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Ballintubber to Lanesborough Tour

First take the N60 west to Ballymoe where you turn right along the L98 for Ballintubber. From Ballintubber visit Castlerea, where Clonalis House is located (see adjacent photograph). As you leave Clonalis, drive to village of Frenchpark on the N5. Turn right here and pass through Bellangare on the way to Rathcroghan, which is the burial place of the kings of Ireland and Connaught. South of Rathcroghan is the village of Tulsk, the "hillock of the thorn tree", once a place of importance and a borough that sent a number to parliament. On the raised ground south of Tulsk is Carnfree, where the Kings of Connaught were crowned. From Tulsk, you can go east to Strokestown, which includes Strokestown Park House, Famine Museum and Gardens. St John's Church in Strokestown is now the County Heritage Centre. The Centre houses an Interpretative Display on Pagan Celtic Society in Pre-Christian Ireland, on the monuments of Rathcroghan and the display also focuses on the epic tale of the Táin Bó Cuailgne. Also conscious of the fact that history is primarily about people, the Centre offers a family research service to people with Co Roscommon roots who are anxious to trace their ancestry. Leaving Strokestown, you can travel east to Scramogue and south on to Lanesborough, a cruising base on the Shannon. On the N63 road back to Roscommon Town are the ruins of the Manor of Kilteevan, the home of the Mapother family.

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