Boundaries & Townlands of Co. Roscommon

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County Roscommon was so called from the middle of the 15th century according to court papers dated from the late 14th century.  The county was set up with a similar structure to the 'shire' system in England, which was introduced by Sir Henry Sydney, who in 1566 had bridges built across the River Shannon at Athlone and the River Suck at Ballinasloe to make better access for the English armies to the area.  

The boundaries of this Judicial shire or county of Roscommon are mentioned at the Inquisition taken at Roscommon town on the 16th July 1607.  There was very little change until 1848, when under Government acts, four townlands from the parish of Castlemore and two townlands from the parish of Kilcolman in Co. Mayo were transferred to the Barony of Frenchpark in North Co. Roscommon.

With the introduction of the Local Government (Ireland) Acts of 1898, the boundaries were changed from a Judicial County to an Administration County.  Because of this between 1895 - 1898 Roscommon incorporated some areas of Mayo and Galway and excluded the towns of Athlone and Ballinasloe.  

see next post for details

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Co. Roscommon incorporated the following Mayo & Galway townlands around 1895:

Mayo:  Ardkill, Attiantaggart, Ballaghadeereen, Ballymaging or Castlemore, Ballyoughter, Barnboy, Bockagh, Bogtaduff, Bohalas, Boleysillagh, Brogher, Calveagh Upper & Lower, Cashelard, Cashelcolaun, Cloonavullaun, Cloonlumney, Cloonmeen, Coolaghtane, Coollena, Creggan, Cross North & South, Crunaun, Currunagh, Derrynacross, Derrynagur, Derrynanaff, Doogary, Drumacoo, Druminalassan, Fallsollus, Frasnadeffa, Friarshill, Glebe, Gortanure, Hawksford, Ishlaun, Islandmore, Largan, Kilcolman, Kilkeeran, Killadangan, Kilvanloon, Knockanaconny, Lung, Magheraboy, Poolboy, Toobrackan, Toomanagh, Tullaghanmore or Edmonstown Demense, and Tullaghanrock.

Galway:  Bracklin, Carrowkeel, Carrownaglogh, Cartron, Coolroghaun, Cornaveagh, Deerhippoo, Dunamon, Garraun North & South, Kilbegnet, Lisduff, Oughtagh, Rosmoylan, Shanballyeden, Tonamaddy.

Before 1st May 1654, under the Act of 1653 by order of the Commissioners of the Parliament of England for the Affairs of Ireland, dated 14th October 1653, all persons having the right to favour and mercy were to remove and transplant themselves into the provence of Connacht and Co. Clare. 

This era was known as the Transplantation of Connacht resulting in many families loosing their land in their native county.   Many Baronies within the county changed size and shape over time up to 1898.  Townlands too were swapped between parishes as a means to pay tithes - if one parish was not as affluent as another.

source:  Roscommon Family History Society.