For the past two years, volunteers have been reading and transcribing the archives of the Earls of Ranelagh and Earls of Essex, relating to the town of Roscommon and surrounding area, under the guidance of historian Vincent Delany. ‘New discoveries’ will look at some of the questions this project has raised:
How much money did the Ranelagh (Jones) family pay to acquire thousands of acres of Co. Roscommon? How did they obtain a mortgage for this purchase? What lands were involved? Who were the tenants of the Ranelagh and Essex estates in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries? When the Earl of Ranelagh died, he had no living sons. Who inherited his Roscommon estates? What restrictions did he impose on his tenants? What was the original name of Main Street, Roscommon? Where were corn and grist milled by tenants? What initiatives did the estates bring to Roscommon? We are accustomed to seeing medium sized farmers houses In Roscommon. Why were they built? We are accustomed to seeing fine trees on our Roscommon ditches. Why were they planted? Who built the Gaol in Market Square, and why?
Find out all these answers and more this Heritage Week!
