Final Lecarrow Village Design Statement - Roscommon County ...

LECARROW VILLAGE DESIGN STATEMENT
By 1912, the village had expanded to
include a Constabulary Barracks,
Courthouse and Ball Alley. Following this
however, like most villages after the Great
Famine and during much of the twentieth
century, its population dwindled
significantly. This decline brought with it
an erosion of services and by the end of the
twentieth century, Lecarrow had lost its
post office and corn mill, its flour mill and
barracks had fallen into disuse, and its
courthouse lay in ruins.
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First Ordinance Survey Map of Lecarrow
In 1837, Samuel Lewis in his
Topographical Dictionary of Ireland,
noted that there were 80 inhabitants in
Lecarrow village with fairs being held in
March, June, September and December,
and petty sessions every alternate week.
Prior to the 1920s, the lowest courts were
called the petty sessions. Lewis also noted
the presence of the two mills and a
dispensary in the vicinity of the village.
The first edition Ordinance Survey Map
also indicates a Post Office and Holy Well
dedicated to St. John.
By the end of the 18 th century construction
had begun on Lecarrow Canal, which was
completed in 1842. This canal flows into
Blackbrink Bay connecting Lecarrow
village with Lough Ree and the River
Shannon. By 1850, Lecarrow Harbour was
completed. Improved access between the
village and Lough Ree allowed raw and
processed materials to be transported by
water from Lecarrow’s corn and flour mills
and adjacent stone quarries in Galeybeg.
As such, the harbour and canal played an
important role in the area's industry and
commerce.
Second Ordinance Survey Map of Lecarrow
Lecarrow has been lucky enough not to
have seen the massive pressure for
development experienced in other towns
and villages throughout County
Roscommon in the last ten years or so. The
village has however, experienced a
renaissance with an increase in residential
development within and close to the village
bringing new life into the village. With this
has come a new energy for revitalizing and
regenerating the village which can be seen
in the actions of the local community and
local authority alike. Roscommon County
Council has approved a plan for the
Harbour area which includes the
development of boat pump out facilities, a
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