Our starting point is of course Gleeson's Townhouse and Restaurant right in the centre of town. it also serves as the last point on any of the Trails so ensure you have this marked as a Favourite allowing you to be guided back here with ease.
Eamonn is always keen to hear how you got on and how we might be able to improve this innovative service. Let him know your feedback (if you manage to catch him). (less) Our starting point is of course Gleeson's Townhouse and Restaurant right in the centr...(more)
We start you off on this trail with a little bit about how the mountain, such as it is, came to be. This is a three minute piece so if you should be traveling by car, pull over safely and enjoy its full glory before moving on. (less) We start you off on this trail with a little bit about how the mountain, such as it i...(more)
Lat: 53.637069 Lon: -8.170481
3. SBT: Turn left/old Shannon path
After the long drive on the N63 Lanesborough Road, we are turning left towards Sliabh Ban onto the L1425. Be careful, you are now on country roads!
On our audio piece, we tell of how you would be currently driving along the bank of the Shannon several centuries ago and of that you are not too far from Waterloo. (less) After the long drive on the N63 Lanesborough Road, we are turning left towards Sliabh...(more)
Lat: 53.652943 Lon: -8.109369
4. SBT: Kilderry crossroads
This can be a busy enough crossroads so please stop and go straight on only when the road is clear. (less) This can be a busy enough crossroads so please stop and go straight on only when the ...(more)
Lat: 53.708888 Lon: -8.097503
5. SBT: Turn right/Otherworld
As you turn right and begin your climb to the mountain, we tell you of the Otherworld.
The Otherworld (orbis alia) in Celtic mythology is postulated (but not known) to be the realm of the dead, the home of the deities, or the stronghold of other spirits and beings such as the Sídhe. A place only visible once a year at Samhain or Hallowe'en. Tales and folklore describe it as existing over the western sea, or at other times underground (such as in the Sídhe mounds) or right alongside the world of the living, but invisible to most humans.
Believe it or not, you are only a few miles from the Gateway to the Otherworld. On our Top 100 Guide, we feature Rathcroaghan Visitor's Centre in Tulsk. One of the features of the place is the Cave of Cats or Oweynagat asouth-west of Rathcroghan Mound It is a souterrain beneath an old road leading into a dark, narrow limestone cave. This cave was believed to be a gateway to the otherworld with many creatures emerging that generally caused havoc across the country. The name Oweynagat means "cave of the cats", which could refer to the large wild cats which the Ulster champions must fight in the tale of "Bricrius Feast".
The entrance is small and you need to crawl to enter but once inside, the cave opens up to become a huge high space. Cats do not appear in the stories associated with the Cave of the Cats, strangely it has lots of association with cows! Apparently, the Morrigan drove her cows through the cave. Another story tells us that a woman travelled for many miles underground because she held on to the tail of a calf that entered the cave…
An 18th century text tells us that the cave is the "Hell-mouth of Ireland". It is not visited much today, but it is still freely accessible to the brave. Just don't go inside the cave near the feast of Samhain - you have been warned! (less) As you turn right and begin your climb to the mountain, we tell you of the Otherworld...(more)
Lat: 53.730372 Lon: -8.094585
6. SBT Turn right/getting lost
In front of you is the car park which is where you will be returning to after your looped walk. The golden rule after you take a right here is that you will be turning LEFT until such time as you come back to the car park via the road to the left of it (the exceptions being if you wish to go to the Holy Cross or Ruined Church). We also thought it only fair to set out some of the lore of getting lost in these parts and what to do if it should happen! (less) In front of you is the car park which is where you will be returning to after your lo...(more)
Lat: 53.731451 Lon: -8.072548
7. SBT Strange happenings
As you start your ascent, we start to tell you of some strange sight and sounds of the area relating to the 'good people' or fairies. (less) As you start your ascent, we start to tell you of some strange sight and sounds of th...(more)
Lat: 53.723834 Lon: -8.075294
8. SBT Kings and famines
In our audio piece, we explain what exactly Sliabh Ban means and no, it does not mean White Mountain! On a more sombre note, we hear how the Great Famine of the 1840s that devastated the country had its origins around Sliabh Ban. (less) In our audio piece, we explain what exactly Sliabh Ban means and no, it does not mean...(more)
Lat: 53.716622 Lon: -8.076668
9. SBT The Banshee
Upon taking a left, we tell you about one of the more famous residents of the area, the dreaded banshee... (less) Upon taking a left, we tell you about one of the more famous residents of the area, t...(more)
Lat: 53.71327 Lon: -8.070381
10. SBT Black cats
You will be turning left at this T-junction. Black cats are commonly associated with fairies, being a more expedient method of getting around. Hear more about this global phenomenon on our audio piece. (less) You will be turning left at this T-junction. Black cats are commonly associated with ...(more)
Lat: 53.714654 Lon: -8.06684
11. SBT: Turn left/forestry
Eamonn tells us why the mountain is festooned with coniferous trees. (less) Eamonn tells us why the mountain is festooned with coniferous trees.
Lat: 53.724761 Lon: -8.067377
12 and 14. SBT Cross Turn
This is one of the few right turns you will be taking in order to get to the summit and the Holy Cross. When you return you will be turning right again to begin the descent. (less) This is one of the few right turns you will be taking in order to get to the summit a...(more)
Lat: 53.726881 Lon: -8.07013
13 SBT: Holy Cross summit
This is as high as it gets in Roscommon! Apparently you can see 14 counties from Sliabh Ban. On the audio piece, Eamonn lets off steam about the nearby telecommunications tower! (less) This is as high as it gets in Roscommon! Apparently you can see 14 counties from Slia...(more)
Lat: 53.728831 Lon: -8.06715
15. SBT Tale
In our audio piece, we explain how a swan flying over your head is not a good thing in these parts. (less) In our audio piece, we explain how a swan flying over your head is not a good thing i...(more)
Lat: 53.728176 Lon: -8.070188
16. SBT: Ancient games
It may not look like the ideal venue for games, but in days of yore, the mountain was the place where the Taitlin games took place. (less) It may not look like the ideal venue for games, but in days of yore, the mountain was...(more)
Lat: 53.731768 Lon: -8.062613
17. SBT: Crossroads
At the crossroads, you can go right to get to the ruined church. Once done, you will be descending the mountain by following the sign for the car park. (less) At the crossroads, you can go right to get to the ruined church. Once done, you will ...(more)
Lat: 53.734599 Lon: -8.06154
18. SBT: OPTIONAL Ruined church
The path to the ruined church is for walking only - no bikes and really, don;t even think about bringing a vehicle down there!
The story we have for you on the audio relates to a nearby church in Kilgavin and is a real beauty! (less) The path to the ruined church is for walking only - no bikes and really, don;t even t...(more)
Lat: 53.728658 Lon: -8.054996
19 SBT: View of Connacht
As you descend the mountain, you'll be looking out over the province of Connacht where Queen Maeve once reigned supreme. No trip to these parts would be complete without a visit to her ancient seat in Tulsk at the Rathcroaghan Centre and the telling of the Brown Bull of Cooley. You'll never look at Athlone the same way again! (less) As you descend the mountain, you'll be looking out over the province of Connacht wher...(more)
Lat: 53.733917 Lon: -8.067503
20. SBT: Luke Gibbon's pub
After all that excitement, you will deserve nothing more than a few creamy pints in Luke Gibbon's famous bar, complete with pot bellied stove. This is where we recorded our material and with any luck, you too will meet a few locals with plenty of tales to tell. Unless of course you are still stuck at the side of the mountain...lost... (less) After all that excitement, you will deserve nothing more than a few creamy pints in L...(more)
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