County Roscommon

County Roscommon
Contae Ros Comáin

map
Basic data
Country:	Ireland
Administrative headquarters:	Roscommon
Province:	Connacht
Irish name:	Ros Comáin
Surface:	2548 km²
Residents:	64,436 (2016)
License Plate:	RN

Roscommon ( Irish Ros Comáin ) is a county ( county ) in the Republic of Ireland .

Coat of arms and flag of County Roscommon

geography

Roscommon is an inland county that lies between the Rivers Shannon to the east and Suck to the west. The county is rich in water and has many rivers, lakes and moors.

history

In the Middle Ages the area belonged to the Connacht Kingdom . In 1235 the area fell to England after it was conquered by Richard de Burgh , but was hardly populated by the English.

politics

The distribution of seats in the county council after the local elections on May 23, 2014:

Political party	Seats
Fianna Fáil	8th
Fine Gael	3
Sinn Féin	1
Non-party	6th

economy

Coal was mined in Arigna until 1990; since 2003 the first Irish coal mining museum has been located there.

Cities

• Athlone
• Ballaghaderreen
• Boyle
• Castlerea
• Roscommon
• Strokestown

Attractions

• Boyle Abbey
• Castlestrange stone
• Drumanone
• Rathcroghan , archaeological site
• Rindoon Castle, ruined castle on the west bank of Lough Ree
• Passage Tomb by Skregg
• Wedge Tomb by Usna

Personalities

• Oliver Goldsmith (1728–1774), writer and doctor
• James Wills (1790–1868), poet, author and biographer
• John G. Downey (1827-1894), 7th Governor of California
• Douglas Hyde (1860–1949), poet, scholar and first President of Ireland
• Edward Flanagan (1886–1948), Catholic priest and founder of Boys Town
• Albert Reynolds (1932–2014), politician and former Taoiseach
• Denis Naughten (* 1973), politician and Teachta Dála

• For other personalities see Boyle and Castlerea .

Web links

• www.westirland.com

Individual evidence

1. ↑ “Arigna Mining Experience - Arigna Coal Mine” (English)

Coordinates: 53 ° 44 ′  N , 8 ° 14 ′  W