Rathcroghan

Rathcroghan Cruachan Aí Ancient capital of Connacht
Archeological complex
Coordinates: 53°48′07″N 8°18′14″W / 53.80194°N 8.30389°W / 53.80194; -8.30389
Website	https://www.rathcroghan.ie/

Rathcroghan (Irish: Ráth Cruachan, meaning 'fort of Cruachan') is a complex of archaeological sites near Tulsk in County Roscommon, Ireland. It is identified as the site of Cruachan, the traditional capital of the Connachta, the prehistoric and early historic rulers of the western territory. The Rathcroghan Complex (Crúachan Aí) is an archaeological landscape with many references found in early Irish medieval manuscripts.

Located on the plains of Connacht (Mag nAí/Machaire Connacht), Rathcroghan is one of the six Royal sites of Ireland. The landscape extends over 6 square kilometres (2.3 sq mi) and consists of over 240 archaeological sites, 60 of which are protected national monuments.

The monuments range from the Neolithic (4000–2500 BC), the Bronze (2500–500 BC) and Iron Ages (500 BC–400 AD), to the medieval period. These monuments include burial mounds, ringforts and medieval field boundaries amongst others. The most prominent of these are the multi-period Rathcroghan Mound, the Oweynagat cave, the Mucklaghs (a set of linear earthworks), and the Carnfree medieval complex.

There are many historic references to Rathcroghan (Ráth Crúachan) recorded in early medieval manuscripts, including the 12th-century Lebor na hUidre. Rathcroghan is recorded as the location of one of the great fairs of Ireland, as well as being one of the island's three great heathen cemeteries. It is also the location for the beginning and end of the Táin Bó Cúailnge and the royal seat of Medb, a mythical queen of Connacht.

Rathcroghan is said to provide entrance to the Otherworld, described in the medieval period as "Ireland's Gate to Hell" (not to be confused with St Patrick's Purgatory), via Oweynagat (the Cave of the Cats).^[1] The cave has associations with the pagan festival of Samhain as well as being described as the dwelling of Morrígan, a mythical figure in early medieval Irish literature.