Cavan (An Cabhan, "Hollow Place"), county town of Cavan county, lies in a pleasant district of hills and lakes near the Northern Ireland border, at the junction of the N3, coming from the southeast, with the northsouth road, the N54/N55.
The town was completely destroyed by British forces in 1690. An old tower marks the site of an abbey founded about 1300, round which the original settlement grew up. Cavan is the administrative center for the county of the same name.
From Kingscourt the R165 goes west through the hills to the little market town of Bailieborough, which has a Court House of 1817 and a Market House of 1818.
The hilly countryside with its many loughs spreads west of Belturbet for 10-12mi/15-20km. Ballyconnell, a popular coarse-fishing center, has a 17th C. church.
Five mi/eight km north of Cavan is Ballyhaise, with a good 18th century Market House borne on arches and Ballyhaise Castle (by Richard Cassels, 1731), now occupied by an agricultural college.
From Drumlane the R201 runs north to Belturbet, near the Northern Ireland border, starting point for cabin cruiser trips on the River Erne (good fishing). To the north, over the border, is Lough Erne.
From Cavan the R188 runs northeast to the little town of Cootehill. North of the town lies Bellamont Forest, in which, on the shores of Dromore Lough, is the fine Palladian mansion of Bellamont House (1729).
The R201, running west from the lake district near Cavan, comes in 3mi/5km to Drumlane. Here, beautifully situated between two loughs, are a round tower and a church (National Monument), both belonging to a former monastery. The church dates from the 13th and 15th C.; the tower, still standing 45ft/14m high, with badly weathered carvings of birds, from the 12th C.
From Ballyconnell, the R200 climbs steeply up into the Iron Mountains, goes over the Bellavally Gap and descends to Glengevlin, at the foot of the highest mountain in the range, Cuilcagh Mountain (2,070ft/630m).
To the south of Farnham House in Kilmore, a small cathedral town, stands a 19th C. Protestant Cathedral which incorporates a fine late Romanesque doorway. In the churchyard can be seen a richly decorated tomb of Bishop William Bedell, who made the first translation of the Bible into Irish in the 17th C. Also in the town is a well-preserved motte and bailey.
8mi/13km south of Sherlock, at the eastern extremity of Cavan province, is Kingscourt, where rich deposits of gypsum have led to the development of modern industries. The main street has attractive 17th and 18th C. houses. In St Mary's Parish Church are beautiful stained-glass windows by Evie Hone (1947-48).
St Kilian was born in Mullagh at A.D. 640 and set sail from Kenmare Harbor at 680. Kilian and two of his companions were beheaded and their bodies were secretly buried due to Geilana's revenge.
Address: St Kilian's Heritage Center, Mullagh, Cavan , Ireland
9mi/15km south of Bailieborough lies Virginia, named after the virgin Queen, Elizabeth I. Prettily situated on the wooded shores of Lough Ramor, it offers a wide range of sport and recreational facilities (nine-hole golf course, fishing in Lough Ramor, swimming beach, boat rental).
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Bailieborough, Ireland
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