Launch of new sculpture in County Roscommon
Crúachain or Rathcroghan, the traditional royal seat of Connaught.
As part of National Heritage Week, on Thursday, August 20th, Rathcroghan Visitor Centre will host an event, coinciding with storytelling and the launch of Finnbennach Bull Sculpture from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m..
This original sculpture, funded through Roscommon LEADER Partnership, was made by Longford artist, Liam Kavanagh and will serve as a landmark sculpture for Tulsk and Roscommon. It will celebrate the early Irish stories which inspired its creation, as well as the countless generations.
The bull, made of stainless steel, represents the monstrous Finnbennach, the White Bull of Connacht, who was the property of Ailill Mac Máta, the husband of the Warrior Queen Medb (Maeve) of Connacht, whose home is at Rathcroghan.
It is from here that she assembles the armies of Ireland to go across to Cooley, County Louth, to kidnap the only equal to the Finnbennach on the island, the Donn Cuailnge, the Brown Bull of Cooley.
The local community are warmly invited to attend this event which celebrates the launch of a unique landmark, hear the origin story of the two bulls, how they caused war across Iron Age Ireland and how they met their ultimate end!
