Preserving the Past-Protecting the Future

As Heritage Week 12th – 20th August 2023 approaches, the Farming Rathcroghan European Innovation Partnership are using the opportunity of this annual celebration of Ireland’s cultural, built and natural heritage to showcase the work being undertaken by the project, as it enters it’s final year of current cycle of operations.The events are closely linked to the 2023 Heritage Week theme of exploring the traditions, practices, knowledge and skills and to promote continuing community and public engagement with the project.

Heritage Week offers us the occasion to demonstrate the work underway and the achievements in preserving our archaeological heritage, improving the socio-economic circumstances of farming, testing innovations in the provision of a range of archaeological and environmental measures and promoting our sense of pride in our County. The archaeology, monuments and features will always be here and remain integral to this area of County Roscommon, giving our landscape its unique character.

The cultural significance of Rathcroghan as one of the great, late prehistoric Royal Sites of Ireland, together with the equally strong historical farming tradition in the area offers the best means of managing and enhancing the landscape, preserving our heritage and protecting this sensitive environment and demonstrate the work and innovations being developed. An important aspect of the project is the continuous awareness raising required and greater recognition of Rathcroghan as a national asset, not only as an archaeological site but also as a farmed landscape. It is important that the public have access, to hear and see the practical measures and activities that are being undertaken to protect and maintain this unique landscape as well as attempting to create a vibrancy of the community that call it home. We look forward to welcoming all visitors to Rathcroghan over Heritage Week 2023.

Richie Farrell Project Manager Farming Rathcroghan

Guided Farm Walk Rathmore

Kate Robb-Community Archaeologist Farming Rathcroghan

Date: Saturday 19th August 11.00am – 12.30pm

Venue: Rathcroghan Work Hub/Former Rathcroghan Schoolhouse

Join us on a visit to this impressive national monument and early medieval ringfort at Rathmore/ An Ráth Mór, regarded as a high-status site with a fascinating story to tell. The guided farm walk will offer insights to the Farming Rathcroghan EIP-AGRI project, see first hand the archaeology of Rathcroghan, hear about its mythological stories and learn about the modern farming innovations underway in sustaining this unique and sensitive landscape.

For further details and booking please contact

DRY STONE WALL BUILDING-PRACTICAL SESSION

Michael Fearnhead/DSAWI

Date: Saturday 19th August 2.00-4.00pm

Venue: Rathcroghan Work Hub/Former Rathcroghan Schoolhouse

Dry stone walls are an integral feature of the Farming Rathcroghan landscape. The event is being run by the Farming Rathcroghan EIP in order to raise awareness and appreciation of the need for preserving the craft of ‘dry’ stone building in Ireland, enhance the pride of place aspects of Rathcroghan, advance the awareness to the public and offer an opportunity for people to see first-hand, the skills involved.

The Wrought Iron Farm Gate

Our Heritage-Our History-Our Responsibility

Shem Caulfield: Artist and Heritage Consultant

Date: Saturday 19th August at 7.00-8.00pm

Venue: Rathcroghan Work Hub/Former Rathcroghan Schoolhouse

A fascinating and informative talk on the importance on our traditional wrought iron farm gate, exploring it’s role as part of our built heritage, as part of our farming landscape, as "totem poles" of Ireland's past land wars and in creating greater awareness of traditional gates as features to be cherished and restored.