Castlerea

Castlerea takes its name from Caisleán Riabhach, a castle of the O'Conors that stood where the Cloonard meets the River Suck. A settlement grew around this stronghold in the countryside of western Roscommon. In the seventeenth century Theophilus Sandford acquired extensive lands here that had been taken from the O'Conors, a change linked to his service in the civil wars in England. The Sandford residence was built on the site of the old castle, and buildings of the town developed around the estate.