County Monaghan is set
in 500 square miles of lush rolling hills and beautiful
lakelands in the north Midlands of Ireland. It is one of
three counties situated in the province of Ulster without
being part of Northern Ireland. The county borders County
Tyrone (Northern Ireland) to the north, County Armagh (NI)
to the east, County Louth (Republic of Ireland) to the
southeast, County Meath (ROI) to the south, County Cavan
(ROI) to the southwest and County Fermanagh (NI) to the
west. There is a pene-enclave jutting into Fermanagh in
the western area of the county.
Monaghan is the birthplace of the poet and writer
Patrick Kavanagh, who based much of his work in the
county. Kavanagh is one of the most significant figures
in mid 20th century Irish Poetry. The poems Stony
Grey Soil and Shancoduff refer to the county.
The award winning Monaghan County Museum and art
gallery has outstanding displays of historic and
archaeological importance. The Monaghan Jazz and
Blues Festival attracts international performers
and fans alike. Visitors to County Monaghan can also
enjoy fine dining at Castle Leslie and some of Ireland's
finest handmade lace from Clones and Carrickmacross.
There are several mountains in the county: Mullyash
Mountain, Slieve Beagh (on the Irish border with
Tyrone and Fermanagh), and Coolberrin Hill (214 m).
There are also a large number of lakes, including
Lough Egish, Lough Fea, Muckno Lough, Lough Avaghon,
Inner Lough (in Dartrey Forest), Drumlona Lough,
and White Lough.
Rivers in Monaghan include the river Fane (in the
southeast of the county and along the border with
Louth), river Glyde (along the Louth and Meath borders),
the river Blackwater (along the border with Tyrone,
Northern Ireland), and Dromore river (along the border
of Cavan, linking Cootehill to Ballybay).
Monaghan also has a number of forests, including Rossmore
Forest, Dartrey Forest, and Dun a Ri Forest. Managed
by Coillte since 1988, the majority of trees are conifers.
Due to a long history of intensive farming practices
and recent intensive forestry practices only small
pockets of native woodland remain.
