Athleague ()[ As of the 2022 census, the village population was 296.][ 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 gristmill and a restored church. The church is the local parish for the surrounding towns.
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History and name
Athleague's English name is derived from the Irish Áth Liag, meaning 'the ford of the flagstones', which indicates its use as a crossing point between the kingdoms of the Uí Maine and Uí Briúin.
Athleague's church was founded sometime around 500 by Maenucan Atha Liacc ('Maonagán of Athleague').
The area is mentioned a number of times in the Annals of Connacht, the Annals of Lough Cé and the Annals of the Four Masters. According to the Annals of Inisfallen, in the late 10th century ("AI993.2"), Brian Boru under took a "naval raid" in the area "he reached Breifne from Lough Ree by way of Áth Liac northwards"
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Cemetery
There were two in the parish of Athleague, one in the townland of Coolaspaddaun and one in that of Monasternalea. Monasternalea is sometimes referred to as Abbeygrey.
Townlands
The civil parish of Athleague includes a number of townlands, a number of which abut the boundary between County Galway and County Roscommon:
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Coalpits in County Galway
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Coolaspaddaun with its cemetery
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Hollygrove in County Galway
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Monasternalea with its cemetery
Notable people
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James Curley, Irish-American astronomer
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Thomas Curley, American politician
['Wisconsin Blue Book 1883,' Biographical Sketch of Thomas Curley, pg. 487]
See also
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List of towns and villages in Ireland
External links
