Monaghan is located in Ulster, and is one of three Ulster counties in the Republic of Ireland. It is bordered by Louth and Meath in Leinster and Cavan, Tyrone, Armagh and Fermanagh in Ulster making it a great base to enjoy a scenic touring holiday around these counties.
Monaghan is a pretty place, dotted with drumlin hills and sparkling lakes, and features plenty of fisheries to attract anglers, along with a plethora of lovely walking & hiking trails. It has a strong art & crafts tradition and a number of bronze-age and megalithic archaeological sites.
Monaghan’s lace-making tradition stretches back to the 1800s, when the lively town of Clones supplied lace to France, Italy and the United States. Carrickmacross, in the south of the county, is also a renowned lace-making centre with its own particular style, and again it has been in demand in Ireland, Europe and beyond.
Monaghan Town is the county town, located in the north of the county, with a variety of accommodation, some lively pubs & the Monaghan County Museum, one of the better county museums, and certainly worth a visit.
Iniskeen, close to the Louth border (about 10 kms from Dundalk), is the birthplace of the famous poet, Patrick Kavanagh, whose poetry was often inspired by the county’s scenery, and who has given rise to many of the literary festivals held in Monaghan. The Patrick Kavanagh Rural And Literary Resource Centre in Iniskeen holds a permanent exhibition dedicated to his works, featuring a library, theatre, and a number of paintings illustrating scenes from one of his most famous poems, ‘The Great Hunger’.
Castle Leslie, located in the village of Glaslough, 10 kms north of Monaghan, is one of Ireland’s most luxurious castle hotels and has hosted numerous celebrity parties & events. The history of the current house dates to the 1800s, although there has been a castle there since medieval times. The accommodation in the castle is sumptuously decorated, but the atmosphere is relaxed rather than stuffy and non guests can still enjoy afternoon tea, dinner or a wander around the estate grounds. The estate is home to an excellent equestrian centre and in addition to the castle itself, there is a lodge and various self-catering accommodation available.
