Tulsk.

The village of Tulsk is situated in the centre of Co. Roscommon where the national primary route N5 Roscommon to Boyle road intersects the N61 Dublin to Castlebar/Westport Road.

An awe-inspiring collection of archaeological remains are found within a four-mile radius of Tulsk village; the finds of which date back to the Stone Age. Many archaeological excavations have been undertaken in this area, with the site of Cruachán – the ‘Prehistoric Capital of Connaught’ –reputed to be the largest and best preserved Celtic Royal Sites in all of Europe. Cruachán is said to be the legendary home of Queen Medb, the Earth Goddess and Warrior Queen as well as a site for the inauguration of kings. The central focus is Rathcroghan Mound, now established as a ceremonial centre associated with pre-Christian (Pagan) ritual. Archaeologists from the Discovery Program, led by Dr. Niall Brady, began excavating the site of Tulsk Fort in 2004 with the final season of excavation to bottom-out the medieval horizons planned for 2009.

Tulsk River runs through the centre of the village on its journey from Ogulla Well to Lough na Pholla. Ogulla Well, according to Legend, was the baptismal site of Saints Eithne & Fidelma by Saint Patrick, during his visit to Connacht in 432 AD. Nearby, is the famous Tulsk Abbey, a Dominican House founded in 1448 on land granted by Phelim Mac Dowell (see below).

(Photographs: © Melissa Keigher 2009)

"Ogulla Well" by Conon Kennedy (right). A fictional account, based on fact,

of the conversion by St. Patrick of the Princesses Eithne & Fidelma.

Photographs (left) taken in Tulsk Abbey Graveyard in May 2009 by Melissa Keigher. Melissa's Great-Grandparents are buried in the cemetery. © Copyright M. Keigher 2009.

     Cruachán & Cruachán Aí Centre. Books, Documents & General Ephemera.

     Rathcroghan Postcards.

     Tulsk Billheads

                                          Tulsk Books. Documents & General Ephemera

     Tulsk GAA Club.

     Tulsk Memorials - a database of memorials provided by Melissa Keigher.           Tulsk history booklets.

                                          Tulsk Postcards.  

The following information is an excerpt on Tulsk Abbey from Coleman & O’Heyne’s “The Ancient Dominican Foundations in Ireland”:

The abbey was founded in 1448 by Phelim Mac Dowell. The following interesting particulars regarding the foundation are from the Annals of Ireland, as translated by Mac Firbis : " 1448 ..." Brian [O'Conor] went alive, so wounded, the same night to Balintobair and died the next day, and was buried in the fryers' monastery, in Roscommon, and Felim [O'Conor] remained that night in Kilculy and died in the same house, the next day, after extreame unction and penance in a fryer's habit, and he chose to be buried in the fryers' house at Tulsky, to whom he granted a quarter of land the same yeare, to build a monastery therein; and it was after his burial, the monastery was consecrated to the glory of God and the honour of St. Dominick and to Diarmoid McMaeltuly. And also Felim aforesaid bestowed and left a great rick of corn, as help to the Fryers to begin that worke."

In 1595, the abbey of Tulsk was "newly repaired " by Sir Richard Bingham. 1596, Sept. 2. Lease to William Taaffe, of Sligo, gent., of ... friaries of Twylskye and Clonshanmoyle, Co. Roscommon.  Fiants. Eliz. 1608, May 6. Grant from the King to Wm. Brounkar, esq.,  . in Tuilske, 4 a. and 30 a. arable and bog, belonging to Tuilske friary. Cal. Doc. Ire. (1606-8), p. 69.

The Dominicans do not appear to have made any attempt to live in Tulsk after the suppression of the monasteries, except that the general chapter, held at Rome in 1694, enjoins the Provincial to institute a prior for this convent.
 

(Thanks to Melissa Keigher: 2009).

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