County Roscommon

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County Roscommon
Contae Ros Comáin
Coat of arms of County Roscommon
Location
centerMap highlighting County Roscommon
Statistics
Province: Connacht
County seat: Roscommon
Code: RN
Area: 2,547 km² (983 sq mi)
Population (2006) 58,700

County Roscommon (Irish: Contae Ros Comáin) is a county located in central Ireland. Area: 2,547 square kilometres (983 sq mi). Roscommon is in the province of Connacht. It is the only county in Connacht that does not have a sea shore.

Roscommon is also the name of the county town. Athlone, on the River Shannon, which lies partly in Roscommon and partly in County Westmeath (in the neighbouring province of Leinster), is considered to be Ireland's most central town. Tulsk is the nearest village to the mythological site of Rath Cruachán, home of Queen Medb (Maebh, Maeve) and the Morrigan, which was the starting point for an epic tale in Irish Literature of the Táin Bó Cúailgne, or Cattle Raid of Cooley, famously translated by Thomas Kinsella. Roscommon has much to interest those interested in Irish heritage or history.

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

Contents

[edit] Twinning

County Roscommon is twinned with Tucson, Arizona, USA [1] and with Castle Point, Essex, England since April 1998.[1]

[edit] Towns and Villages

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Twinning