ROSCOMMON

In 1868, the parish of Roscommon contained the following places:

"ROSCOMMON, a parish, post and market town, and county town of county Roscommon, province of Connaught, Ireland. The parish extends over an area of 7,289 acres of highly cultivated and fertile soil. The town is situated on the road from Dublin to Sligo, 87 miles W. of Dublin, 18 S.E. of Castlerea, and 12 S. of Strokestown. It is built on the side of a gentle acclivity, and consists of one principal street, with several subordinate thoroughfares. The public buildings, including the court-house, county gaol, and infirmary, surround an open space at the extremity of the main street, in which are several excellent shops and good hotels. The principal trade of the town is in grain, and has improved greatly since the opening of the Royal canal navigation, and the Great Northern and Western railway, on which latter it has a station. It is the capital of the county of its name, and was formerly a parliamentary borough, sending two members to parliament before the Union. General sessions are held twice a year, and petty sessions weekly. It was first chartered as a corporate town in the reign of Edward I., and confirmed by James I. and II. The government of the town is now entrusted to a body of commissioners. It contains a police station, revenue and military barracks, and branch bank of the National Bank of Ireland. It gives name to a Poor-law Union, and contains the union workhouse. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Elphin, value with others £203, in the patronage of the bishop. The Roman Catholic chapel is at the head of a union. This chapel was formerly the court-house of the town, but was purchased by the Roman Catholics, and received the addition of a belfry. There are a Wesleyan meeting-house, and four public, besides several private schools. The principal residences are Carrowroe and Hazelbrook. There is an excellent county infirmary containing fifty beds, adjoining which are a fever hospital and a dispensary. This place is thought to have derived its name from an abbey which was founded here by St. Colman in a fenny spot, near the site of the modern town. In the northern part of the town are ruins of Roscommon Castle, founded in 1268 by Sir Robert de Ufford. In 1642 the English held this fortress with stubborn tenacity, but were at length compelled to surrender. Here are also ruins of a friary founded by MacCashel in the 13th century, and containing the tomb of Croovedearg O'Connor, King of Connaught. Saturday is market day. Fairs are held on 1st March, Whit-Monday, 1st September, and 5th December."

[Transcribed from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland 1868]
by Colin Hinson ©2018