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Rochfortbridge is a village in County Westmeath, Ireland with a population of 1,473 persons  It is located at the intersection of the R400 and the N6 national primary route, which recently bypassed the village).

The electoral district of Castlelost in Rochfortbridge had 1,473 inhabitants as of the 2006 census this was a rise in population of 6.6% from 2002, Rochfortbridge is part of the Kilbeggan electoral area and has four County Councillors elected in 2009 Colm Arthur (Fine Gael) Gerry Corcoran (labour) Joseph Flanagan (Fine Gael) and Paul Daly( Fianna Fail) http://www.westmeathcoco.ie/en/ourservices/yourcouncil/councillors/countycouncil/councillors/

History
Rochfortbridge (Pass of Kilbride) was once a stopping point on the main East-West/West-East route (an Slí Mór) across Ireland. The village evolved around a river crossing over the river Derry. It is believed that there used to be a delousing station here during the Great Famine.

The original bridge at Rochfortbridge was called Beggars Bridge. The bridge was replaced by Robert Rochfort MP, and gives the town its name.Droichead Chaistlean loiste is the gaelic name for Rochforbridge and translates as Castlelost bridge.

There is an important local oral tradition that the body of a beggarman was discovered on the old bridge, and that his pockets contained a sum of money – enough to rebuild the bridge. This story and others are extremely relevant to local people even though there is no historical basis.

The original bridge was a toll bridge with a toll of one farthing (one quarter of a penny) to cross either way.

The village proper was set out by Robert Rochfort, M.P. for Westmeath from 1651–1727 and grandfather of Robert 1st Earl of Belvedere. The village was set out circa 1700 on receiving a grant from Queen Anne to hold a monthly market in the area. As part of the village building programme, Robert Rochfort MP, financed and built a new bridge over the river Derry. This bridge gave the village its name: Rochfort Bridge.Click below for Street View of Rochfortbridge. http://www.irelands-directory.com/Westmeath/Rochfortbridge/map-streetview.html

Following the death of Robert Rochfort MP in 1727 the village and its logistics were controlled by his son George Rochfort, George died just three years later in 1730 and the village was then under the control of his son Robert Rochfort (soon to become 1st Earl of Belvedere). On the death of Robert Rochfort 1st Earl of Belvedere, the village was passed to his son and heir George Augustus Rochfort 2nd Earl of Belvedere. Georges second wife Jane 2nd Countess Belvedere placed her mark strongly on the village of Tyrrellspass

In 1797 Lt. Col. Robert Rochfort, (aka Bobby Bán 1743 – 1797) son of Robert 1st Earl of Belvedere and brother of George 2nd Earl of Belvedere, died and his estate at Dunboden passed to the Cooper family. The other great Rochfort Estate at Gaulstown also changed hands, Gaulstown passed to Lord Kilmaine. It was The Cooper Family and Lord Kilmaine that in 1847 rebuilt the village as part of a famine relief programme to its present state.

Almost all of the original Robert Rochfort MP village dwellings were demolished during this village revamp by The Coopers of Dunboden and Lord Kilmaine of Gaulstown. The only traces of the Rochfort era still standing in the village is the Protestant church, just off what is now the main street of the village.

Mercy Convent Rochfortbridge''' In 1862 the mercy convent was established in Rochfortbridge and in 1872 with help from the donations of a local family, extended to house a school for females who had a hearing or visual disability. This institution continued until the 1940s when the sisters of mercy established the secondary school.Local Historian Danny Dunne MA has done considerable research into the formation of the parish of Rochfortbridge which would happen as a result of two great benefactors Eliza Fielding  and the Coffeys of Newcastle.The link below contains further information on the origins of the Mercy Convent. http://www.westmeathexaminer.ie/news/roundup/articles/2008/08/26/30239-milestones-in-the-history-of-rochfortbridge

Deaf and Dumb Institute n 1892 at the request of the Most Rev Dr Nulty, Bishop of Meath, MM Stanislaus opened a Deaf and Dumb School in the part of St Joseph's which had been occupied by the sisters before they came to the new Convent (1872). The link below is an account of the history of the Deaf and Dumb Institute

http://www.iol.ie/~stjsrbge/history1.htm

St Josephs Secondary School

n 1947 due to demand for Secondary Education and a lack of such facilities in the area, permission was sought from the Bishop to set up a Secondary School at St. Joseph’s in Rochfortbridge. Permission was granted and in order to fund this venture shares belonging to St. Joseph’s Deaf Mute Institute were sold.

The department required a certified Secondary Teacher so a Secondary Top was established. This worked in conjunction with the national school. In 1948 on 7 September, 14 students, mainly boarders, began their academic career in St. Joseph’s. Conditions were very primitive all over the country at this particular time and the situation improved in 1949 when ESB was brought to the locality. In 1949 two lay Teachers were appointed, Ms. Maureen Doyle, BA H Dip and Ms. B. Galvin. Sr. Magdalene completed her BA and H Dip and at this stage it was decided to discontinue the Secondary Top and to establish a proper Secondary School with Sr. Magdalene as Principal. For two years state exams were held in Loreto, Mullingar for the Rochfortbridge students and in 1952 some of the Sisters visited No 1 Hume Street to secure a centre for exams and we had our first Inter Cert Exams in Rochfortbridge. In 1953 a Leaving Cert Centre was established in the school and gradually the enrolment increased with 65 boarders registered in 1957.

1963 saw a new chapter in education in Rochfortbrige when the Bishop announced the extension of St. Joseph’s to accommodate the boys of the district. The Curriculum was expanded to include subjects such as woodwork, metalwork and science. Due to the increasing numbers further accommodation was required and in 1973 a house and land adjoining the school was purchased. This was the start of plans for a major building project which involved a tremendous amount of fundraising and culminated in the opening of a new school in 1983.

Still planning further expansion the Parochial House and gardens were purchased in 1987 and work began soon after on a new Sports Hall (Gym) which was opened in 1990. The enrolment numbers continued to increase and a new science lab and seven classrooms were opened in 1992. St Josephs Secondary School principal is Eileen Alford who grew up in Rochfortbridge.

Archaelogical sites in Rochfortbridge Other historical sites in the village area include "Castlelost" castle, motte and graveyard(A former Tyrrell stronghold).There is also a fine example of a ring fort in the middle of the village which is preserved along with the Convent of Mercy.

Gaulstown Chapel and graveyard. (Burial place of Robert Rochfort MP, founder of the village, and Robert Rochfort 1st Earl of Belvedere)

There are also many Megalithic and Neolithic sites plus many notable buildings in the area.

Present day
The village has a new N6 Dual Carriageway from Kinnegad to Athlone bypassing the village. The village has two primary and one secondary school within the village with two further primary schools in the parish.

The village of Rochfortbridge is a rural agricultural and dormitory village. Alongside the rural farmhouses and detached residential homes there are a number of town houses and housing estates in the village.

The Socio economic data provided by the 2006 census show that there are 45 farmers in the village with 33 farmworkers.This compares to 226 professional workers including teachers social workers nurses gardai ( positions that would normally require at least a diploma qualification)and 826 workers who range from skilled manuel( carpenters electricians etc.) to unskilled labourers.There are a further 179 persons who refer to themselves as employer managers.

Educational data derived from the 2006 census for Rochfortbridge show that educational attainment in higher education is below the national average which is approx 18.5%. There are 10 persons who hold a primary degree :4 male and 76 female.There are 8 males and 6 females that hold a professional qualification but not a degree.There are 20 persons (6 males and 14 females)who hold a degree and a professional qualification ,there are 20 persons ( 7 males and 13 females ) who hold a postgraduate diploma and a degree and there is one male and 3 females who are reported to have a masters degree.There are no holders of doctorates in Rochfortbridge.http://census.cso.ie/censusasp/saps/Pages/Select_Theme_Table12_Live.asp

The Housing Estates within the Village (in order of construction) are:

1950s
 * Derrygreenagh Park – Built in the 1950s by the state agency Bord na Mona as housing for its employees ,Derrygreenagh Park was one of a small number of housing estates built to a particular design.Estate has won award for its tidiness and has the added attraction of a pitch n putt course.
 * Ahona- Small Estate built in the 1950s by Bord na Mona.

1990 – 2000
 * Castle Park -Small Housing estate built by Westmeath County Council to the west end of the village. Castle Park Estate was enlarged as part of Westmeath County Councils Housing Program.
 * Brookfield – Small Estate built by Westmeath County Council in 1990s consisting of dormer semi detached houses.
 * Castlelost Vale – Large Estate, built in late 1990s.
 * Rahanine Manor – Large Estate, built in late 1990s.
 * Stonebridge Park – Large Estate.
 * The Sycamores – Small Estate, built in late 1990s
 * The Crescent – Small Estate, built in late 1990s

There are two public houses in Rochfortbridge listed below in Alphabetical Order.


 * Bagnalls Pub – Built in the early 2000s as part of a small retail development.
 * Lysters Bar – Also on the main street of the Village, now ran by the Kenny family

Local businesses in the village are varied and include a Supermarket, Pizza Shop, Hair Salons, Chinese Take Away, Bookmakers, Cafe, Take away, Garage Service Station, Estate Agents, Pharmacy, General Stores,Post Office and Aluminium/PVC fabriction factory.

Westmeath County Council Development plans for Rochfortbridge 2008 Village enhancement plan http://www.westmeathcoco.ie/en/media/Part%20VIII%20-%20Rochfortbridge%20Village%20Enhancement.pdf 2008–2014 village plan http://www.westmeathcoco.ie/developmentPlan/documents/Draft%20Plan/Part%204.%20Village%20Plans.pdf Newspaper Articles redevelopment of Rochfortbridge 2011 Bus stop meeting http://www.westmeathexaminer.ie/news/roundup/articles/2010/09/08/3999793-councillors-row-over-rochfortbridge-bus-stop Against the odds the blowins bed down 2010 tp://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/weekend/2010/0619/1224273081790.html Rochfortbridge: 'It's a very natural, not contrived sense ofcommunityhttp://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/features/2010/0621/1224272941723.html Flag ship amenities for Rochfortbridge http://www.advertiser.ie/mullingar/article/23579 Confusion over proposed Playground http://www.westmeathexaminer.ie/news/aroundthecounty/articles/2009/07/14/389457-confusion-over-the-future-of-the-proposed-playground