County Monaghan
County Monaghan, or “Muine Cheain” in the traditional Irish, means “land of the little hills”, and that’s for a good reason. The county has an unusually high occurrence of drumlins, which are hills that formed from the glacial activity in long ago ice ages. These hills, as well as the mostly country-like setting of the county are what draws visitors and makes Monaghan one of the most popular counties in all of Ireland.
County Monaghan is in the northern end of the Republic and it’s the sixth smallest county with a relatively low population of about 56,000. The area is booming, though, with both population growth and tourism. It’s a scenic area with lots to see and do. There’s something for everybody – the outdoors for sports enthusiasts, museums for culture, historic churches and castles for sightseers, and even an entertainment complex offering fun for the whole family. Visitors can find a bit of everything here – mountains, forests, lakes and rivers.
There are several towns located in Monaghan, and not surprisingly Monaghan Town is chief among them. It’s the capital of the county, as well as being the centre of the county’s furniture industry. It’s a lively town with a population of about 6,000. It’s best explored on foot since it is compact.
Castleblayney is a major population centre as well and definitely worth a visit. It’s the place to go if you want to enjoy country and western music. Big Tom and Paddy Cole are just two of the names linked to this town, which hosts country and western music nights in many of its bars and pubs. The Hope Castle is also located here, which is now included as a part of Lough Muckno Leisure Park. The park provides for unlimited family entertainment, with a water-ski centre and 9-hole golf course. There is also an abundance of forest trails complete with lakeside picnic areas.
Carrickmacross is another town of note in County Monaghan. It’s a lovely market town that was originally built around the Earl of Essex’s Castle. Today the Convent of the St. Louis Nuns stands on the castle site, and the town has several other buildings of religious significance, as well as a stunning Roman Catholic Church. Carrickmacross is also home to the Nuremore Golf and Country Club, an 18-hole championship golf course offering challenges for players of all skills.
County Monaghan takes its roots from the Gaelic Kingdom of Oriel, which goes back to around 330 AD. As time progressed, however, the name was changed to MacMahon’s County, probably due in large part to the rather large MacMahon clan living there at the time. Around the 17th century, however, County Monaghan received the name that it has kept to the present day.
County Monaghan has undergone much change over the years. In the middle part of the 1800’s, it was a booming population centre, but sadly that changed during the famines of the 1800’s during which almost a third of the residents succumbed to starvation. But today the county remains a centre of activity with much for the tourist to see and do.
In addition to its town centres, each with their own unique attractions for the sightseer or historian, County Monaghan is rich in things to see and do. With its unspoiled landscape, abundance of wildlife, and stunningly beautiful scenic wonders, visitors have many options for their holiday pleasures. There is an abundance of lakes for fishing, plenty of naturally wooded trails for walking or cycling, golf courses and equestrian centres for horseback riding. Branded USB sticks.
There is also a varied nightlife in the county, including a variety of restaurants and pubs, many with music and dancing nightly.
Probably County Monaghan’s most famous son is Barry McGuigan, also known as “the Clones Cyclone." People may remember him as a world famous boxer who won the British title in 1983, scoring a first round knockout decision against opponent Lavon McGowan in Chicago. He also won the European featherweight title in that same year. McGuigan has many other victories to his credit and his record today stands at 35 fights, with 32 of them wins and 3 defeats. Today he is a well-known commentator on British television.
There are many good reasons to make a visit to County Monaghan a part of your holiday plans. In addition to its many wonderful outdoor pursuits, many visitors come to the region in order to trace their ancestral roots. The Monaghan Ancestral Research Centre, located in the town of Monaghan, can provide a wealth of information as well as research assistance for these endeavours.