Visiting Carrowbehy / Caher Bog (and Gorthaganny)

The Bog Walk and the Golden Mile along the old Carrowbehy Bog Road are some of the finest examples of a community coming together to make more of their historic local bog. In 2020, The Living Bog resurfaced this roads ahead of it linking to a new purpose built boardwalk across the site which will link it to a former Turfcutters Walk and then, the beautiful village of Gothaganny.

We aim to contribute to a lovely walking loop and visitors to the bog will get to experience all aspects of the ‘bog story’ – from cutover where turf was extracted to a restored high bog, full of active living bog and rare flora and fauna.

Gorthaganny Community Hall features visitor information and interpretive panels about the bog. Be sure to visit! Events including guided bog walks are planned once the Covid-19 situation in Ireland changes.

Thanks to the Gorthaganny Community Development Company the bog walk is a most pleasant walk that takes you deep into the bog, and along the way you can marvel at the wonderful selection of wildlife, habitats and wildflowers that grow in our beautiful bogs. As they community group ask on their signs: “How many can you see in this area?”. The answer is many…

Gorthaganny is a small village in West Roscommon, just 2km from the border with County Mayo. It is situated on the R293, roughly half-way between the towns. The Community Development Group maintain an excellent FACEBOOK page here and their website is also worth a look .

The Bog Walk was made possible by the Community Development Company in association with Roscommon County Council, the County Roscommon Heritage Plan and County Roscommon Biodiversity Plan, The Heritage Council, Tidy Towns, Roscommon Integrated Development Company, FAS, the former Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and Notice Nature in 2010, the International Year of Biodiversity. It had an immediate impact locally and is popular to this day. In 2011 it came in for praise by the Tidy Towns judges.

The Bog Walk can be done on its own, or as part of one of seven walking trails around Gorthaganny. When our boardwalk is installed in 2021 it will be a huge asset to these walking routes, creating an all-encompassing walk.

Walking trail map here
The area surrounding the bog is a hidden treasure in terms of amenities and attractions. It is worth exploring the walking trails around Gorthaganny. The starting point is outside the national school where the walking map is located. All points of interest are marked on the map like the Dermot Earley memorial, St. Mary’s Church, Errit Lake and Carrowbehy / Caher Bog. Explore all seven trails or choose the distance that suits you!

Lake Errit **(KEEP GREEN LINKS FROM HERE ON??) in Gorthaganny is the perfect place to go to take part in a variety of activities. You can relax along its peaceful shores, take some time out to fish, or for the more adventurous learn how to kayak!

Gorthaganny is home to the legendary Roscommon footballer Dermot Earley. A memorial was unveiled in his honor in August 2011. In the words of Martin Walshe ”It is a fitting tribute to our Hero Dermot, a great leader, an outstanding sportsman and a true gentleman.”

Lieutenant-General Dermot Earley DSM was also an Irish army officer. He played Gaelic football with his local clubs Michael Glavey’s and Sarsfield’s and was a member of the Roscommon senior inter-county team from 1965 until 1985. Earley is regarded as one of the greatest players never to have won an All-Ireland Senior Football Championship.

After your walks, why not call in for a drink to the Coney Island Bar, a small local pub with a great atmosphere and plenty of events all year round. Check out its facebook page Coney Island Bar

You can also visit Eddie Joe’s Open Farm in Carracastle, Ballaghaderreen. They offer guided tours of a traditional Irish farm and bog. Other attractions include:

Dillon House
Ballaghaderreen Cathedral
Old Military Barracks/St. Nathy’s School
Meet You Here Coffee House and Art Gallery
Woodlands of Loughglynn
Douglas Hyde Interpretative Centre
Coleman Irish Music Centre
The Four Altars
Clogher Stone Fort
St.Attracta’s Holy Well
Moygara Castle
Carrowntemple Burial Slabs
Kilmovee
Ogham Stone-Kilmovee
Kilcashel
Urlaur Abbey
Cruachan Aí/Rathcroghan
Roscommon Castle
For more information on Gorthaganny, check out Gorthaganny Development

You can email northwestroscommoncdp@yahoo.ie or phone: 094-9862565