Rosemary Square was created in the late 18th Century as the river was channelled and the castle gardens were opened up and built upon.
In the 1920’s authorities planned to remove the Market Square Fountain out of the town to ease traffic problems, it had been a gift from the suppliers of the public water scheme in 1899 and the people of Roscrea were not too pleased with the move. Eventually it was relocated here in Rosemary Square where this ‘Fancy Fountain’ provides a fine feature to this square which in the past was a busy marketplace.
A traveller to the town in 1823 noted that ‘The ground around Roscrea is exceedingly fertile and the town is still the grand emporium of trade to all surrounding towns.’ The surrounding fertile land has ensured a long tradition of fairs and food production in the town. Imagine this square filled with farmers, cows and horses at a busy fair day.
The fountain is a fine example of Victorian craftmanship – see if you can find the four children and three storks in this 1890’s cast iron structure. The gas lamp standards are still in place.
