County Roscommon in the 1830s

ROSCOMMON (County of), an inland county of the province of CONNAUGHT, bounded on the north by the county of Leitrim, on the north-west by those of Mayo and Sligo, on the south-west and south by that of Galway, and on the east by the counties of Leitrim, Longford, Westmeath, and Kings (Offaly).

• It extends from 53016' to 5407' (N. Lat.), and from 70 50' to 8046' (W.Lon.) ; comprising an area, according to the Ordnance survey, of 609,405 statute acres, of which 453,555 are cultivated land, 131,063 are uncultivated mountain and bog, and 24,787 are under water.
• The population, in 1821, was 208,729 ; and in 1831, 249,613.

According to Ptolemy, this region was inhabited by the Auteri, who occupied also the present county of Galway. Among the native septs by whom it was afterwards occupied, the O'Conors enjoyed the supreme authority in the central districts, the Mac Dermots in the northern, and the O'Ceilys or O'Kellys in the southern.

After the arrival of the English in the country, Murrough, son of Roderic O'Conor, King of Ireland, during his father's absence, persuaded Milo de Cogan to undertake an expedition into Connaught, who having come to Roscommon was there joined by Murrough, and their united forces commenced a marauding campaign through the neighbouring districts.

• In 1204, this part of the island was ravaged by Wm. Bourke Fitz-Aldelm ;
• in 1216, Athlone castle was erected by King John; and
• in 1268 Robert de Ufford, Lord Justice, commenced that of Roscommon, which shortly afterwards fell into the hands of the natives.

The erection of the county into shire ground must have taken place at a very early period, as notices of the sheriffs of Roscommon and Connaught are found among the records of the reign of Edward I into which counties the portions of the province that acknowledged the English supremacy were divided. Roscommon was included in the grant of Connaught made by Henry III. to Richard de Burgo, or Bourke, with the exception of five cantreds reserved to the crown adjacent to the castle of Athlone; Edw. I., in the lastly year of his reign, granted to Thomas de Clare and Geoffry de Conobyll, the kings wastelands in Connaught, in the region of Roscommon.

• That the de Burgos held possessions here appears from Richard de Burgo assembling his forces at Roscommon, to oppose Edward Bruce when he was joined by Felim O'Conor and their united forces took their route by Athlone.
• The latter chieftain, however, having subsequently taken part with Bruce, encountered the Anglo-Normans at Athenry, on which occasion the power of the O'Conor sept received an irrecoverable shock.
• The possessions of the de Burgos became vested in the English crown through the marriage of the daughter and heir of William, the last Earl of Ulster of this name, with the Duke of Clarence; but the native septs appear to have resumed almost entire possession of Roscommon until the reign of Elizabeth.
• The O'Conors of Roscommon were divided into the families of O'Conor Ruadh or Roe, "the Red" and O'Conor Dhunne, or Don, "the dark or brown," from two rival chieftains thus distinguished by the colour of their hair, who were generally at war with one another; the chief seat of one was Ballynafad castle, and of the other that of Ballintobber.

In 1565, Connaught was subdivided according to its present arrangement by Sir Henry Sidney, Lord-Deputy, when the county acquired its present limits.

• The country of the Mac Dermots was named the barony of Boyle ;
• that of O'Conor Don forms the barony of Ballintobber;
• that of O'Conor Roe, the barony of Roscommon ; and
• that of the O'Kellys, the barony of Athlone and the half barony of Moycarnon.

The principal castles were those of Athlone, Roscommon, and St. John, the last of which was in ruins, all belonging to the Queen; and that of Ballintobber, belonging to O'Conor Don.

SURRENDER & REGRANT

Sir John Perrot, Lord-Deputy, compelled the native chiefs, in 1584, to resign their territories into the hands of the crown to execute indentures of submission and to receive re-grants, whereby their estates were to descend in future according to the rules of the common law of England.

• Both the septs of O'Conor firmly maintained their allegiance to Elizabeth; and O'Conor Don, who had been knighted by her, represented the new county in parliament in 1585.
• When the Earl of Stratford, in the reign of Chas. I., adopted the project of subverting the titles of all the proprietors of Connaught, he adduced legal objections against their indentures with Sir John Perrot, and against every grant and other document produced; and attending the Commissioners of plantation in person, he began with Roscommon in the execution of his plans.
• The commission was opened for this county; the kings title to the lands was produced, examined, and submitted to a jury composed of the principal inhabitants, who were told by the earl that his majesty's intention in establishing his title was to make them a rich and civil people, and participators in the glorious and excellent work of reformation which he had now undertaken; to these persuasive arguments he also joined threats, and thus induced the jury unhesitatingly to give a verdict in favour of the crown.
• The Deputy then published a proclamation, whereby all proprietors throughout the province were assured of easy composition, and of new and indefeasible grants.

In the war of 1641, Roscommon for some time took no part: but in the succeeding disturbances, its ancient families joined with the confederate Catholics, and obtained entire possession of the country, although they were twice defeated by Lord Ranelagh, President of Connaught.

• Accordingly, on the termination of the war, they were stripped of their possessions, which were divided among English and Scotch adventurers.
• At the Restoration, however, the family of O'Conor Don regained part of its property on the western side of the county, and has ever since kept possession of it: it is, therefore, the only family in this county which now enjoys the possessions held by it previously to the arrival of the English.

BARONIES, PARISHES & TOWNS

Roscommon is partly in the diocese of Clonfert, partly in that of Tuam, but chiefly in that of Elphin.

For purposes of civil jurisdiction, it is divided into the baronies of Athlone, Ballintobber (now Ballintober North and Ballintober South), Ballymoe, Boyle, Moycarnon, and Roscommon. It contains

• the corporate, market and assize-town of Roscommon ;
• the corporate and market-towns of Boyle and Tulsk;
• the market and post-towns of Castlerea (now Castlereagh), Elphin, Frenchpark and Strokestown (Bumlin);
• the post-towns of Athleague and Mount Talbot;
• nearly the whole of the important and flourishing market and post-town of Ballinasloe; and
• parts of the towns of Athlone, Jamestown, Lanesborough and Carrick-on-Shannon:
• the largest villages are Lough Glyn aka Loughlynn), Ruskey aka Rooskey (each of which has a penny post,) Knockcroghery, Tarmonbarry aka Termonbarry, and Castle Plunket.

GOVERNMENT

It sent eight members to the Irish parliament, two for time county at large, and two for each of the boroughs of Roscommon, Boyle, and Tulsk; but since the union, the two returned for the county are its only representatives. The elections take place at Roscommon. The constituency, as registered up to the beginning of time year 1837. consists of 405 freeholders of £50, 201 of £20, and 1287 of £10; 9 leaseholders of £20 and 96 of £10 ; making in the whole 1998 electors.

The county is included in the Connaught circuit; the assizes are held at Roscommon, where the court-house and county gaol are situated. There are also court-houses and bridewells at Athlone, Boyle, Castlerea and Strokestown.

• For the convenience of holding the general sessions of the peace, the county is divided into the districts of Athlone and Boyle, the former of which comprises the baronies of Athlone, Ballymoe, and Moycarnon and the parishes of Kilbride, Roscommon, Kilteevan, Kilgeffin, and Clontuskert; the latter comprises the remainder of the county. The sessions for the former are held at Athlone and Roscommon ; and for the latter at Boyle, Castlerea, and Strokestown.
• For the purpose of holding petty sessions, it is divided into the eighteen districts of Clogher, Belanagare, Croghan, French-park, Boyle, Roscommon, Athlone, Ballydangan, Tobberpatrick, Four-Mile-House, Rahara, Rooskey, Keadue, Ballintobber, Kilmore, Lanesborough, Elphin, and Mount-Talbot, with a small exempt district in the vicinity of Tulsk.

The local government is vested in the lieutenant, 10 deputy-lieutenants, and 90 other magistrates, together with the usual county officers, including three coroners. These are 54 constabulary stations, having in the whole a force of 1 stipendiary magistrate. 1 sub-inspector, 6 chief officers, 66 sub-constables, 250 men and 8 horses.

The total Amount of Grand Jury presentments for the year 1835 was £27,378. 6s. 5d., of which £1130, 13s. 2.50d., was for the roads, bridges, &c., of the county at large; £7058. 9s. 1.50d., for those of the baronies; £8575. 11s. 4.50d., for public buildings, charities, officers salaries and incidents; £5759. 11s. 1.50d., for the police; and £4854. 1s. 7d., for repayment of advances made by Government. The district lunatic asylum for the whole of the province of Connaught is at Ballinasloe.

The county infirmary is at Roscommon; and there are dispensaries at Athlone, Athleague, Ballagh, Boyle, Castlerea, Croghan, Elphin, French-park, Keadue, Lecarrow, Loughlin, Strokestown, and Tulsk, supported by Grand Jury presentments and private subscriptions in equal proportions.

In military arrangements the county is included in the western district, that part of Athlone within it being the headquarters of the district, which besides Roscommon extends over the counties of Leitrim, Mayo, Sligo, Galway (except the town of Mountshannon), Longford, Westmeath, and Kings county (Offaly), with the barony of Lower Ormond in the county of Tipperary, not including the town of Nenagh.

• The county contains three barrack stations ; two at Athlone for artillery and infantry, and one at Roscommon for infantry, affording, in the whole, accommodation for 30 officers and 521 men.

CO. ROSCOMMON TOPOGRAPHY

The county is of very irregular form, its length being nearly 60 English miles, whilst its greatest breadth does not exceed 35; southward it quickly contracts to ten, and northward it gradually declines to three, forming an important frontier to the whole of Connaught. Its general surface forms part of the vast limestone plain of the central parts of the island, with only four very striking elevations of surface. These are

• the mountains on the borders of Lough Allen, in its northern extremity;
• the Curlew mountains on its north-western confines, near Boyle ;
• the great ridge of Slievebawn extending through the baronies of Ballintobber and Roscommon, and
• Slieveaeluyn, near Ballinlough, in the west.

In the plain districts are considerable tracts of flat ground, through which the rivers wind a sluggish course, frequently overflowing their banks, and inundating the adjoining country. Some of the larger bogs also present flat surfaces of considerable extent, while others are diversified with all the inequalities of the hills upon which they are situated.

• Remarkably extensive tracts of flat alluvial land and of bogs occur along the courses of the rivers Shannon and Suck, forming detached portions of the Bog of Allen, the most worthy of notice being those situated near Athlone and Lanesborough, both of which are crossed by several ridges of limestone gravel.
• Along the Suck and along the Shannon south of Carrick, the shores in several parts are bold, and the cliffs occasionally overhang the water; but these, in general, are formed of compact masses of limestone gravel and indurated clay.

The highest mountains are

• those of Bracklieve and Slieve Curkagh, in the most northern extremity of the county, between which the river Arigna flows in a deep valley, over which the mountains rise upwards of 1000 feet with steep and rugged acclivities and broad perpendicular faces of rock.
• Next to these in height is the ridge of Slieve Bawn, which, from the shores of Lough Bodarrig on the river Shannon, extends nearly southward, from two to four miles distant from; that river, to the parallel of Lanesborough.
• On the east side, towards the Shannon, a gradual slope extends nearly from the crest of the ridge down to the edge of the flat bogs which stretch along the base, and up the sides of these acclivities cultivation is annually extending. The western side of the range is more broken, the pastures are naturally richer, and groves are scattered along the base. Amid the mountains forming the northern boundary of the county are numerous scenes of a very picturesque character.

RIVERS & LAKES

Some parts of the banks of the river Suck are also beautiful and the shores of some of the lakes are delightful, yet there is a great deficiency of wood throughout the county, although in the neighbourhood of some of the principal residences there are groves and plantations, showing by their luxuriant growth the capabilities of the soil for such productions.

The largest and most beautiful of the lakes wholly belonging to the county is Lough Kea (Lough Key), close to the town of Boyle, now more generally known by the name of Rockingham lake, from the seat of Lord Lorton on its southern shore.

• Several rivers from the south and west are tributary to it, but its principal supply proceeds from Lough Gara, on the borders of county Sligo, whence a rapid stream called the Boyle water enters the western extremity of the lake; it discharges itself by a narrow outlet, which soon expands into a series of lakes that take their common name from the town of Oakford in their neighbourhood, and discharge themselves into the River Shannon. The scenery throughout the whole of this chain of lakes is highly picturesque.
• To the north of Lough Kea are the smaller lakes of Lough Skean and Lough Meelagh, the latter very beautiful and both communicating with the Shannon by a common outlet.
• In the west of the county is Lough Aeluyn, and in its neighbourhood are Loughs Erritt and Glynn.
• In the central part, to the east of Elphin and Strokestown, are numerous small lakes, the waters of most of which find a passage to the Shannon; Lough Funcheon, in the barony of Athlone, is the only lake of any extent in the south.
• The eastern boundary of the county is bordered by several of the lakes formed by the river Shannon; Lough Gara already noticed, is on its western side between it and county Sligo. In winter the extent of water in the county is considerably increased by the turloughs or temporary lakes which usually disappear in summer, though they sometimes remain through the whole of that season, and occasionally even a second year. These turloughs, which vary considerably in extent during different years occupy low basins in the limestone districts, where assures in the rocks and swallow-holes occur and are apparently formed by these vents being stopped by the back waters from the subterraneous reservoirs with which they are connected. Such as have a grassy bottom when the waters retire in time, produce most luxuriant crops. Some are of considerable size; that of Mantua contains about 600 English acres ; and one near Lough Glynn is upwards of half a mile in length ; they are most numerous in the western and central parts of the county. The extent of surface occupied by water, in the baronies of Boyle and Roscommon; is much greater than in all the other divisions.

AGRICULTURE

The soil, though of great variety, may be divided into two remarkable portions, that based on the limestone of the plain districts, and that on the sandstone of the mountains and their vicinities, of which the former is by much the most fertile, forming the natural pasture land for which Roscommon has been so long celebrated, particularly the pasturages in the vicinity of Tulsk and Kilcorky and in the plains to the south-east of the town of Boyle. Extensive tracts of very light shallow soil are commonly devoted to sheep-feeding, more particularly along the ridges which separate the waters of the Suck and the Shannon, where the limestone rock is so sparingly covered, that the plough cannot be used. Rich deep loams are also met with in the limestone districts, and the dry mellow sandy lands between Elphin and Kingston are particularly noted for their fertility. Between the surface soil and the rock are often vast alluvial deposits of gravl and loams of various texture. Some of the sandstone soils, as in the vicinity of the Curlew mountains, though of a very poor quality, are susceptible of great improvement by judicious cultivation. The only sandy land is contiguous to Lough Aeluyn, where it appears to have been formed by drifts from the shores of the lake. On the mountains, dry patches covered with heath are occasionally found ; but the surface is commonly wet and boggy. Great improvements by draining may be effected in every part of the county, both by deepening the streams in the low grounds, and by making drains in the uplands, where cold, wet and spongy land, producing rushes and aquatic plants, occurs in places apparently little likely to produce them. Although tillage has in later years been greatly extended, yet the general system of agriculture except on the lands held by wealthy individuals, is still in a very backward state. The course consists of an introductory crop of potatoes, followed by wheat, barley, bere and oats, or by such of these corn crops as the fertility of the soil is calculated to produce with the greatest advantage, until the ground is exhausted, when it is let out," that is, the land is allowed to remain in its natural state after the last crop has been drawn of, and continues thus until a new herbage is produced, in which thistles, docks, and ragweed usually predominate.

Agriculture has made rapid advances among the gentry and wealthier farmers; the most approved implements and modes of culture have been introduced, but, probably in consequence of the system of shallow ploughing still generally adhered to, turnips and mangel-wurzel, whose roots strike deep into the ground do not succeed so well as in some other counties.

• The English spade is unknown, its place being supplied by the loy, so common throughout Connaught. The steeven, used in setting potatoes, is merely a pointed stake, with a cross piece near the lower end to receive the foot, and which likewise determines the depth of the holes.
• In certain districts of Roscommon, as in other places where spade husbandry prevails, it is usual for the people to exchange labour reciprocally, and to unite in considerable numbers in the fields of individuals in rotation, more especially for the purpose of planting or digging potatoes.

The extensive grazing farms present a remarkable contrast to the fallow tillage land: the pastures are unrivalled in beauty and fertility. The highest quality of pasture land, consisting of native grasses, is reckoned to feed a bullock and a sheep per acre; on other lands, an acre and a half is required, and on some grazing farms forty bullocks are allotted to a hundred acres. The best land for feeding bullocks is the district extending from Elphin to Castlerea; that for sheep, those from Roscommon to Tulsk, and thence northwards to Boyle. Dairy farms are neither numerous nor extensive, yet the butter made in the county is of remarkably good quality and everywhere commands high prices.

• Great attention is paid to the breeds of cattle; the favourite stock is the Old Leicester crossed with the long-horned breed of the country, as being best adapted to the soil, remarkable for their symmetry, of good size, and easily fattened: the bullocks are larger than those in any other part of Ireland; they are generally disposed of at the October fair of Ballinasloe;
• sheep are also reared in great numbers; the most approved kinds are the New Leicester and a cross between it and the native breed; the wool of the latter being close and fine, and the mutton peculiarly well-favoured. The superiority of both cattle and sheep in this county is attributable both to the excellence of the soil and the skill and attention of the breeder.
• The horses are likewise in high estimation both as roadsters and hunters.
• Pigs, though superior to those of many other parts are not a common stock;
• goats are seldom seen except with the cottiers in the mountainous districts.

The fences, for the most part, are high dry stone walls, which are preferred to the quickest hedge, even by most of the wealthier and more intelligent farmers, as affording more shelter to the cattle.

Draining and irrigation are little practised, though much could be effected in this respect, as the bogs, which are interspersed throughout most parts in various sizes, from tracts of a thousand acres to patches scarcely adequate to supply the neighbouring district with fuel, are all so situated with respect to elevation and subsoil as to make their drainage and reclamation a work of little difficulty or expense.

The country, in general, is extremely deficient in timber. Its ancient forests have long since been cleared away; their only remaining traces are on the shores of some of the lakes ; and not until lately have any general or enlarged exertions been made to reinvest the country with this useful and beautiful appendage. The only plantations are in the neighbourhood of the mansions of the nobility and gentry. To the west of Castlerea and on the shores of Lough Ree the land spontaneously throws up shoots of oak hazel and other species of forest trees in great abundance and small copses, chiefly of underwood, are often met with among the rocky ravines.

Turf is universally the fuel of the common people, and generally of the farmers: the principal part of the coal that has been raised in the north, above the quantity consumed in the iron-works has been sold for the supply of more distant places, where fuel is less plentiful.

All the plain district is based on limestone, varying in appearance and quality. The upper beds are commonly of a grey colour and of secondary formation, abounding with petrifactions, principally madrepores. The lower beds are more commonly of a blackish hue, and the stone contains large portions of argillaceous and siliceous earths, which frequently render it unfit for burning : this impure limestone, called calp, is often accompanied by thin layers of Lydian stone, which are sometimes so numerous and minute as to give the rock a striped appearance. The calp beds are commonly succeeded by strata of black limestone of a crystalline structure, susceptible of a high polish ; but in the northern parts of the county, the limestone of the lower beds, even where they come in contact with the sandstone, are of a light grey colour, and of a crystalline texture and susceptible of polish.

Silicious sandstone appears in several parts of the county rising up from beneath the limestone bed and forming isolated hills, and likewise composing the long ridge of Slievebawn, where it appears on the summit in large broken masses. Of similar composition is the hill of Ballyfermoile, and at Belanagare the sandstone appears at the surface in very thin flags, which are used in the vicinity for roofing houses. In the more western part of the county, beyond Castlerea, sandstone appears in various places, and limestone is comparatively rare.

But by far the most interesting part of county Roscommon, in reference to its geological formation, is the northern mountainous district on the confines of Lough Allen, forming the celebrated coal and iron district of Arigna. This coal district forms a portion of that of the county of Leitrim, but of its two most important divisions, one is wholly and the other chiefly in the northern end of this county. The strata are arranged with great regularity, rising immediately into the high flat-topped mountains of Bracklieve and Slieve Curkagh. They dip conformably with the subjacent limestone, and in opposition to the southern declivity of the mountains; but the continuity of the different beds is frequently broken by faults, where the strata of one part of a hill have slipped down to a lower level, producing a variation of level of from 20 to 40 yards. In the series of strata the lowest and first above the limestone base is black slate clay, about 600 feet in thickness, in the upper part of which are shale and thin beds of sandstone ; it likewise contains numerous beds of clay iron-stone, from half an inch to two feet in thickness. Resting on it there is from thirty to sixty feet of greyish white rock, called the first or great sandstone. Above this succeeds black slate clay, from nine to twenty feet thick, covered by grey sandstone from six to fire feet thick, on which rests sandstone from one to three feet in thickness, with fossil impressions, known by the name of “seat rock," incumbent on which is fire-clay of a similar thickness. This forms the seat of a stratum of coal intermixed with thin laminae of shale, from one to three feet thick, above which is greyish white sandstone, from four to twenty feet ; next, black slate clay from six to fifteen feet; and then sandstone from twelve to fifteen feet.

• This forms the seat of the second coal stratum, which is of good quality, and the only one yet discovered that will repay the labour of the miner; it varies from one foot four inches to two feet six inches, and appears to promise an abundant produce ; the stratum is thicker, and the coal better, than any before known. Its roof is grey, soft slate clay, from ten to fifteen feet thick, above which is white from twenty-four to forty-five feet, on which rests the third and uppermost seam of coal, from eight to nine inches only in thickness. Above it is slate clay in beds varying in thickness, generally soft and black, and containing innumerable thin layers of clay: iron-stone : these beds are unitedly from 100 to 200 feet thick, and are succeeded by blackish grey sandstone slate in thin layers, from 30 to 60 feet thick, capped by sandstone flag, from 30 to 50 feet, which forms the summits of the coal mountains and is the highest stratum in the county in geological and in actual elevation : the chief workings now in operation vary from 260 to 270 feet below the surface. The course of the Arigna river, which runs through a deep and narrow valley, has been adopted as a line of division between the coal field of Bracklieve, on, the south, and that of Slieve Curkagh on the north in both of which the strata are nearly similar, although minor differences, such as the change of soft slate clay into sandstone slate, may be observed within a few yards. A peculiarity of these coal districts is that of the beds of coal all lying at a considerable elevation in the mountains, where their outcrop may be distinctly traced in various places. The coal district to the south of the Arigna river extends in the direction of the mountain, from south-east to north-west, about nine miles, and in breadth about two, comprising an area of 4540 acres ; and the coal field to the north of that river comprises about 1940 acres ; making a total of about 6480. The quality of the coal, though not equal to that of White-haven or Newcastle, is sufficiently well adapted for culinary or manufacturing purposes, being a medium between the quick blazing coal of Scotland and the coal of White-haven. Inconsiderable workings appear to have been evade in the borders of the several seams from an early period ; but the first important era in the mining history of the district was the establishment of iron-works at Arigna, in 1788, by three brothers of the name of O'Reilly. By these enterprising men, pit coal was for the first time used in Ireland in the smelting of iron-ore ; and both bar and pig iron of the best quality were produced. But the speculation proved unsuccessful, and, after passing into other hands, the concern was discontinued in 1808, although it had two coal mines in the southern district for its supply, the Rover colliery, about mile distant, and the Aughabehy colliery, the largest in the district, about three miles distant. A report on the mineral wealth of this district, made by Mr. Griffith to the Royal Dublin Society, in 1814, and the repetition of the statements therein contained by that gentleman before a committee of the House of Commons in 1824, induced the investiture of capital in the working of these mines by several companied, who made the borders of Lough Allen the scene of revived activity and industry.

The Irish and the Hibernian Mining Companies began operations in the mountains on the north side of the Arigna river, but suspicions were soon entertained by the agents both as to the reported extent and thickness of the coal; and the Hibernian Company at once abandoned the speculation as unworthy further attention. The Irish Mining Company, however, persevered, and opened severs pits, the largest of which, at Tullynaha, was worked to advantage for a long time. But the body that engaged most extensively these works was the Arigna Mining Company, formed in London during the speculating period of 1824 and 1825, whose affairs became the subject of a parliamentary investigation and of a long an expensive chancery suit, which was not terminated until January 1826. In 1824, a lease of the old Arigna works was obtained from Mr. Latouche; a colony of engineers and workmen was brought over from England in the same year; the works were restored, the coal and iron mines reopened, and 230 tons of iron were manufactured between Nov. 1825 and May 1826, at an expense of £8. 4s., per ton, when the furnace became choked, in consequence of which the smelting was discontinued, and the works were suffered to fall into decay until after a decision in chancery, when Mr Flattery, in whose favour the decree was made, recommenced the works which have since been in full operation, producing 18 tons of castings daily and affording employment to 560 men: the metal wrought is said to be equal to the best Swedish iron. Fine castings of every description are made and shipped for Dublin, where there is already a great demand for them. In connection with these works are the collieries of Rover and Aughabehy, belonging to the old proprietors, and a new pit, in which the coal is superior in quality and the seam thicker than any of those previously discovered, has been opened at Gubberother by Mr Flattery, who is about to form a railway from his works to the lake. The same spirited individual is erecting a building for the manufacture of the bar, rod and sheet iron. The value of these works to the manufacturing industry of the country is much diminished by the want of good roads through this mountainous district. The works are near the shore of Lough Allen on the river Shannon, south of the Arigna river, where the royalties chiefly belong to Mr Tennison, though one is held under the Archbishop of Tuam.

• There are coal mines on both sides of this mountain ridge : of which the most important is that of Aughabehy, more distant than any from the ironwork's. The iron-stone of the neighbourhood is of the greatest variety, richness, and abundance; and the limestone used as a flux is of the best quality. Of other mineral productions, it remains only to state that clay suitable for potters' use and for tobacco pipes is found in different parts of the county: in the vicinity Roscommon are several small potteries; and at Knockcroghery there is a manufactory for tobacco pipes. Fire-bricks have been made from the fire-clay of the coal districts, and considerable quantities are now made at the Arigna works. Iron-stone is found not only in the northern but likewise in the western part of the county, where it was formerly smelted in small quantities; and between Mantua and Belanagare incurs a tough compound calcareous stone, containing pale, blueish, striated flints, resembling chalcedony and agate. INDUSTRY Except the above, scarcely any manufactures are now carried on; that of linen, which partially flourished while supported by bounties, having become nearly extinct when they were withdrawn; and even the domestic manufacture of coarse flannels, striped woollens, and cotton stuffs, for home consumption, is injured by the rivalry of cheap goods from England. The commerce, therefore, consists in the export of agricultural produce, in the extensive sales of cattle at the surrounding marts, of which Ballinasloe is the principal, and in the importation of the foreign supplies required by its wealthier population.

ROSCOMMON RIVERS 

The chief rivers connected with the county are the Shannon and the Suck.

• The Shannon from Lough Allen, throughout the whole of its course along the eastern frontier of the county, has been made navigable, not-withstanding its numerous rapids. The difficulties of the first seven miles and a half are obviated by a canal from Lough Allen, near Drumshambo, to Battlebridge, whence the navigation is continued down the river to Carrick-on-Shannon, below which it winds a smooth and majestic course beneath high cliffs of gravel on the Roscommon side, and a mile or two farther forms numerous little bays and inlets and encircles some small islands. A second canal then occurs, to avoid the rapids between Jamestown and Drumsna. After passing through Loughs Bodarrig and Boffin, the Shannon again becomes shallow and narrow, and, to obviate the obstructions, a canal of about three-quarters of a mile in length is carried past the falls of Ruskey. At Tarmonbarry the rapids are avoided by coasting round the great island of Cloondra at the lower end of which a short canal re-communicates with the river; the next town on the navigation is Lanesborough, where rapids are avoided by another artificial cut, and immediately below the river expands into Lough Ree, nearly eighteen English miles in length the navigation of which is attended with some danger on account of its sunken rocks and shoals, the most difficult part being the end next to Lanesborough, where the channel is narrow and tortuous; the greatest depth of water of this lake does not exceed seventy-five feet, and the general depth is much less. Great numbers of pleasure boats are kept upon it, but along the whole Roscommon shore there is not a quay for large vessels nor any place interested in, or connected with, the navigation of the lake, except an occasional group of cabins. From the lower end of Lough Ree the Shannon glides in a broad navigable channel a mile and a half to Athlone town the ancient bridge of which the falls are avoided by a canal about a mile in length. The rest of its course is through a dreary and thinly inhabited country by Shannon bridge to the influx of the Suck, where it quits the county. With the Shannon navigation are connected all the other lines of water communication with which this county is intersected the Royal Canal to Dublin entering it at Richmond harbour below Tarmonbarry, an the Grand Canal at Shannon harbour, below the confines of the county, whence a branch is extended westward to Ballinasloe. The Shannon serves for the transmission of turf, brick, sand, lime, flags, marble, slates, native timber, manures, coal, culm and stone for building; besides potatoes, meal, four, grain and other articles of provision. Coal is brought down from Lough Allen to Carrick, Drumsna, and even to Athlone; at the population is so dispersed over the country, that the trade in this article is necessarily very small. Corn and butter are exported by the canals. and heavy articles such as sugar, iron, deals, slates, manufactured goods, &c., received by them in return.
• The Suck is navigable to Ballinasloe for flat-bottomed barks of light burden; small rowboats ascend still higher, but the construction of the canal from this town to Shannon harbour has rendered the river navigation unnecessary. The Shannon and Suck abound with all the common kinds of river fish, especially with eels, of which vast quantities are taken at weirs erected for the purpose, and a large supply sent to Dublin, those of the Suck are esteemed peculiarly fine. The principal smaller rivers are the Breeogue; the Lung, which has a subterraneous passage for about a mile collaterally with one of its tributaries and at length enters Lough Gara; and the Gara river, or Boyle water, which, on emerging from Lough Kea, becomes be navigable for small craft, but below Knockvicar bridge, and below the upper lough of Oakford, dwindles into a mere stream which, in ordinary seasons, could scarcely be supposed to afford the only channel for all the waters which pour from Lough Gara and Lough Kea. Besides the last tributary, the Shannon receives from county Roscommon the powerful stream of Arigna; the Fiorish, from Lough Skean and Meelagh ; and a large stream from under Carnadoe bridge, discharged from a chain of small lakes in the interior, the lowest and largest of which is about three miles in length. Plans have been proposed for extending a branch of the Shannon and Royal Canal navigations to the town of Roscommon; but their execution has net been undertaken.

ROSCOMMON ROADS

The roads are numerous and highly important, as the lines of communication between Dublin and every part of Connaught pass through this county. The old lines of road are crooked and in many parts very hilly, but generally well made, though wet in winter in consequence of the rains and watercourses not being properly attended to. A line recently been opened from Tarmonbarry to Lung Bridge, another from Roscommon town to Richmond harbour and Ruskey, and another from Lanesborough to Strokestown. All the roads are kept in order by Grand Jury presentments, as there are no toll gates in the county.

ROSCOMMON RINGFORTS

The most numerous class of antiquities are the raths which abound in the northern and middle baronies but are less frequent in the south. No less than 470 are marked on the Grand Jury map of the county. and the people generally regard them with veneration, deeming it an unlucky to disturb or cultivate them.

• At Jamestown are two, remarkable for being situated so close to each other that the encircling trenches join. There is a still more curious circular fortification at Lough Glynn and at Oran are the remains of an ancient round tower.

ROSCOMMON MONASTERIES

The monastic remains are also various and interesting Archdall enumerates 50 religious establishments of various kinds, and there are still interesting and picturesque ruins of Boyle Abbey, of that at Clonshanvill (Cloonshanville), of Trinity Abbey on the shores of Lough Kea; of the priory Inchmacneerin, an island in the same lake; of Tulsk Abbey; of the Dominican convent at Roscommon; of Derane abbey, two miles north-east from Roscommon; and of Clontuskert abbey in the same vicinity. There are also a large old church and other ecclesiastical ruins at St. John's.

CASTLES

Several remains of small castles are scattered through the county, undeserving particular notice. The following are most remarkable:

• the old castle of Lough Glynn; the fortress on Castle island, in Lough Kea, anciently belonging to Mac Dermot ;
• Ballynafad castle, the ancient seat of O'Conor Roe;
• the extensive ruins of Roscommon castle ;
• those of Ballintobber castle, belonging anciently to O'Conor Don ;
• the old keep of Athlone castle;
• the ruined fortress and fortified isthmus of St. John's; and
• the old castle of Ballinasloe.

Old Coote Hall, in the parish of Tumna, presents curious remains of fortification in a tower and ruined walls; and at Belanagare, Kilmore, and near Athleague, are ancient ruined mansions, conspicuous by their tall ornamented chimneys and high gables.

Among the antiquities may be noticed the old bridge of Athlone, the inscription on which states it to have been built in the 9th year of Elizabeth, onto records several circumstances connected with the history of that period.

The county contains a considerable number of seats, of which some are very splendid, and surrounded by grounds of great beauty they are all noticed in their respective parishes, and though every part of it, but more particularly the barony of Boyle, affords numerous instances of improvements in the buildings, even down to the cottages of the peasantry, yet too many instances of squalid misery in their stations are still to be met with.

Among the most remarkable natural curiosities are the swallow holes, through which several of the streams are precipitated into subterraneous. caverns; the largest river having a subterranean course is the Lung, near Lough Glynn.

At Rathcroaghan (Rathcroghan), Kilmacumsky, and other places are natural and artificial caves, in which have been found various fossil bones.

Roscommon confers the title of Earl on the family of Dillon.

SOURCE: A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland by Samuel Lewis (pub 1837)

Got an ancestor from this county? 

We'd love if you added them to our Ancestors roll-call to #BringTheirMemoryHome:

Want to help post timelines like this for your local parish or county? To join our content volunteers please email us or simply click the link below to:

ADD YOUR OWN  Local History Timeline

​READ MORE 1837 Lewis' Parish Reports

READ ALSO Local Famine Report

ALSO READ Your ROSCOMMON parish just before the famine