New Book on Rathcroghan!

"Rathcroghan: Archaeological and geophysical survey in a Ritual Landscape"
by John Waddell, Joseph Fenwick, and Kevin Barton.
Published by Wordwell Ltd, Ireland. 2009. (ISBN 9 781905 569311)

Rathcroghan (Crúachain) is often referred to as both a 'Celtic' Royal Settlement and a sacred burial place; it is one of several major royal sites in ancient Ireland, such as Tara, Co. Meath, Knockaulin, Co. Kildare, and Navan Fort near Armagh, that are frequently mentioned in early literature. While these sites had special importance in early historic times, and in some cases bore and extraordinary weight of myth and legend, we now know that they are older archaeological assemblages of impressive complexity and size.

This book is the result of a major programme of archaeological field research at Rathcroghan in County roscommon in the West of Ireland. The project involved the use of a range of geophysical techniques to explore a number of extraordinary monuments in the Royal Site.

Professor John Waddell, Opening Speech at the Launch of Rathcroghan Book

The book was launched on 22nd July in the Cruachan Ai Heritage Centre, in conjunction with NUI Galway and Roscommon County Council, to an excellent turn out. Speeches by the authors, Kieran O'Conor of NUIG, and the County Manager Mr. Frank Dawson, proclaimed this site to be Roscommon richest Resource, and equally the equivalent in status and importance of Tara, due to preservation levels and longevity of occupation. Signed copies are available to purchase in the Cruachan Ai Craft & Book Shop, or can be purchased directly from the publishers, Please Click This Link to Go to the Wordwell Website