County Roscommon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
County Roscommon
Contae Ros Comáin
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| Motto(s):
Latin: Constans Hiberniae Cor
"Steadfast Irish heart" |
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| Country | Ireland | |
| Province | Connacht | |
| Region | Northern and Western | |
| Established | c. 1569 | |
| County town | Roscommon | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 2,548 km2 (984 sq mi) | |
| Area rank | 11th | |
| Highest elevation | 428 m (1,404 ft) | |
| Population
(2022)
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| • Total | 70,259 | |
| • Rank | 26th | |
| • Density | 27.574/km2 (71.417/sq mi) | |
| Time zone | UTC±0 (WET) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+1 (IST) | |
| Eircode routing keys |
F42, F45, F52 (primarily)
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| Telephone area codes | 071, 090 (primarily) | |
| Vehicle index mark code |
RN | |
County Roscommon (called Contae Ros Comáin in Irish) is a county in the Republic of Ireland. It is part of the Connacht province and the Northern and Western Region. It is the 11th largest county in Ireland by area. It is also the 26th most populated county.
The main town and largest town is Roscommon. The local government for the county is the Roscommon County Council. In 2022, about 70,000 people lived in County Roscommon.
Contents
What's in a Name? The Meaning of Roscommon
County Roscommon gets its name from its main town, Roscommon. The name Roscommon comes from two Irish words. Ros means a gentle, wooded hill. Comán refers to Saint Comán, who was the first abbot and bishop of Roscommon. He started the first monastery there in 550 AD.
Exploring the Geography of County Roscommon
County Roscommon covers an area of 2,548 square kilometers. Lough Key in the north of the county is famous for its 32 islands. The very center of Ireland is found on the western shore of Lough Ree, in the south of the county.
Roscommon is the third largest of Connacht's five counties. However, it has the second smallest population in Connacht. It is the 11th largest county in Ireland but ranks 26th in population. This makes it one of the least crowded counties. Roscommon shares borders with all other Connacht counties: Galway, Mayo, Sligo, and Leitrim. It also borders three counties in the Leinster province: Longford, Westmeath, and Offaly.
The highest point in County Roscommon is Seltannasaggart. It is 428 meters (1,404 feet) tall. This peak is located along the northern border with County Leitrim.
Biggest Towns by Population
Here are the largest towns in County Roscommon, based on the 2016 census:
- Roscommon with 5,876 people
- Boyle with 2,568 people
- Castlerea with 1,992 people
- Ballaghaderreen with 1,808 people
A Look Back: The History of Roscommon
Rathcroghan (Rath Cruachán in Irish) is a very old place near Tulsk. It is a complex of ancient sites. Long ago, it was the home of Queen Medb (also known as Maeve). She was a powerful queen and this was the seat of the Kings of Connacht. Later, it became the seat of the High Kings of Ireland.
Rathcroghan is also famous as the starting point of the Táin Bó Cúailnge. This is an epic tale from Irish mythology about a great cattle raid. The county also has ancient ringforts, which are circular forts from prehistoric times.
County Roscommon became an official administrative area in the Middle Ages. In 1585, during the time of the Tudors, its borders were set. The southwestern border was placed along the River Suck.
Medieval Art and Craftsmanship
In the 12th century, a special metal workshop was active in County Roscommon. This workshop created "well defined" and "original" fine metal art. Famous pieces like the Cross of Cong, the Aghadoe crosier, the Shrine of the Book of Dimma, and the Shrine of Manchan of Mohill were made there. These beautiful items show the amazing skill of the artists from Roscommon.
Mapping Roscommon: The Ordnance Survey
In 1837, a historian named John O'Donovan visited County Roscommon. He was collecting information for the Ordnance Survey, which was mapping Ireland. He found the people very smart and friendly. However, he had a tough time with the local place names. He wrote about how difficult it was to spell and pronounce many of the names of lakes and wet areas.
Fun Places to Visit in County Roscommon
There are many interesting places to visit in County Roscommon:
- Arigna Mining Experience: Learn about coal mining history.
- Boyle Abbey: Explore the ruins of an old monastery.
- Clonalis House: Visit a historic home with a rich past.
- Elphin Windmill: See a restored old windmill.
- Lough Key Forest Park: Enjoy nature, trails, and a tree canopy walk.
- McDermott's Castle: A castle on an island in Lough Key.
- National Famine Museum: Learn about the Great Famine in Ireland.
- Rathcroghan: Discover ancient archaeological sites.
- Roscommon County Museum: See local history exhibits.
- Strokestown Park: Visit a historic house and its gardens.
Getting Around: Rail Transport
You can travel by train to and from County Roscommon. There are railway stations in several towns:
- Boyle (on the Dublin–Sligo line)
- Carrick-on-Shannon (on the Dublin–Sligo line)
- Roscommon (on the Dublin–Westport line)
- Castlerea (on the Dublin-Westport line)
- Ballinasloe (on the Dublin-Galway line)
- Athlone (on the Dublin–Galway and Dublin–Westport lines)
Sports in Roscommon
Gaelic football is the most popular sport in Roscommon. The Roscommon team has won the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship twice, in 1943 and 1944. They also won the National Football League Division 1 in 1979. More recently, they won the Connacht Senior Football Championship 23 times, with their latest win in 2019.
In hurling, Roscommon's main title was the 2007 Nicky Rackard Cup. Soccer and rugby are also well-liked sports in the county.
Famous People from County Roscommon
Many notable people have come from County Roscommon:
- William Wilde (1815–1876): A famous surgeon and the father of the writer Oscar Wilde. He was born in Castlerea.
- John Gately Downey (1827–1894): He became the seventh governor of California.
- Percy French (1854–1920): A well-known songwriter, entertainer, and painter. He was born in Tulsk.
- Douglas Hyde (1860–1949): A scholar of the Irish language and the first President of Ireland (from 1938 to 1945). He helped start the Gaelic League. He was born in Castlerea.
- Edward Flanagan (1886–1948): A priest who founded Boys Town, an orphanage for boys.
- Maureen O'Sullivan (1911–1998): Ireland's first international movie star, born in Boyle.
- Albert Reynolds (1932–2014): He served as the Taoiseach (Prime Minister) of Ireland. He was born in Rooskey.
- Chris O'Dowd (born 1979): A popular actor and comedian, born in Boyle.
Images for kids
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The River Shannon running through Athlone town.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Roscommon (Irlanda) para niños
