County Cavan is one of three counties situated in the province of Ulster without being part of Northern Ireland. It was created by Elizabeth I of England. Cavan, the most southerly of the Ulster counties, is greatly diversified in surface. Its highest point is Cuilcagh Mountain (2,188 feet) in the mountainous projection of the county, which reaches northwestwards between Counties Leitrim and Fermanagh.

Ireland's longest river, the Shannon has its source on the southern slopes of Cuilcagh. Most of the county is undulating land, with low round hills and myriad lakes. The River Erne, rising in Lough Gowna and flowing northwards through the centre of the county, spreads itself in a maze of small sheets of water separated by promontories and islands of every shape and size. Many of the Cavan lakes are very beautiful and offer first class coarse angling.

The Cavan area has been inhabited for over 5,000 years and there is much evidence of these early Cavan people throughout the county. The West Cavan area is particularly rich in archaeological sites. Throughout Co. Cavan many people lived on artificial islands or Crannogs, many of which were used for hundreds of years.

Missionaries converted the County Cavan to Christianity in the 6th Century. St Feidhlim founded a church at Kilmore, while St Mogue set up an abbey at Drumlane.

In the Later Middle Ages (1200-1600), Cavan was a border area under the control of Irish chieftains. The Anglo-Normans had settled to the West and South as they tried to conquer Cavan, but were driven back. They built a castle at Lough Oughter and a motte and bailey at Belturbet. In 1579, County Cavan took on its present boundaries.

In the early 17th Century, Cavan was settled by planters from England and Scotland who laid the foundations for many towns and villages such as Belturbet, Killeshandra and Virginia. In the next century their descendants built fine houses, many of which are still standing today. Cavan's history as a holiday destination dates from this time, when visitors from all over Ireland flocked to the mineral spas at Swanlinbar in West Cavan.

The countryside prospered with the growth of the linen industry. The process of turning flax plants into linen took place locally. The cloth was then sold in Cootehill. The population grew dramatically, and in 1841 nearly a quarter of a million people lived here - over four times the current population. At this time over half the population depended entirely on potatoes for food. When the potato crop failed for two successive years in 1845 and 1846, there was widespread starvation and hardship.

After the Famine Cavan became a very rural area, with many lively market towns and villages, but few industries. Widespread emmigration took place in search of work to America, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, where many gained wealth and fame.

The partition of Ireland in 1922 made Cavan into a border area once again, though thankfully it was spared involvement in the conflicts of recent years.

Cavan Town, with its beautiful cathedral, is home to the popular Cavan Crystal brand of hand-cut glass, and also to Killykeen Forest park, on Lough Oughter, one of the finest coarse fishing lakes in Ireland.

In song, Cavan is most famous because of Percy French's song, 'Come back Paddy Reilly to Ballyjamesduff'. Cavan is dotted with numerous lakes, and small picturesque villages and is very popular with visitors.