Roscommon, Wentworth Dillon, 4th earl of, 1633?-1685, English poet and scholar, b. Ireland. He was one of the first to praise Milton's genius. Besides making a blank-verse translation (1680) of Horace's Ars poetica, he wrote an Essay on Translated Verse (1684).

Roscommon, county (1991 pop. 51,876), 951 sq mi (2,463 sq km), central Republic of Ireland. The county seat is Roscommon. A part of the central plain of Ireland, the region is low-lying and contains many lakes (Lough Allen and Lough Ree) and bogs. The Shannon, which forms the eastern border, and the Suck, which borders the county on the west, are the principal rivers. The economy is primarily dependent on agriculture; cattle and sheep are also raised. Industries and trade have developed. Several coal mines are operated in the northeast.

Roscommon, town (1991 pop. 3,427), county seat of Roscommon, central Republic of Ireland. Noted for its Dominican priory and the remains of a castle, both dating from the 13th cent., Roscommon is a tourist center and market town. Industries include the manufacture of textile machinery, plastics, castings, and leather goods.

Roscommon (Ros Comáin) is the county seat of County Roscommon in Ireland.

History

The name Roscommon is derived from Saint Coman, who built a monastery there in the fifth century. The woods near the monastery became known as Saint Coman's Wood, or Ros Comáin in Irish. This was later anglicised to Roscommon.

This attractive and busy market town once had a hangwoman called Lady Betty, as well as a Dominican Friary, founded in 1253 by Felim O'Connor, King of Connacht (see abbeys and priories in Ireland). Roscommon Castle, built in 1269, is an Anglo-Norman fortress. Roscommon is situated 145 km (90 mi) west of Dublin and 75 km (47 mi) east of Galway and 32 km (20 mi) west of Athlone.

Amenities

Roscommon Golf Club was founded in 1904, the course, set in parklands filled with mature sycamore, beech, whitethorn trees and ash trees, was extended to eighteen holes in 1996 and now measures 6,390 metres (6,900 yards). Dr Douglas Hyde park Roscommon with a capacity of 30,000 is an important GAA venue in Ireland and is home to the county footballers and Roscommon Gaels club. A horse racing course is situated approximately 1.6 km (1 mi) from the town centre, the track itself is an oblong right-handed track 2 km (1.25 mi) in length, the course has stabling for up to 95 horses. Roscommon has a leisure centre which opened early 2002 and has a 25m deck level pool with a learner swimming pool and spectator gallery and fully equipped gymnasium, situated next to the swimming pool is St Comans handball club established in 1930 which has produced many All-Ireland winning handballers. Moate park approximately 1.6 km (1 mi) from the town centre is a woodland area covering several miles and is popular with walkers.

Transport

Roscommon railway station opened on 13 February 1860. Roscommon is situated near the major road networks in Ireland. Bus Eireann runs regular bus services to other major towns which can be taken from Roscommon square.

See also

• List of towns in the Republic of Ireland
• Market Houses in the Republic of Ireland
• Lord Roscommon

External links

• Roscommon - Catholic Encyclopedia article
• Roscommon Bands

References