County Roscommon is located in the centre west of Ireland. To the west lie Galway and Mayo whilst Leitrim and Sligo are to the north,with counties Longford and Westmeath to the east. Roscommon is one of the five counties in the province of Connacht and is the only county in Connacht that does not have a sea shore. The fact that the county is used as a thoroughfare for tourists travelling further to the west coast has diminished the attraction of the many wonderful sights and amenities that the county possesses in abundance. The county is certainly worthy of a stop and explore mission on any trip to the west or north-west of the country
Roscommon is also the name of the county town. Athlone on the River Shannon, which lies partly in Roscommon and partly in County Westmeath (and is also in the neighbouring province of Leinster), is considered to be Ireland's most central town and would be considered the shopping town of Roscommon, rather than the capital town. Tulsk is the nearest village to the mythological site of Rath Cruachán, home of Queen Medb and the Morrigan, which was the starting point for an epic tale of the Táin Bó Cúailgne, or Cattle Raid of Cooley (see our Legends Section). Roscommon is a pleasant market town. Roscommon Castle, built in 1269, is an Anglo-Norman fortress of formidable bearing.
Lough Key Forest Park is the main tourist and leisure amenity area in County Roscommon. Located in then north of the county, near Boyle, the lake is noted for having thirty-two islands, the number of counties on the island of Ireland. There are many activities based around the lake including camping, ring forts, cruising, fishing, a bog-garden, an old ice-house, picnic grounds and a fully-serviced caravan and camping site. Herds of deer wander through the park. Sailing, windsurfing and fishing complement the magnificent Lough Key Forest that surrounds the lake and through which there are many walking and hiking trails. Golf is available at a number of courses close enough to make Lough Key a base for your holiday. Boyle is a small intimate town located at the foot of the beautiful Curlew Mountains which sweep down to Lough Key and the popular fishing lakes of Lough Arrow and Lough Gara are also close by.
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.
The river Shannon is a considerable influence on the geography and demographics of County Roscommon, none more so than at the village of Rooskey , which is a lovely village, situated on the upper part of the broad, majestic Shannon. And it has the unusual distinction of being the meeting place of three counties - Leitrim, Roscommon and Longford. Rooskey is therefore an excellent base for drivers wishing to explore the sights of the three different regions. Strokestown has the distinction of having the widest street in Ireland, but the attraction that must be seen is Strokestown House, which is a celebrated museum to the Famine years in Ireland or the “Great Hunger”.
Roscommon County has a cross section of three and four star hotel accommodation as well as many B&B’s. The easy going nature of the people is a pleasure to find compared to the rushed and stressed demeanor of people one encounters in larger cities and towns. In Roscommon, manana is okay!
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