Athleague
Áth Liag | |
---|---|
Village | |
Coordinates: 53°34′01″N 8°15′11″W / 53.567°N 8.253°W | |
Country | Ireland |
Province | Connacht |
County | County Roscommon |
Elevation | 52 m (171 ft) |
Population | 296 |
Irish Grid Reference | M826577 |
Athleague (Irish: Áth Liag (na Sioca), meaning 'ford of the flagstones')[2] is a village and a parish in the Diocese of Elphin on the River Suck in the west of Ireland in County Roscommon, near the town of Roscommon. The village is in a townland and civil parish of the same name.[2] As of the 2022 census, the village population was 296.[1]
Its church was founded sometime around 500 by Maenucan Atha Liacc ('Maonagán of Athleague'). The name is derived from Áth Liag ('the ford of the flagstones'), indicating its use as a crossing point between the kingdoms of the Uí Maine and Uí Briúin.
The village is 8 km south-west of Roscommon town, at the junction of the N63 national route and the R362 regional road. The R357 leaves the N63 south of the village. The town has a mill and a restored church. The church is the local parish for the surrounding towns. It is mentioned a number of times in the Annals of Connacht, the Annals of Lough Cé and the Annals of the Four Masters.