldly landscape of Queen Medb's legends. Roscommon town's castle and abbey, Boyle's abbey and King House, and the Arigna hills complete a county made for unhurried touring. Roscommon suits travellers who like their history without the crowds: you can stand in Rathcroghan's royal landscape or Strokestown's famine museum with time and space to take it in. It connects easily onward to Sligo, Leitrim and the northwest.

Top sights in Roscommon

Lough Key Forest and Activity Park

A lakeside park with forest trails, a castle island and a visitor centre near Boyle.

Rathcroghan

An archaeological landscape of mounds and earthworks, the ancient royal site of Connacht.

Roscommon Castle

A large ruined Norman castle in parkland beside the county town.

King House, Boyle

A Georgian mansion museum telling the story of the King family and Connaught.

Strokestown Park

A Palladian mansion with a walled garden and the National Famine Museum.

Towns & cities in Roscommon

Roscommon

Coman's wood is what the name means, and the 13th-century castle in its park is the sight: high walls around a great courtyard at the edge of town. Roscommon is the county town of County Roscommon.

Boyle

The Cistercian abbey's arches and King House's Georgian rooms hold most of the town's history in two buildings. Boyle stands on the Boyle River in north County Roscommon.

Roscommon Town

County town with castle ruins, an abbey and a market square.

Strokestown

Estate town in the east of the county with a great house and famine museum.

Castlerea

Market town in the west of the county.

Best time to visit

Spring to autumn suits Lough Key and the heritage sites best. Roscommon stays quiet even in summer, ideal for slow touring.

Getting there

Roscommon Town is about two hours northwest of Dublin by road and rail. Ireland West Airport (Knock) is the nearest airport, to the northwest.

Places for your trip

Roscommon: Coman's wood is what the name means, and the 13th-century castle in its park is the sight: high walls around a great courtyard at the edge of town. Roscommon is the county town of County Roscommon.
Boyle: The Cistercian abbey's arches and King House's Georgian rooms hold most of the town's history in two buildings. Boyle stands on the Boyle River in north County Roscommon.
Boyle Abbey: A Cistercian abbey founded in the 12th century, standing in the town of Boyle with its Romanesque and Gothic arches intact.
Strokestown Park: An 18th-century Palladian house that houses the National Famine Museum. The pairing makes the visit: the big house and the hunger side by side.
Lough Key Forest Park: Woodland trails and lake islands at a forest park on the shore of Lough Key, near Boyle. Families can fill a whole day here.

What's on

No anchor festival is based here, but the Irish year is full: next up nationally is TradFest (20–24 Jan 2027, Temple Bar, Dublin). See the full events calendar

Nearby counties

County Roscommon