Roscommon

Roscommon is a central county of flat rural land and quiet county lanes. Though Roscommon is more a route through, than a destination it does contain a number of interesting heritage attractions and some quaint waterside scenery.

As part of the province of Connacht, Roscommon was ruled by the legendary Queen Maeve, who in the legendary tale of the Cattle Raid of Cooley set out from Roscommon.

The county town of Roscommon stands at a key crossroads through the county. North of the county close to the border with Co. Sligo is the town of Boyle and close by is the Lough Key Forest Park home to herds of wild deer. King's House in the town is an excellently restored 18th Century mansion, its history outlines the English ascendancy and their attempts to control the Irish.

Strokestown nearby is an interesting town with a number of heritage attractions including Strokestown Park House, another restored Georgian mansion, which houses the Famine Museum, outlining the history of the Great Irish Famine of the 1840s.

Roscommon's roll of famous names includes Douglas Hyde, the first president of the Republic of Ireland, songwriter Percy French, former prime minister of Ireland Albert Reynolds and Maureen O'Sullivan, the actress who played Jane to Johnny Weissmuller's Tarzan and mother of Mia Farrow.