ROSCOMMON TOWN
Situated in the heart of Ireland, Roscommon Town, with a population in excess of 5,000 is the administrative centre of County Roscommon. Having experienced much development in recent years, Roscommon town is a thriving centre of commerce in an area that is rich in heritage and culture.
1. LOCATION
Roscommon Town is situated at the junction of the Dublin/Castlebar (N60) arterial road. It is near the centre of Ireland making it strategically placed for travel to Athlone (32km), Dublin (144km), Galway (72km), Knock (65km) and Sligo (80km).
2. TRANSPORT
The M6 Motorway (M6/M4) which links Galway to Dublin means that the journey from Roscommon Town to Dublin has been reduced to approx 1 Hour 45 Minutes. Meanwhile the capital of the west, Galway City is one hours drive from the town, as is Sligo Town.
Roscommon Town is well served by the train network., which provides 4 trains daily to both Dublin and Galway. The average commute by train from Roscommon to Dublin City Centre (Heuston Station) is a little over 2 hours in duration. Bus Éireann also provides a services to and from Dublin three times daily, while there is a once daily bus service to Galway.
Ireland West Airport (Knock), a 40 minute drive from the town, is now recognised as Ireland’s fourth international airport with a major increase in the number of passengers using the facility. Ireland West Airport Knock is the main international air access gateway for the West, North West and Midland regions of Ireland. The Airport has also experienced rapid developments and now serves more than 20 scheduled and charter destinations across Ireland, the UK, Europe and beyond.
3. HOUSE PRICES
Under the "Rural Renewal Tax Incentives Scheme” tax relief for residential occupation, including investors or owner occupiers, was available. The qualifying property must be located wholly within the "qualifying area” which included a significant portion of Co. Roscommon. While the qualifying period for the construction or development of such properties ceased on 31 July 2008, there are several properties, currently on the market, with significant tax breaks attaching to them.
The following is a list of guide prices and are intended to be indicative only:
- Second hand semi-detached 3 bedroom house €160k to €175k.
- Second hand Detached 3 bedroom house €185k to €200k.
- Second hand Detached 4 bedroom house € 180k to €190k.
- New semi-detached 3 bedroom house €155k to €175k
- New detached 3 bedroom house €190k to €195k.
- New semi-detached 4 bedroom house €180k to €190k
- New detached 4 bedroom house €210k to €220k
- Rent of a semi-detached 3 bedroom house €500 to €600 per month
- Rent of an apartment €500 to €600 per month
4. CHILDCARE and EDUCATION
Childcare
See www.roscommonchildcare.ie. Aims to promote and develop universal quality childcare that is affordable and accessible to all in the community. Roscommonchildcare.ie provides :-
- A list of childcare providers in Roscommon
- Parent and toddler services
- Early childhood care and education scheme
Primary Schools
Roscommon town has three primary schools. One of them caters for girls and boys up to first class and girls only from 2nd to 6th class. There is a Christian Brothers all boys school which caters for pupils from 2nd to 6th class and a Gaelscoil with mixed pupils from junior infants to 6th class. There are also a number of other primary schools within a 5-6 mile radius of Roscommon town. See http://www.schooldays.ie/primary-schools-in-ireland/primary-Roscommon
Second Level Schools
There are three secondary schools in the town: an all girls school at the Convent of Mercy, an all boys Christian Brothers school and a VEC Community school. See http://www.schooldays.ie/secondary-schools-in-ireland/Roscommon
http://www.education.ie
Nearest 3rd level institution(s)
There are a range of third level institutions within a 1 hour’s drive from Roscommon, the nearest of which is Athlone Institute of Technology which offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.
Athlone Institute of Technology 32kms
Sligo Institute of Technology 90km
Galway/Mayo Institute of Technology, Galway 82 kms,
Castlebar 74kms
National University of Ireland (NUI) Galway, 82 kms
St. Angela’s College of Education, Sligo 90 km
Family Support Services
www.vitahouse.org: offers a wide range of enrichment and educational programmes, workshops and seminars, services and supports including professional counselling to families, individuals, couples and groups.
5. SHOPPING AND RETAIL
Roscommon Town is exceptionally well served in terms of shopping and retail outlets. All the main supermarket chains – Aldi, Dunnes Stores, Lidl, Londis, Supervalu and Tesco - have a presence in the town, while recent years have seen much development of new shopping outlets in both the town centre and on the outskirts. There are also a host of long established family owned businesses in the town centre.
For the shopper, street parking is available all over the town with a large car park located behind the main street. All parking is free of charge. In addition, there are approx 10 taxi/hackney companies in Roscommon Town with a designated taxi rank.
Nearby Athlone, accessible within 20 minutes of Roscommon Town offers an additional range of retail and shopping outlets.
6. COMMERCIAL
There are four banks in Roscommon town, Bank of Ireland, Allied Irish Bank, Ulster Bank and Permanent TSB. These banks have enterprise support units with a remit to support business start-ups and business development. The town is well serviced also by An Post’s main post office, as well as insurance companies, legal, accounting, engineering and architectural services.
There are a number of private haulage companies and main freight companies such as DHL, Federal Express, Interlink and UPS providing a 24 hour freight service to a range of regional, national and international destinations.
7. STATE SERVICES
A wide variety of statutory services are available in County Roscommon many of whom are located in Roscommon town.
The Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs have one of its three branches in Roscommon Town where the Social Welfare Officer is located.
The Health Service Executive co-ordinates a wide range of services from Roscommon Town.
The National Training and Employment Authority, FAS has its Regional Office and Training Centre located in Athlone and there is free transport from Roscommon for those wishing to avail of training in Athlone. FAS also have the facility to run training in Roscommon town where the Employment Service Office is located.
A number of statutory and economic services are located in the town. These include Roscommon County Council, the County Enterprise Board, Roscommon Business Innovation Centre, Roscommon Partnership Company, Chamber of Commerce and Teagasc, (the agriculture advice support service). The Roscommon County Development Board is also located in the town.
Medical Services
The Roscommon County Hospital located in Roscommon town has 70 beds. A medical, surgical, psychiatric, geriatric and coronary service is available together with a new accident and emergency unit at the hospital. There are 8 general practitioners in practice in Roscommon town, one private consultant and a private dentist.
There is one newly built private nursing home in the town with two others approx 4 miles outside the town. A new medical centre is under construction and is due to be completed late in late 2010 early 2011.
8. SPORT AND RECREATION
A wide variety of sport and leisure opportunities are available in the town and its immediate vicinity. Roscommon Leisure Centre has a 25m swimming pool with sauna and steam room while the Health and Fitness club attached to the Abbey Hotel offers a discount to PRA staff.
The local Roscommon Gaels GAA club fields teams at underage and adult levels in Gaelic football, Hurling, Ladies Football and Camoige, while there is also a thriving handball club in the town.
There are two junior soccer clubs in the town which compete and adult and underage level in the town while there are a host of other Gaelic Football, Hurling and Soccer clubs within a short distance of the town centre. Nearby Creggs Rugby Club competes at underage and adult level in Connacht leagues.
With the River Shannon to the east and the River Suck to the west, Roscommon offers a range of opportunities for the angler, while nearby Lough Ree offers the adventurous water sport enthusiast an ideal venue for all forms of boating and water sports.
An 18 hole championship golf course with club house is located ¾ of a mile from the town with open membership. There is also a bowling alley in the town.
For the racing enthusiast, the picturesque Roscommon Racecourse offers six meetings a year and its recently refurbished facilities offers a great day out for all the family.
Within the immediate confines of the town is the beautifully appointed Loughnaneane Park where one can enjoy a leisurely stroll. Loughnaneane Park is a 14 acre recreational area situated in the north western area of Roscommon town bordered by the ruins of Roscommon Castle which is a dramatic and imposing 13th Century Norman Castle.
The Park includes a crannóg known locally as the Hill o' Bones, a wildflower meadow, bird walk, lake feature, mounds, children's playground and car park. The playground is a special facility within the Park. It has been designed to cater for children up to twelve years.
For those who enjoy longer distance walking the local ‘Slí na Sláinte’ route around Roscommon Town covers 8 kilometres and is comprised of two 4 kilometre routes clearly signposted around the town.
The more adventurous walker can embark on the the ‘Suck Valley Way’, a 100km Walk Way which is unusual among Irish Waymarked Ways because for most of it's length it lies across lowland farms. It also crosses the boglands and callows of the river Suck with their numerous lakes and drainage channels.
For those who enjoy longer distance walking the local ‘Slí na Sláinte’ route around Roscommon Town covers 8 kilometres and is comprised of two 4 kilometre routes clearly signposted around the town.
9. ARTS AND CULTURE
Roscommon Arts Centre, supported by The Arts Council and Roscommon County Council, is located on the circular road with a seating capacity of 190. The Arts Centre provides opportunities for the local community to actively engage with a range of artforms through participatory and performance-based activities. The centre presents work by professional and community based artists in theatre, dance, music, comedy and literature, along with a programme of Irish and world cinema in the auditorium space. A complete listing of ongoing events at the centre can be seen at www.roscommonartscentre.ie
Other cultural highlights in the town include the annual Easter Parade, the summer music festival and the recently introduced but already highly successful Roscommon Lamb Festival. Based on the fact that Roscommon has the highest lamb output in the country, the festival celebrates lamb in a diverse range of food and farming events.
Slightly further afield, the nearby town of Boyle hosts the nationally renowned ‘Boyle Arts Festival’ each summer. Boyle Arts Festival has established a reputation for excellence earning it a place as one of the best festivals in Ireland each summer.
The festival has been the winner of several national awards and its annual programme includes a major art exhibition of works by contemporary Irish Artists, Classical and Traditional Music, Poetry, Drama, Lectures and Children's events
The website www.visitroscommon.com gives a full list of cultural and tourism activities in the county.
Voluntary Associations
Roscommon County is served by many active voluntary organisations including Irish Wheelchair Association, Brothers of Charity, and Support group for People with Disabilities, Women’s groups, Childcare Network, Active age groups and family centre.
10. HOTELS AND RESTAURANTS
Three night clubs operate in the town and there are also two live music venues with various artists and bands featured regularly.
There is one four star hotel with a newly built leisure centre including steam room and sauna. Membership is open at this hotel at a reasonable rate which includes 3 month membership. In addition there is one three star hotel in Roscommon town with several high quality B& B facilities also exist. Roscommon town also has a variety of restaurants, cafés, and bistros where Irish, Chinese, Italian and European food is served.
Conference facilities are available in the two hotels as well as in Gleesons Townhouse and Horans restaurant (newly refurbished). They cater for group form 2 to 500.
11. INFRASTRUCTURE
Telecommunications
Esat telecom and Eircom provide telecommunication service to Roscommon Town. A broadband network capable of supporting high speed internet and multimedia services is available in the larger towns in the county. All telephone exchanges in the county are digital and ISDFN is available in most areas in the county. Fibre optic cables are been put in place to cater for broadband services and assist with providing services to industry. There is continuing upgrading and increase in the mobile phone coverage in the county with extra 3G sites being planned.
Electricity
There is continuous development in the county with regard to the provision of power. A new 220 KV line is being developed.
www.ireland.com
Published 13th April 2010