The Táin Bó Cúailnge or the Cattle Raid of Cooley, is the story of a cattle raid reputed to have taken place during winter sometime about the time of Christ. It is a story of Queen Medb, fearless warriors, kings and prize bulls. The epic story started and finished in Rathcroghan, one of the Royal Sites of Ireland.
The Táin March Festival was established in 2011 as a community walking festival to celebrate and promote the epic tale of Táin Bó Cúailnge. The Táin March Festival 2023 reaches Co. Roscommon on Friday 7th & Saturday 8th July with FREE events in Roscommon, Rathcroghan & Tulsk.
Friday 7th July events take place in Rathcroghan Visitor Centre, Tulsk from 9.15am until 4.30pm with the ‘Táin March 2023 Drawing Competition’, a children’s artwork exhibition.
Later that evening, why not come down to Rathcroghan Visitor Centre to hear the stories of Queen Medb, Cúchulainn and An Táin Bó Cuailnge – The Cattle Raid of Cooley- our national epic tale – re-told in all their glory at 7.30pm. Free but places are limited so booking is required by email on info@rathcroghan.ie.
Saturday 8th July events start at 2pm in the Square, Roscommon Town with a performance of Meet the Táin March and Queen Medb’s Army for a performance of a new short play based on a story from the Cattle Raid of Cooley.
Events continue at 5pm in Rathcroghan: Meet the Táin March and Queen Medb’s army at Rathcroghan car park, for another short performance based on a story from the Cattle Raid of Cooley epic tale.
Don’t forget to pop in to Áras an Chontae in Roscommon to view the fantastic ‘Threading the Táin’ fibre artwork which depicts Queen Medb starting out from Rathcroghan on the Táin Bó Cúailnge.
The Táin March Festival, including delivery of an annual associated schools programme, is funded by the Roscommon County Council Creative Ireland Programme 2023, as an action of the Co. Roscommon Heritage Plan. For more information, see https://tainmarch.ie/ or follow #TáinMarch on social media.
