LEITRIM (Ireland)

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County Leitrim extends for over 50 miles from the County Longford border to Donegal Bay, where it has a coastline of two and a half miles. It is divided into two parts almost wholly separated from one another by an expansion of the River Shannon, Lough Allen. The area north of the lake is mountainous, reaching its highest point of just over 2,000 feet on the Sligo border, north of Glencar Lake.

East of Lough Allen is another mountainous area in which Slieveanierin (1,922 feet) is prominent. South of the lake is an area of little hills interspersed with many lakes. Leitrim is a county of fine lake and mountain scenery and of good angling waters, with many attractions for the climber, the walker and the cyclist.

Jamestown Town Gate was founded by Sir Charles Coote in 1625 and was occupied by O'Rourke in 1642. Little remains of the town wall except the old town gate through which the modern Dublin-Sligo road passes, and which had its arch removed in the 1970s.

A number of particularly important features of the area are given special treatment. Mining of Coal and Iron Sweathouses The Cavan and Leitrim Railway Coal & Mining Heritage: The Arigna area of Roscommon and the adjacent mountains of Co Leitrim were famous for coal and iron mining. From as early as the 15th century iron was mined in the area. Coal mining became more prominent in the 19th century.