Roscommon, a county of Ireland, province of Connaught, bounded E by Roscommon (Hotels, Roscommon, Ireland). Little is known about Coman, the fifth-century saint from whom the name comes. The Dominicans founded the ruined abbey that dominates the town, in the thirteenth century.

The Chief Towns in Co Roscommon are Strokestown, Boyle, Elphin, Loughlynn, Ballaghadereen, Castlerea and Knockcroghery.

Some popular surnames in County Roscommon (Accommodation, Roscommon, Ireland) are Hanley, Beirne, Kelly, Brennan, Connor, Flynn, Cox, McDermott, Brady and Farrell.

The fragile subsistence of the people was shattered by the Famine; in the ten years from 1841 to 1851, the population fell by almost a third, the largest single fall of any county in Ireland, and has continued to fall. Today around 55,000 people live in Roscommon (Self Catering, Roscommon, Ireland) which is a drop of 80% from 1841. The chief destinations were the English Midlands including Manchester, the United States of America and Australia

County Roscommon Heritage and Genealogy Society, Church Street, Strokestown, County Roscommon, Ireland

The County Roscommon (Bed and Breakfasts, Roscommon, Ireland) Heritage and Genealogy Society is the designated Irish Family History Foundation Centre serving County Roscommon. A full service is offered to enquirers. The County Roscommon Heritage and Genealogy Society have access to over one million genealogical records relating to the county.

The main records include:

Roman Catholic records in County Roscommon, which commences between 1789 and 1865 depending on the parish.

Church of Ireland (Anglican/Episcopalian) commences between 1796 and 1877 depending on the parish.

Records of Presbyterian congregations start between 1857 and 1861.

Methodist records start in the early 1840s.

The County Roscommon Heritage and Genealogy Society has also computerised:

Griffith’s General Valuation

Tithe Applotment Books

A list of ‘40 Shilling Freeholders’ for 1876

Pakenham-Mahon Eviction Lists from 1847

RIC (Royal Irish Constablary) records

The earliest Census is available (which covers a large part of Co. Roscommon) dates from 1749.