Leitrim-Roscommon

I am asking this question specifically about life in County Roscommon in the 19th century, although I guess it would apply to agrarian culture anywhere in Ireland and Scotland.

The Griffith's Valuation and later Irish civil records make mention of the "Herd." What were the duties of a Herd in this context?

The Griffith's mentions the "Herd's house" and other Herd buildings.
The civil birth records in Roscommon mention the "Herd's child."

What were the duties of a Herd to residents of the townland? Did a townland have only one Herd? What was the relationship of the
Herd to the landlord? Was this a respected position in the community especially among other tenants?

A Herd was a person who looked after the lifestock on the larger farms, he usualy lived in a small house built on the land. A townland wouldn't have a specific herd, there could be a few herds in a townland depending on the number of big farms in it. I would imagine the herd wouldn't be very popular with the smaller landholders, he being a servant of the aristocracy. Many herds were able to take over some of the big farms when the landlords fell on hard times and they in turn became the "new rich"