County Roscommon
Encyclopedia
County Roscommon is a county
in Ireland
. It is located in the West Region
and is also part of the province
of Connacht
. It is named after the town of Roscommon
. Roscommon County Council
is the local authority
for the county. The population of the county is 63,896 according to the 2011 census.
. It is the third largest of Connacht’s five counties by size and fourth largest in terms of population. The county borders every other Connacht county (Galway
, Mayo
, Sligo and Leitrim). In 2008, a news report said that statistically, Roscommon has the longest life expectancy of any county on the island of Ireland. Lough Key
in north Roscommon is noted for having thirty-two islands. The Geographical centre of Ireland
is located in the county.
Roscommon comes from the Irish Ros meaning a wooded, gentle height and Comán, the name of the county's famous saint and the first bishop of the see. Rathcroghan was home to the Kings of Connacht and then to the High Kings of Ireland.
Tulsk is the nearest village to the mythological site of Rath Cruachán, home of Queen
Medb
(Méadhbh, Maeve). This was the starting point of the Táin Bó Cúailnge
, or Cattle Raid of Cooley, an epic tale in Irish mythology
. Rathcroghan has been nominated for UNESCO World Heritage Site
status in 2010, as part of the Royal Sites of Ireland group, with Tara
.
Dr Douglas Hyde, the first Irish president, was born in County Roscommon and the GAA park in County Roscommon is named Hyde Park in his honor. Strokestown Park House and Famine Museum is an award-winning museum for its portrayal of the great Irish Famine.
John O'Donovan (1809-61), historian and scholar, visited County Roscommon in 1837. He was compiling information for the ordnance survey. Entering St. Peter's parish in Athlone in June, 1837, he wrote 'I have now entered upon a region totally different from longford, and am very much pleased with the intelligence of the people'. But he had major problems with place-names. He later wrote, 'I am sick to death's door of lochawns, and it pains me to the very soul to have to make these remarks, but what can I do when I cannot make the usual progress? Here I am stuck in the mud in the middle of Loughs, Turlaghs, Lahaghs and Curraghs, the names of many of which are only known to a few old men in their immediate neighbourhood and I cannot give many of them utterance from the manner in which they are spelled'.
:
.
For general elections, Roscommon forms part of the three seat Roscommon-South Leitrim constituency.
Nationalism and the Irish party: provincial Ireland 1910 - 1916 (New York, 2005), p. 36> Wheatley was referring to the fact that Fitzgibbon was a member of the CDB in Castlerea when the transaction took place. Fitzgibbon started his working life in his father's drapery business in Castlerea <'These were the county's first prime ministers', (Roscommon Herald centenary supplement 1859 - 1959)> Seen as a spokesman for the tenant, Fitzgibbon exercised his powers of persuasion and oratory at meetings across Roscommon. His political life spanned 30 years, from the land war to the ranch war. He was also involved in the Gaelic League, the temperance movement and the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction (DATI). In 1910, he became MP for South Mayo. He served on the Castlerea board of guardians and was a member (later chairman, 1901), of Roscommon County Council.
, Arizona
, United States
Castle Point
, Essex
, United Kingdom
Counties of Ireland
The counties of Ireland are sub-national divisions used for the purposes of geographic demarcation and local government. Closely related to the county is the County corporate which covered towns or cities which were deemed to be important enough to be independent from their counties. A county...
in Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. It is located in the West Region
West Region, Ireland
The West Region is a NUTS Level III region of Ireland and is governed by the West Regional Authority. It consists of the area under the jurisdiction of the county councils of counties Galway, Mayo and Roscommon, along with Galway City Council. The West region spans 13,801 km², 20% of the total area...
and is also part of the province
Provinces of Ireland
Ireland has historically been divided into four provinces: Leinster, Ulster, Munster and Connacht. The Irish word for this territorial division, cúige, literally meaning "fifth part", indicates that there were once five; the fifth province, Meath, was incorporated into Leinster, with parts going to...
of Connacht
Connacht
Connacht , formerly anglicised as Connaught, is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the west of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for...
. It is named after the town of Roscommon
Roscommon
Roscommon is the county town of County Roscommon in Ireland. Its population at the 2006 census stood at 5,017 . The town is located near the junctions of the N60, N61 and N63 roads.-History:...
. Roscommon County Council
Roscommon County Council
Roscommon County Council is the local authority which is responsible for County Roscommon in Ireland. The Council is responsible for Housing and Community, Roads and Transportation, Urban planning and Development, Amenity and Culture, and Environment. The head of the council has the title of...
is the local authority
Local government in the Republic of Ireland
Local government functions in the Republic of Ireland are mostly exercised by thirty-four local authorities, termed county or city councils, which cover the entire territory of the state. The area under the jurisdiction of each of these authorities corresponds to the area of each of the 34 LAU I...
for the county. The population of the county is 63,896 according to the 2011 census.
Geography and political subdivisions
Roscommon is the 11th largest of the 32 counties of Ireland by area and the fifth least-populous county in Ireland. It has the second least population density after LeitrimCounty Leitrim
County Leitrim is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the village of Leitrim. Leitrim County Council is the local authority for the county...
. It is the third largest of Connacht’s five counties by size and fourth largest in terms of population. The county borders every other Connacht county (Galway
County Galway
County Galway is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the city of Galway. Galway County Council is the local authority for the county. There are several strongly Irish-speaking areas in the west of the county...
, Mayo
County Mayo
County Mayo is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the village of Mayo, which is now generally known as Mayo Abbey. Mayo County Council is the local authority for the county. The population of the county is 130,552...
, Sligo and Leitrim). In 2008, a news report said that statistically, Roscommon has the longest life expectancy of any county on the island of Ireland. Lough Key
Lough Key
Lough Key is a lake in Ireland. It is located in the northwest of County Roscommon, northeast of the town of Boyle. The lough's name is believed to come from Cé, a druid; the lake was formed over his grave.-Derivation of name:...
in north Roscommon is noted for having thirty-two islands. The Geographical centre of Ireland
Geographical centre of Ireland
The geographical centre of Ireland is where the 8° Meridian West meets the 53°30' North Latitude in the townland of Carnagh East, County Roscommon on the western shore of Lough Ree, opposite the Cribby Islands and 8.85 kilometres NNW of Athlone Town....
is located in the county.
Towns and villages
- ArignaArignaArigna is a village in County Roscommon, Ireland. It is near Lough Allen , on a designated "scenic route" between Keadue and Sliabh an Iarainn .-Arigna coal mine:...
- Athleague
- Athlone
- BallaghaderreenBallaghaderreenBallaghaderreen is a town in County Roscommon. It is located on the N5 National primary road. The town has become a bottleneck on the N5 route in recent years and the opening of the Charlestown bypass down the road has exacerbated the problem...
- BallintoberBallintober, County RoscommonBallintober is a village in County Roscommon, Ireland.Ballintober, County Roscommon, is 6 kilometers from the town of Castlerea. It contains a reasonably well preserved remains of a stone castle first mentioned in writing in 1311...
- BallinloughBallinlough, County RoscommonBallinlough is a small town in County Roscommon, Ireland. The N60 national secondary road passes through it. The town is between Ballyhaunis and Castlerea on the Roscommon to Castlebar road....
- BellanagareBellanagareBellanagare is a village in County Roscommon, Ireland. The N5 national primary road passes through it , though a by-pass is planned. The village is located between Tulsk and Frenchpark on the Dublin to Castlebar/Westport road.-O'Conor Don:...
- BellanamulliaBellanamulliaBellanamullia is a village in County Roscommon, Ireland. It lies from the centre of Athlone just beyond the urban fringe, on the R362 regional road.The Meehambee Dolmen, a Megalithic tomb is located about one kilometre south of the village....
- BoyleBoyle, County RoscommonBoyle is a town in County Roscommon, Ireland. It is located at the foot of the Curlew Mountains near Lough Key in the north of the county. Carrowkeel Megalithic Cemetery, the Drumanone Dolmen and the popular fishing lakes of Lough Arrow and Lough Gara are also close by...
- Ballyfarnon
- BallyforanBallyforanBallyforan is a village in south County Roscommon, Ireland on the R363 road between Ballygar and Dysart, County Roscommon. It lies beside the River Suck which separates County Roscommon and County Galway...
- BallyleagueLanesborough-BallyleagueLanesborough and Ballyleague is a town composed of two villages in the midlands of Ireland. Lanesborough is on the County Longford side and Ballyleague on the County Roscommon side of the River Shannon...
- CloonfadCloonfadCloonfad is a village in County Roscommon, Ireland. It is located at the crossroads of the N83 National secondary road and the R327 regional road.Cloonfad is located around 10 km from the town of Ballyhaunis in Co. Mayo....
- CastlereaCastlereaCastlerea is located in the west of County Roscommon, Ireland. It is the second largest town in the county with a population of 3,055 . Roughly translated from Irish, Castlerea can mean Brindled Castle or King's Castle...
- CastleplunketCastleplunketCastleplunket, historically Lislaghna , is a hamlet in County Roscommon, Ireland. It is situated at the junction of the R377 and R367 roads.-See also:* List of towns and villages in Ireland...
- CroghanCroghan, County RoscommonCroghan , is a townland in the County Roscommon, Ireland.Famous People Associated With The AreaSt Remix of Croghan...
- CortoberCortoberCortober . Cortober is a townland in the counties of Roscommon and Leitrim Carrick-on-Shannon and is divided between the River Shannon. At the north-eastern extremity of the Parish...
- DrumDrum, County RoscommonDrum is a village in south County Roscommon about 5 km west of Athlone. In the area north of the village there is located the Meehambee Dolmen, a portal tomb estimated to be 5,500 years old. In the village there are a number of historical and religious sites, including Drum Cemetery, St....
- ElphinElphin, County RoscommonElphin, sometimes spelt Elfin , is a village in north County Roscommon, Ireland. It forms the southern tip of a triangle with Boyle and Carrick-on-Shannon to the north west and north east respectively. It is at the junction of the R368 and R369 regional roads...
- FrenchparkFrenchparkFrenchpark, historically known as Dungar , is a village in County Roscommon, Ireland on the N5 national primary road. It was the home of Douglas Hyde, the first President of Ireland....
- KeadueKeadueKeadue, officially Keadew , is a village in County Roscommon, Ireland. It is on the R284 and R285 regional roads close to the borders of County Leitrim and County Sligo....
- KnockvicarKnockvicarKnockvicar is a village in County Roscommon, Ireland. It is located on the R285 regional road, between Boyle and Carrick-on-Shannon near Lough Key Forest Park in the north of the county....
- KnockcrogheryKnockcrogheryKnockcroghery is a rural village in County Roscommon, Ireland. It is located on the N61 road between Athlone and Roscommon town, near Lough Ree on the River Shannon.-Name:...
- LecarrowLecarrowLecarrow is a village in County Roscommon, Ireland. Situated 17 kilometers north-west of the town of Athlone on the N61 route between Athlone and Roscommon town. A navigable canal connects it to Lough Ree, the second-largest lake on the River Shannon. Many of its residents commute to Athlone and...
- LoughglynnLoughglynnLoughglynn, officially spelled Loughglinn , is a village in County Roscommon, Ireland. It is named after the lake to the north of the village.- Features :...
- RaharaRaharaRahara is a village in County Roscommon, Ireland. It lies on the R362 regional road, between Athlone and Athleague about north of the village of Curraghboy.- Sport :...
- RoscommonRoscommonRoscommon is the county town of County Roscommon in Ireland. Its population at the 2006 census stood at 5,017 . The town is located near the junctions of the N60, N61 and N63 roads.-History:...
- RooskyRooskyRoosky or Rooskey is a village on the River Shannon in County Roscommon, Ireland in the northern midlands of Ireland, near the point where counties Leitrim, Longford, and Roscommon meet. The N4 road from Dublin to Sligo passes by the Leitrim side of the village.- History :Roosky has had a...
- StrokestownStrokestownStrokestown, historically called Bellanamullia and Bellanamully , is a town in County Roscommon, Ireland. It is located at the junction of the N5 National primary route and the R368 regional road in the north of the county....
- TarmonbarryTarmonbarryTarmonbarry, officially Termonbarry , is a village in County Roscommon, Ireland. It is located where the N5 National primary route crosses the River Shannon. East of the bridge part of the village lies in County Longford. The 2002 Census stated that the village had less than 100 people. The 2006...
- Tulsk
History
Tulsk is the nearest village to the mythological site of Rath Cruachán, home of Queen
Queen regnant
A queen regnant is a female monarch who reigns in her own right, in contrast to a queen consort, who is the wife of a reigning king. An empress regnant is a female monarch who reigns in her own right over an empire....
Medb
Medb
Medb – Middle Irish: Meḋḃ, Meaḋḃ; early modern Irish: Meadhbh ; reformed modern Irish Méabh, Medbh; sometimes Anglicised Maeve, Maev or Maive – is queen of Connacht in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology...
(Méadhbh, Maeve). This was the starting point of the Táin Bó Cúailnge
Táin Bó Cúailnge
is a legendary tale from early Irish literature, often considered an epic, although it is written primarily in prose rather than verse. It tells of a war against Ulster by the Connacht queen Medb and her husband Ailill, who intend to steal the stud bull Donn Cuailnge, opposed only by the teenage...
, or Cattle Raid of Cooley, an epic tale in Irish mythology
Irish mythology
The mythology of pre-Christian Ireland did not entirely survive the conversion to Christianity, but much of it was preserved, shorn of its religious meanings, in medieval Irish literature, which represents the most extensive and best preserved of all the branch and the Historical Cycle. There are...
. Rathcroghan has been nominated for UNESCO World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
status in 2010, as part of the Royal Sites of Ireland group, with Tara
Hill of Tara
The Hill of Tara , located near the River Boyne, is an archaeological complex that runs between Navan and Dunshaughlin in County Meath, Leinster, Ireland...
.
Dr Douglas Hyde, the first Irish president, was born in County Roscommon and the GAA park in County Roscommon is named Hyde Park in his honor. Strokestown Park House and Famine Museum is an award-winning museum for its portrayal of the great Irish Famine.
John O'Donovan (1809-61), historian and scholar, visited County Roscommon in 1837. He was compiling information for the ordnance survey. Entering St. Peter's parish in Athlone in June, 1837, he wrote 'I have now entered upon a region totally different from longford, and am very much pleased with the intelligence of the people'. But he had major problems with place-names. He later wrote, 'I am sick to death's door of lochawns, and it pains me to the very soul to have to make these remarks, but what can I do when I cannot make the usual progress? Here I am stuck in the mud in the middle of Loughs, Turlaghs, Lahaghs and Curraghs, the names of many of which are only known to a few old men in their immediate neighbourhood and I cannot give many of them utterance from the manner in which they are spelled'.
Annals of Ireland
From The Annals of the Four MastersAnnals of the Four Masters
The Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland or the Annals of the Four Masters are a chronicle of medieval Irish history...
:
- M1556.1. Gilla-Columb O'Clabby, Coarb of St. Patrick at Uaran-Maighe-Aoi, head of the hospitality and affluence of the Coarbs of Connaught, general entertainer of the indigent and the mighty, died in Clanrickard, after having been banished from Uaran, and after his son, Dermot Roe O'Clabby, had been slain by the Clann-Conway.
Government and Politics
Roscommon is governed locally by the 26 member Roscommon County CouncilRoscommon County Council
Roscommon County Council is the local authority which is responsible for County Roscommon in Ireland. The Council is responsible for Housing and Community, Roads and Transportation, Urban planning and Development, Amenity and Culture, and Environment. The head of the council has the title of...
.
For general elections, Roscommon forms part of the three seat Roscommon-South Leitrim constituency.
People
John Fitzgibbon (1845-1919) Michael Wheatley wrote of Fitzgibbon: 'He himself sold land to the Congested Districts Board (CDB), oblivious to what a later age would call 'conflict of interest'.'- Baron de FreyneBaron de FreyneBaron de Freyne is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom.-Two baronies:Baron de Freyne, of Coolavin in the County of Sligo, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created 1851 for Arthur French, 1st Baron de Freyne, with remainder to his younger brothers John, Charles and...
- Douglas HydeDouglas HydeDouglas Hyde , known as An Craoibhín Aoibhinn , was an Irish scholar of the Irish language who served as the first President of Ireland from 1938 to 1945...
(1860–1949) - an Irish scholar of the Irish language who served as the first President of IrelandPresident of IrelandThe President of Ireland is the head of state of Ireland. The President is usually directly elected by the people for seven years, and can be elected for a maximum of two terms. The presidency is largely a ceremonial office, but the President does exercise certain limited powers with absolute...
from 1938 to 1945. He founded the Gaelic LeagueConradh na GaeilgeConradh na Gaeilge is a non-governmental organisation that promotes the Irish language in Ireland and abroad. The motto of the League is Sinn Féin, Sinn Féin amháin .-Origins:...
, one of the most influential cultural organisations in Ireland. Hyde is buried in the Hyde Museum, FrenchparkFrenchparkFrenchpark, historically known as Dungar , is a village in County Roscommon, Ireland on the N5 national primary road. It was the home of Douglas Hyde, the first President of Ireland....
, Roscommon. - Percy French (1854–1920) - one of Ireland's foremost songwriters and entertainers. He has also become recognised for his watercolour paintings.
- Chris O'DowdChris O'DowdChris O'Dowd is an Irish comedian and actor. He is best known for playing Roy Trenneman in British sitcom The IT Crowd...
(born 1980) - an Irish actor born in BoyleBoyle, County RoscommonBoyle is a town in County Roscommon, Ireland. It is located at the foot of the Curlew Mountains near Lough Key in the north of the county. Carrowkeel Megalithic Cemetery, the Drumanone Dolmen and the popular fishing lakes of Lough Arrow and Lough Gara are also close by...
, County Roscommon. Best known for starring in Channel 4Channel 4Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
's comedy The IT CrowdThe IT CrowdThe IT Crowd is a British sitcom by Channel 4, written by Graham Linehan, produced by Ash Atalla and starring Chris O'Dowd, Richard Ayoade, Katherine Parkinson and Matt Berry...
. - Maureen O'SullivanMaureen O'SullivanMaureen Paula O’Sullivan was an Irish actress.-Early life:O'Sullivan was born in Boyle, County Roscommon, Ireland, the daughter of Roman Catholic parents Mary Lovatt and Charles Joseph O'Sullivan, an officer in The Connaught Rangers who served in The Great War...
, Ireland's first International Star was born in Boyle, County Roscommon. - Ashling Harte, County Roscommons first female Mayor.
Twinning
County Roscommon is twinned with the following places: TucsonTucson, Arizona
Tucson is a city in and the county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States. The city is located 118 miles southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The 2010 United States Census puts the city's population at 520,116 with a metropolitan area population at 1,020,200...
, Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Castle Point
Castle Point
Castle Point is a local government district and borough in south Essex. The borough comprises the towns of Canvey Island, Hadleigh, South Benfleet, and Thundersley which also provides the site of the council headquarters.-History:...
, Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
See also
- List of abbeys and priories in Ireland (County Roscommon)
- Counties of IrelandCounties of IrelandThe counties of Ireland are sub-national divisions used for the purposes of geographic demarcation and local government. Closely related to the county is the County corporate which covered towns or cities which were deemed to be important enough to be independent from their counties. A county...
- Lord Lieutenant of RoscommonLord Lieutenant of RoscommonThis is a list of people who served as Lord Lieutenant of County Roscommon.The office was created on 23 August 1831.* Robert King, 1st Viscount Lorton 7 October 1831 – 20 November 1854* Arthur French, 1st Baron de Freyne 18 December 1854 – 29 September 1856...
- High Sheriff of RoscommonHigh Sheriff of RoscommonThe High Sheriff of Roscommon was the British Crown’s judicial representative in County Roscommon, Ireland from 1575 until 1922, when the office was abolished in the new Free State and replaced by the office of Roscommon County Sheriff. The sheriff had judicial, electoral, ceremonial and...
- Earl of RoscommonEarl of RoscommonEarl of Roscommon was a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created on 5 August 1622 for James Dillon, 1st Baron Dillon. He had already been created Baron Dillon on 24 January 1619, also in the Peerage of Ireland. The fourth Earl was a courtier, poet and critic. The titles became dormant on the...
