Overview
Loughnaneane means ‘lake of the birds’, and this park beside Roscommon Castle in Roscommon town earns it. A turlough, a seasonal lake, sits at its centre, filling with winter rain to draw wildfowl to the water, then draining back to grass and wildflowers by summer. The site is old ground: it turns up in the Táin Bó Cúailgne, and Fergus Mac Róich is said to be buried on the lake’s shores. The park itself is more recent, laid out by Murray & Associates and opened around twenty years ago. Its paths loop around the turlough, and the Roscommon walks map shows a trail of roughly 1 km.
The carved heads and the Hill o’ Bones
The sculpture trail is the park’s signature feature. Use the Roscommon walks map to follow it. Carved wooden heads of figures from Irish myth and Roscommon history stand among the trees, including Queen Maeve and Cú Chulainn from the old epics, and the O’Connor kings Felim and Aedh, whose family ruled Connacht from here. By the pond, a carved ‘Nature Chair’ throne gives you somewhere to sit and take it in. If you only have twenty minutes, walk the trail and then look for the crannóg, an ancient lake dwelling known locally as the ‘Hill o’ Bones’.
Birds, the wetland and the meadow
The wetland is the park’s working heart. A Bird Walk, designed by the environmentalist Gordon Darcy, lets you get close to the water and watch herons, ducks and smaller birds without being seen yourself. The map marks the birdwatching area. Bring binoculars and go early, when it is quietest. A grassy area is left uncut as a wildflower meadow, and the planting through the rest of the park favours native trees and shrubs that turn over with the seasons. Because the turlough rises and falls, the same walk looks different in February and July. Stay on the paths if water covers the low ground.
The castle view
The park’s main avenue was aligned to frame Roscommon Castle at one end and Roscommon’s church at the other, so the ruined fortress sits square in the view as you walk. Built by the Normans in the late 1200s, the castle later fell into ruin. Heritage Ireland lists the south-west tower as closed, so check its page for the castle’s current access before you go, and follow the public park paths for exterior views.
Planning your visit
- Opening hours and admission: The park is a public space with no entry charge. Follow any signs on site, and check Heritage Ireland for the castle and its tower.
- Facilities: The map marks a playground. Check the map and signs on site for other facilities.
- Parking: Use designated parking, or walk in from Roscommon town.
- Conditions: The paths loop around a turlough, so low ground can be wet after rain. Stay on the paths if water covers it.
- Dogs: Follow the signs on site and keep dogs under control.
Nearby
Loughnaneane makes an easy first stop before the rest of Roscommon. Castlecoote House, a restored house among mature gardens, is a short drive west, and the River Suck gives you walking and fishing along the Suck Valley Way. Further out, Boyle Abbey has well-preserved Cistercian ruins beside the River Boyle, and Lough Key Forest Park near Boyle has woodland trails and lakeside walks.