County Roscommon

County Roscommon is a county in Connacht province in the midwestern part of Ireland, located between two major rivers. The landscape shifts from limestone pastures to damp bogs, with flat plains and few hills running across most of the county.

A monastery founded by Bishop Comán in the year 550 gave the region its name. Following the medieval conquest of Connacht, the area was organized into a separate administrative unit.

The county takes its name from a monastery founded in the 6th century in the town that carries the same name today. Visitors see grazing sheep and cattle across fields, small villages with simple shops, and pubs where locals gather in the evenings to talk.

Train connections run through Boyle and Athlone, so travelers can continue from there to Dublin, Sligo, or Galway. Roads are often single lane, so it helps to allow extra travel time when crossing rural areas.

The geographic center of Ireland sits on the western shore of Lough Ree in the southern part of this county. Residents here have the longest life expectancy in the country.

Location: Connacht

Capital city: Roscommon

Shares border with: County Mayo, County Sligo, County Leitrim, County Longford, County Westmeath, County Offaly, County Galway

Website: http://roscommoncoco.ie/en

GPS coordinates: 53.75000,-8.25000

Latest update: December 13, 2025 16:28