Castlecoote facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Castlecoote
Bhaile Mhic Oireachtaigh
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Village
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Castlecoote house
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| Country | Ireland |
| Province | Connacht |
| County | County Roscommon |
| Named for | Coote Family |
| Time zone | WET |
| • Summer (DST) | IST (WEST) |
Castlecoote (also known as Irish: Bhaile Mhic Oireachtaigh) is a small village in County Roscommon, Ireland. It's located near the town of Roscommon on the R366 road. Castlecoote is famous for its beautiful Castlecoote House. It also has the interesting ruins of a very old castle. The River Suck flows around Castlecoote House. This river is a great spot for fishing, especially for trout.
Discovering Castlecoote's Past
The name Castlecoote comes from 'Coote'. It means 'Coote's Castle'. A person named Sir Charles Coote lived here. He was an important leader during a big conflict in 1641. Castlecoote has always been a village mostly focused on farming.
The Story of Castlecoote House
The current Castlecoote House was built on the spot of an even older castle. This first castle was likely built between 1570 and 1616. It was in a very important location. People think it was once the home of the MacGeraghty clan, who were local leaders.
In 1616, Sir Charles Coote owned the castle. He made it stronger and better. During the 1640s, the castle was attacked three times by forces from Confederate Ireland.
The house you see today was built later. It stands inside the walls of the old, ruined castle. In the basement, you can still see musket chambers. These were small rooms where soldiers could fire guns to protect the entrance.
In the 1700s, the Gunning family owned the property. Two sisters from this family were very famous for their beauty. Later, in the 1900s, a well-known horse rider named Henry D. Strevens lived there. The current owner bought the house in 1997 and has worked hard to make it beautiful again.
Fun Facts and Things to Do
Castlecoote is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Elphin. It has its own church in the village. You can also find a few pubs nearby. There's also the Castlecoote stores and an old stone mill that is no longer used. The village won a gold medal in the 2019 Tidy Towns competition. This shows how well the community looks after their village!
