Roscommon, the capital of the county, and gives title to the lamuy of Dillon, as earls. Sir Robert de Ufford rebuilt the castle of Rosscommon, A.D. 1268, which was razed to the ground in 1271.
Abbey of canons of St. Augustine. St. Coeman was bishop of Roscommon. The monastery of Roscommon was founded by the bishop Coman, who died in 743 or 746. His monastic rule, called the law of Coman and Aodan, was received in three parts of Connaught. Besides the severity of the institute, which the founder himself compiled, this abbey was celebrated for its schools and the number of its learned professors, who continued to teach at Roscommon, until the year 1177, when the English army took possession of the monastery in their route from Dublin to the West of Ireland.
St. Aodan succeeded the founder.
A.D. 777, died the abbot Aodan.
A.D. 807, the Danes plundered and sacked the abbey.
A.D. 811, died Joseph, the learned scribe of Roscommon.
A.D. 813, died the abbot Sedulius, also bishop of Roscommon.
A.D. 816, died the bishop Siedat.
A.D. 872, died the abbot Aodh, the learned and venerable scribe of Roscommon.
A.D. 964, the abbot Cormac O'Kellane, who was bishop and abbot of Roscommon, Clonmacnoise and Tuaimgreny. He was held in universal esteem for his great learning and unbounded benevolence.
A.D. 1043, died Aodhan Connactach, anchorite and prelector of this abbey.
A.D. 1097, the abbot Flanigan Roe O'Dubhtaig, and Aidan, a learned professor, of this abbey.
A.D. 1123, a piece of the Holy Cross was presented to this abbey by Turlogh O'Connor.
A.D. 1135, the professor Gilla Colman O'Conghaly, a scribe and commentator of this abbey, was slain by the people of Conmaicne.
A.D. 1156, Turlogh the Great, monarch of Ireland, died. He largely augmented the estates of this house, and directed the Host to be carried with great solemnity, attended by many of the clergy and other religious men, throughout the kingdom, and then to be deposited in a tabernacle prepared for it, of immense value, in this church.
A.D. 1158, a synod of all the clergy of Connaught was held in this abbey, when many good and exemplary decrees were made.
A.D. 1170, the abbot Dermod O'Braoin, a man of extraordinary erudition, d'ed at Inisclothran, in the county of Longford, in the ninety-fifth year of his age. In the same year, his successor Giolla Jarlaithe
O'Carmacan, placed the remains of the founder, St. Coeman, in a shrine richly ornamented with silver and gold.
A.D. 1177, a party of English arrived here on their way from Dublin and remained three nights.
A.D. 1204, William Bourke, the conqueror of Connaught, spoiled this abbey.
A.D. 1232, Tiopraid O'Braoin, a man well skilled in the antiquities and laws of the country, died on a pilgrimage at Innisclothran.
A.D. 1360, Eoscommon was destroyed by fire.
A.D. 1472, Theobald Burke, a Dominican friar, was, by special bull of Pope Sixtus IV., made prior of the canons regular of Roscommon.
A regular succession of abbots continued until, in the twentieth of queen Elizabeth, its possessions, consisting of thirty quarters of land and various rectories, were granted, at an annual rent, to Sir Nicholas Malbye. A second inquisition was held under James I., when other property, together with the rectories and tithes of eighteen parishes, were seized upon and held from the king in pure and common soccage.
We find none of the abbots or priors of the monasteries of Connaught sit as barons of parliament. Beyond the Shannon, the people were considered as barbarians, and hence they were debarred the advantages which British protection cmd improvement guaranteed. The natives of that province never relaxed in their resistance to English rule until the reign of James 1., when England exercised supreme control.
Dominican friary. This monastery was founded in the year 1253 or 1257, by Phelim O'Conor, king of Connaught, who was interred here, A.D. 1265.
The church was dedicated to the Virgin Mary, and was consecrated by Thomas O'Connor, bishop of Elphin.
A.D. 1261, Murarius Duach O'Conneker was prior.
A.D. 1293, a general chapter of the order was held here.
A.D, 1308, this friary was destroyed by lightning.
A.D. 1445, this house having suffered much from the calamities of war, and other misfortunes, Pope Eugene IV. granted a bull of indulgence, bearing date the 5th of May, to repair the same. This year died Thomas O'Comen, esteemed the most wise and prudent man of his time.
The possessions of this friary, 143 acres of land, with tithes and appurtenances, were granted to Sir Nicholas Malbye, knight. In 1615, they were given to Francis, Viscount Valentia, from whose family they passed into the hands of Sir Arthur Cole, baron of Ranelagh.
Tliis abbey has given martyrs to the church of Ireland, who shall be noticed elsewhere. In 1756 there were sixteen friars attached to this convent: Thomas Mulledy, the prior; Thomas Brennan, master; Thomas Egan, sub-prior; Dominick O'Kelly, James Brenan, Patrick Mac Dermot, Peter Cor, Ambrose Mac Dermot, Jolin Rutledge, I'atrick Kennedy, John Keetly, John Smyth, John Kearney, Michael Cahan, Anthony O'Kelly, and Dominick Hanly. Some of those were exercising pastoral functions.
Franciscan friary of Roscommon was founded A.D. 1269, and in the following year was totally destroyed by fire.
