Leitrim

County of the Republic of Ireland, in the province of Connacht, bounded on the northwest by Donegal Bay; county town Carrick-on-Shannon; area 1,530 sq km/591 sq mi; population (2002) 25,800. Carrick-on-Shannon, Mohill, and Manorhamilton are the most important towns. The rivers Shannon, Bonet, Drowes, and Duff run through Leitrim. There is some coal, and iron and lead in the mountainous areas, though no longer mined. Potatoes and oats are grown, and some cattle and sheep are reared. Tourism is becoming increasingly important. Parke's Castle (17th century) is one of the most popular attractions in the county.

Physical The surface of the county varies: the north and east is mountainous, with the Truskmore Mountains and Slieve Anierin range, and the south has low hills. There are numerous loughs, of which Lough Allen (3,604 ha/1,459 acres) is the largest; Truskmore (647 m/2,113 ft) in the northern Darty Mountains is the highest point of the county; east of Lough Allen, in the Iron Mountains, is Slieve Anierin (586 m/1,923 ft), noted for rocks containing important marine fossils.