Things to do

Ballaghaderreen Golf Course

Ballaghaderreen Golf Course is located in Aughalista approx. 5km outside of the town. Considered by many as a challenging 9 hole golf course. The Ballaghaderreen Golf Course was founded in 1936 but only found its home in Aughalista in the 1950s. Accuracy is essential here, not because of the bunkers but for the strategically placed trees. The trees play a major part in every hole along the course. The 18 hole course measures 5,339 metres and alternative tees on the 6 of the back 9 holes so there’s little chance to get complacent. There is a variety of membership fees in the golf course with outside of town members invited for green fees on the day or yearly memberships at a very reasonable fee.

Fishing lough Gara

Lough Gara is a small lake that lies to the south west of the Curlew Mountains in south Co. Sligo. While part of the lake reaches across the border into Co. Roscommon, it is mostly confined to Co. Sligo. The main inflowing river is the River Lung which flows around Ballaghaderreen. Roach was the most abundant fish species in Lough Gara, followed by roach x bream hybrids, perch, pike, bream, eels, brown trout, so a good opportunity awaits you to try your luck for different species of Fish.
Lung River is the main body of river that flows into Lough Gara. It also has a good bank for fishing out Aughalista road with a small car park available off road to get your fishing rods out.

Health Quarters Leisure Centre

Health Quarters Leisure Centre provides a swimming pool, gym, jacuzzi, steam room, sauna, changing rooms, showers, fitness studio, private swimming lessons, personal training, kids swimming lessons & small group training for the local community.

Bockagh hill walk

Bockagh Hill is located about 5km outside of Ballaghaderreen in the townland of Broher. It currently has no direct access point to get to the cross. It involves crossing up across the heather laden bogs which are very much untouched or visited by people. The cross was erected for the visit of Pope John Paul to Ireland and has stood proudly on the mountain top of 227m since. Bockagh Hill has 360 degrees panoramic views of the mountains which are in counties Mayo, Roscommon, Galway, Leitrim, Sligo, and Donegal. The Picturesque Bockagh hill would be considered a small climb taking 15 – 20 mins from road to the cross across the bog. It also sits along a newly popular loop walk which takes approx. 40 mins at a leisurely pace with limited parking at the bottom road. Bockagh Hill has views down upon Lough Gara and on a warm day you can see the crannogs in the distance. Bring your cameras/telescopes for a view of the mountain ranges of Mount Errigal, Croagh Patrick, Ox Mountains, and Knocknashee, Mweelrea, Nephin and many more across the skyline.

Ballaghaderreen community garden

Friends of the Fairgreen is a community garden and park, where the whole community can meet to grow vegetables and flowers, potter, walk, chat and relax. Take the Charlestown Road entrance into Duffy’s Supervalu and the garden is located on the right.

Ballaghaderreen Library

Ballaghaderreen Library is part of the Branches of Roscommon Library services. It is centrally located in the heart of the town, located in Dillon House for those who are coming outside of the town is the big building you see when entering into the town from the old Dublin Road. With new memberships available advancements are being made to improve the libraries ability to integrate new participants with different books/languages and technologies. Many other improvements such as the internet, and safe environments beyond a study space to bring in new younger members. Described by the Librarians in Roscommon the libraries are located in the heart of the town for all to enjoy just as in Ballaghaderreen drop in and enjoy all the new amenities or log in online for their new rental portal systems.

Ballaghaderreen Playground

Ballaghaderreen Playground is located on convent road just after the St. Attracta’s National School. The Playground has ample car parking space for parents to sit and wait for their young children playing. It has swings, slide, and spinney chairs which will keep the children happy for hours.

P Macs Kayaks

Offering tailor made kayak sessions, fun for all ages, adults and children (8years+) on the beautiful Lough Gara.
Text Padraig on 086 3547242
Email: padmac025@gmail.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/PmacsKayaks/
Island Road, Monasteraden, Co. Sligo, F45EE94

Ballaghaderreen Community Park

The community park is located off the convent road of Ballaghaderreen in a quiet peaceful place to come and relax or cheer on the locals sporting clubs. It is now home to Ballaghaderreen FC, The Ballaghaderreen Cricket ground, and has a 5 aside astro turf pitch available to rent through the park committee. It is equipped with a walking track around the 2 main pitches for all of the public to use. The community park has a large car parking space to meet the needs of a busy event.

Community Park Ballaghaderreen

Why not get fit in the community park? The park is open for all to use, there is a soccer pitch with a path around ideal for jogging backwards or forwards, star jumps, squats and a gentle or indeed a brisk walk. Feeling inspired? It is situated just off Convent Road after St. Attracta’s National School.

The Beara Breifne Way

Although the walk route is still under construction at the moment the cycle route is well sign posted and accessible.
It follows the legendary fourteen-day march taken by Dónal Cam O’Sullivan Beare and his one thousand supporters in 1603, and it visits many of the places and communities shaped by their story. The Way runs almost the length of the country and takes the walker and cyclist to some of its most beautiful and least explored areas in Ireland.
Journey along the coast of the Beara Peninsula, across six mountain ranges, along the banks of the River Shannon and through the lake regions of Roscommon and Leitrim as you travel the Beara Breifne-Way and collect the stamps to fill the Way’s ‘passport’. Stamps can be picked up in Durkins or the Fiddlers.
Learn more about Irelands longest hiking trail or order your passport at Bearabreifneway.ie
You can find out more on the information board on the square.
Follow the cycle signs such an this one on Pound Street.

Ramble in the plots

The ‘Plots’ are a commonage where locals once grew their vegetables in separate vegetable plots. Now a few lush pathways remain along with a charming old well. It is a lovely area for a little stroll, the plots can be accessed by various backways behind the Fiddlers pub for example or near the bottle bank off Barrack Street.

Traditional Music

Enjoy a lively session with weekly ‘Trad Sessions’ in Spells pub on 3 Pound Street. See an example below:
Facebook @SpellsBar
Call 0949860144

Jiving

The Brusna is renowned for its social dancing. People come from a far to enjoy the music and partake in dancing.

Call 0949860124
Eircode F45HT28

Douglas Hyde Interpretive Centre

Douglas Hyde was first President of Ireland and co-founder of Conradh Na Gaeilge (the Gaelic League). The interpretive exhibition and information centre is dedicated to this remarkable man. Dr. Hyde’s contribution to modern Ireland is highlighted in the exhibition by the use of informative charts, maps and photographs. Through audio-visual material you can capture the spirit of his dream and celebrate the achievements of one life dedicated to one vision. The Interpretive Centre is located at Portahard Church which is the burial place of Douglas Hyde. It is a five minute drive from Ballaghaderreen. For more information on the centre and opening times contact:
Deirdre O’Gara
Tel: +353 (0)87 7823751
Email: dogara@roscommoncoco.ie