Roscommon

County Roscommon Contae Ros Comáin
Motto: Constans Hiberniae Cor  (Latin) "Steadfast Irish heart"
Location
Statistics
Province:	Connacht
County seat:	Roscommon
Code:	RN
Area:	2,547 km2 (983 sq mi)
Population (2006)	58,700

Lough Key

County Roscommon (Irish: Contae Ros Comáin) is one of the traditional counties of Ireland and is located within the province of Connacht. It was named after the town of Roscommon. The county covers an area of 2,547 square kilometres (983 sq mi).

Roscommon is the 11th largest of Ireland’s 32 counties in area, the fifth least populous county in Ireland and has the second least population density after Leitrim^[1]. It's the third largest of Connacht’s 5 counties in size and fourth largest in terms of population. In 2008 it was revealed that statistically, Roscommon has the longest life expectancy of any county on the island of Ireland. [1]

Lough Key in north Roscommon is noted for having thirty-two islands. This is, coincidentally, the number of counties on the island of Ireland.

Twinning

County Roscommon is twinned with Tucson, Arizona, USA [2] and with Castle Point, Essex, England since April 1998.^[2]

Notable residents

• Baron de Freyne

• Douglas Hyde (1860-1949), was an Irish scholar of the Irish language who served as the first President of Ireland from 1938 to 1945. He founded the Gaelic League, one of the most influential cultural organisations in Ireland. Hyde is buried in The Hyde Museum, Frenchpark, Roscommon.

• Percy French (1854–1920), was one of Ireland's foremost songwriters and entertainers in his day. In more recent times, he has become recognised for his watercolour paintings as well.

• Chris O'Dowd (born 1980), an Irish actor born in Boyle, County Roscommon. Best known for starring in Channel 4's comedy The IT Crowd.

Towns and Villages

• Arigna, Athleague, Athlone
• Ballaghaderreen, Ballintober, Ballinlough, Bellanagare, Bellanamullia, Boyle, Ballyfarnan, Ballyforan
• Cloonfad, Castlerea, Castleplunket, Croghan, Cortober
• Drum
• Elphin
• Frenchpark
• Keadue, Knockvicar, Knockcroghery
• Lecarrow
• Rahara, Roscommon, Roosky
• Strokestown
• Tarmonbarry, Tulsk

History

Roscommon comes from the Irish 'Ros' meaning a wooded, gentle height and 'Coman', 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 (Maebh, Maeve). This was the starting point of the Táin Bó Cúailgne, or Cattle Raid of Cooley, an epic tale in Irish mythology.

Dr Douglas Hyde (first Irish president) was born in County Roscommon and the GAA park in County Roscommon is named after him - Hyde Park. Strokestown Park House and Famine Museum is an award-winning museum for its portrayal of the great Irish Famine. ^[9]

Notes

1. ^ Corry, Eoghan (2005). The GAA Book of Lists. Hodder Headline Ireland. pp. 186-191. 
2. ^ Twinning
3. ^ For 1653 and 1659 figures from Civil Survey Census of those years, Paper of Mr Hardinge to Royal Irish Academy March 14 1865.
4. ^ Census for post 1821 figures.
5. ^ http://www.histpop.org
6. ^ http://www.nisranew.nisra.gov.uk/census
7. ^ Lee, JJ (1981). "On the accuracy of the Pre-famine Irish censuses". in Goldstrom, J. M.; Clarkson, L. A.. Irish Population, Economy, and Society: Essays in Honour of the Late K. H. Connell. Oxford, England: Clarendon Press. 
8. ^ Mokyr, Joel; O Grada, Cormac (November), "New Developments in Irish Population History, 1700-1850", The Economic History Review Volume 37 (Issue 4): pp. 473-488, doi:10.1111/j.1468-0289.1984.tb00344.x, http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/120035880/abstract 
9. ^ Roscommon Links Roscommonlinks.com Accessed 11 November, 2008

See also

• List of abbeys and priories in Ireland (County Roscommon)
• Counties of Ireland

External links

• Official site - County Council
• Tourism Information
• Tulsk Visitor Centre
• Map of Roscommon
• Roscommon publications, documents & ephemera site

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Coordinates: 53°45′N 8°15′W / 53.75°N 8.25°W / 53.75; -8.25