ORAN

In 1868, the parish of Oran contained the following places:

"ORAN, a parish in the barony of Ballymoe, county Roscommon, province of Connaught, Ireland, 8 miles N.W. of Roscommon. Frenchpark is its post town. It is 3 miles long and 2½ broad. The surface, which lies along the small river Suck, consists mostly of a good soil. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Elphin, value with Drimtemple, £137, in the patronage of the bishop. The church is at Drimtemple. There are a Roman Catholic chapel, a hedge school, and several day schools. St. Patrick is alleged to have founded a religious house here, which became the burial-place of St. Cethecus. There are scanty ruins of a church, erected on the site of this foundation, also of a round tower."

[Transcribed from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland 1868]
by Colin Hinson ©2018