ROSCOMMON, Ireland, the chief town of county Roscommon, and the seat of a Poor-Law Union, is situated near the centre of the county, on the road from Lanesberough to Tuam, in 53' 33' N. lat., 8' 8' W. long., 96 miles W. by N. from Dublin by road. The popu lation of the town in 1851 was 3364, builders 1259 inmates of the Union workhouse. Roscommon Poor-Law Union comprises 18 electoral divisions, with an area of 114,056 acres, and a population in 1851 of 34,046. An abbey was founded here for the order of Preaching Friars, about 1257, by O'Conor, king or prince of Connaught ; and a few years after a strong castle was built by Sir Robert de Ufford, one of the early English adventurers. Of both the abbey and the castle there are considerable remains; the castle is on the north side of the town, and the abbey church on the south aide. The interior of the church is still used as a burial-ground. ,Roscommon sent members to
the Irish Parliament, but was disfranchised at the Union. In the centre of the town is the old jail, a building situated on the summit of the eminence on which the town stands, but now disused as a prison. The parish church has been lately enlarged. The old court house has been converted Into a Roman Catholic chapel. There are two national schools. In the town aro a now courthouse, a new jail, and the county infirmary. Coarse pottery-ware is manufactured, and friezes, coarse flannel, and woollen stuffs are woven. On Saturday is held a market, at which large quantities of grain aro sold, to be shipped on the canal at Lanesborough. The anima for the county, quarter and petty sessions, and a monthly manor court, are held in the town. Fairs are held four times a year.