February 2011 Events in Roscommon

PLEASE NOTE, THIS IS THE 2011 POSTING!
For this year, please see January & February Events 2013

Brigid’s Cross Making Workshop – Tuesday 1st Feb in Cruachan Aí Centre, 4pm – 5. Family friendly activity! Cost is €4 per person, includes materials, Family ticket just €10.

Story of the Cross - A pagan chieftain from the neighbourhood of Kildare was dying. Christians in his household sent for Brigid to talk to him about Christ. When she arrived, the chieftain was raving. As it was impossible to instruct this delirious man, hopes for his conversion seemed doubtful. Brigid sat down at his bedside and began consoling him. As was customary, the dirt floor was strewn with rushes both for warmth and cleanliness. Brigid stooped down and started to weave them into a cross, fastening the points together. The sick man asked what she was doing. She began to explain the cross, and as she talked, his delirium quieted and he questioned her with growing interest. Through her weaving, he converted and was baptized at the point of death. Since then, the cross of rushes has been venerated in Ireland.

Imbolg Candlelight Procession on Rathcroghan – Tuesday 1st Feb, meet at Rathcroghan Car Park, 7pm - 8. Family friendly activity! No charge.

Connect to Ireland's ancient past - Walk where your ancestors walked, honouring the anceint Springtime festival of lights.

St. Brigid, and the Celtic Goddess Brighid, Talk and Presentation with Bernadette D’Alton – Wednesday 2nd February, 8pm – 9.30. Cost is €4 per person, includes free tea/coffee.

Part of the Adult Education Programme 2011

Coffee Morning in Aid of National Rehabilitation Centre, Dun Laoghaire, in Coffee@Keoghs – Saturday 5th Feb, starts 10.30am. For further info please call Katherine 086 1733914

If you know of someone who has benefitted from the excellent services of the National Rehabilitation Hospital, please support this worthy event.


Valentine’s Card Making Workshop – Saturday 12th Feb in Cruachan Aí Centre, 2pm to 4. Cost is €8 per person, includes materials.

What better way to say "I Love You" than with a personalised, handmade Valentine's Card?




Traditional Skills Weekend Workshop – Dry Stone Walls Technique and Practice, with local craftsman Andy Rimmer. Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th February, meet at Cruachan Aí Centre. Cost is €75 per day (discounts available, please enquire at Cruachan Aí)

Cruachan Aí Heritage Centre in Tulsk, Co. Roscommon, has organized a series of workshops which take care of the local landscape and farming community, while offering participants a true connection to Irish heritage, and learning of traditional crafts and skills.

First in the series is the Dry Stone Walls workshop, running from Friday 18th to Sunday 20th February. You can be collected from the local airport, bus or train station on Friday evening, accommodated in a self catering cottage in the Medieval village of Tulsk, and on Saturday and Sunday you learn how to build and repair stone walls in the traditional Irish way, under the expert tuition of a local master craftsman.

Why is it different from other traditional skills offerings? Because the workshop is put to sound practical use on a local level, preparing and building stone walls for local farmers, who may otherwise have chosen not to rejuvenate the heritage feature, so integrally iconic to the west of Ireland. Or worse – to replace with modern fencing.

Options to build your ideal weekend package (per person):
• Basic Tuition (Sat 19th and Sun 20th Feb) €75 per day. (30% discount if you book in January!)

• Collection from local bus, train or airport €15-€40, return trip
• Accommodation (self catering) from €25 per night
• Catering, 3 meals per day, €25 per day

As a bonus, participants and their families get to explore the legendary Rathcroghan, the seat of Royalty in the West of Ireland for nearly 2000 years. When you sign up for the weekend workshop, you can explore Irish history through the ages: walk the land of Celtic Warrior Queen Maeve, see where the great bulls fought their epic battle in the Cattle Raid of Cooley, follow the Druid’s quest for knowledge to the sacred triple spring of healing, stand where the gaelic kings stood to fight invading tyranny and receive their rightful crowns.

More information and feedback on the Facebook Events Listing


Introduction to Archaeology Talk & Presentation, with John Sinnott - Thursday 24th Feb in Cruachan Aí Centre, 8pm to 9.30. Cost is €4 per person, includes free tea/coffee.

Part of the Adult Education Programme 2011


REGULAR EVENTS

Every Tuesday Morning - Irish Conversation social meets in Coffee@Keoghs. 11am to 12.
Feb 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd

Every Thursday Morning - Cruachan Crafters in Cruachan Aí Centre, 10am to 12.
Feb 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th

Second Wednesday of every month – Writers Club in Cruachan Ai Centre, 10am to 12.
Feb 9th

Last Wednesday of every month – Irish Conversation social meets in Tulsk Inn, 7pm to 8.
Feb 23rd


Cruachan Aí Heritage Centre 071 9639268
Become a Fan on Facebook!
New Web Site and Online Shop

New Additions at Cruachan Ai!

Ducks on Bridge at Cruachan Ai Heritage Center, County Roscommon, Ireland

We have some friendly new additions to the Cruachan Ai team! These beautiful ducks have moved onto the Ogulla river where it flows through Tulsk Village. Bring the kids along to feed them, while you relaxe. You can have a chat, drink some fresh ground coffee or quality tea, browse the net using the free WiFi connection, or read a great book you can purchase from our well stocked Book & Craft shop!

Coffee Morning in Aid of Self Help Africa

In conjunction with the re-launch of the
Coffee House @ Cruachan Aí
in Tulsk, Co Roscommon

We are pleased to announce a Coffee Morning, in aid of SELF HELP AFRICA.

On Friday morning, 21st November, from 10am til 2pm, all coffee proceeds will go to the Self Help Africa fund raising campaign (www.selfhelpafrica.com) to contribute towards the county target of €35,000.

There will be reading from selected works of local writers and poets at 12 noon.

Free Internet Access in Tulsk!

Cruachan Aí Heritage Centre is an access point hotspot for your Wi-Fi compatible technology. Why not enjoy a delicious cup of gourmet coffee and a home-made cake, soup and a sandwich, or a freshly prepared full dinner, in O'Neills Café while you browse our broadband completely free?

FYI: What is a Wi-Fi Internet Hotspot?

A hotspot is a location where the general public can get connected to the internet at no cost. At a Wi-Fi hotspot you can use a laptop, WiFi phone, or other suitable portable device to access the Internet. Of the millions of laptops, PDAs, and other emerging Wi-Fi devices sold per year for the last few years, most now include the Wi-Fi feature built in.

Free to use hotspots can be found at restaurants, train stations, airports, libraries, coffee shops, bookshops, supermarkets and other public places. Many schools and colleges have wireless networks.

To find a hotspot point near you, visit http://www.wififreespot.com/ or just stop in to the centre as you pass by on your way up the N5 (Dublin, Longford, Westport road) or the N61 (Athlone, Roscommon, Sligo road).

About Us

In the heartland of Connaught, a forgotten landscape is being brought to light in the Cruachan Aí Heritage Centre. Cruachan is one of the most important and best preserved Celtic Royal Sites in Europe, and the medieval village of Tulsk, Co. Roscommon is the setting for this award winning centre.

An amazing array of archaeological remains are located within a four mile radius of the centre, dating from pre-Stone Age to the historic period, and these are interpreted in our bright, modern exhibition rooms.

The legendary Cruachan was a Royal Palace, home of Medb (Meave) "she who intoxicates", Warrior Queen and Sovereign Earth Goddess. Fierce and proud, she was responsible for launching the famed Cattle raid of Cooley, as recounted in one of the greatest works of early Irish literature, the Táin Bó Cuailnge.

Cruachan was also the inauguration site and burial place of the Kings of Connacht, and location of one of the three famous feiseanna of Ireland.

~ Contact ~
http://www.cruachanai.com/
Tel: 00353 (0)71 9639268
Email: cruachanai@esatclear.ie

~ Heritage Centre Opening Hours ~
Mondays - Saturdays: 09.00 - 17.00
Sundays & Bank Holidays: Variable

OPEN ALL WINTER TOO!

Those of you who are interested in Ireland's rich and diverse Heritage, Celtic Culture, Medieval Discovery, the O'Connor Clan, Geneaology, County Roscommon and the Province of Connaught/Connacht, Ireland's (and possibly one of Europe's) longest and oldest complete epic tale - the Táin Bó Cuailgne or Cattle Raid of Cooley, and the greatest Celtic Warrior Queen/Goddess of Sovereignty that ever lived, Medb (Maeve or Maedbh).

.:. Café on Site .:.

O'Neills Café is set in a delightful, bright area of the centre serving a wide variety of teas and coffees. Open daily from 10am, serving delicious soups, rolls, sandwiches, salads and breakfasts as well as full meals. A selection of freshly baked scones, cakes and pastries are also available. The café provides a perfect place in which to relax and watch the wild ducks glide along the Ogulla River.

~ Café Opening Hours ~
Mondays – Fridays 10.00 – 16.00
Saturdays – 10.00 – 14.00
Sundays & Bank Holidays - Variable

~ Conference Facilities ~

Ideally located on the N5, Dublin to Westport, National Road. Conference facilities are available for small to medium sized groups. A fully serviced reception and our dedicated team of staff are available especially to provide you with all the assistance you need to achieve the very best for your business or private event. The conference room can be set to your specific requirements.

Cruachan Aí Conference room is also suitable for training courses and enjoys a quiet location. An alternative room is available for group work. Rates are per hour, half day or full day. Larger receptions and launches can be accommodated in our permanent exhibition galleries and auditorium overlooking the river and own private terrace.

Excellent in house catering is available through the restaurant, which can provide beverages, an assortment of light refreshments, buffets and meals to suit the occasion.