County Monaghan
54°14′38″N7°02′24″W/ 54.244°N 7.040°W
County Monaghan
Contae Mhuineacháin | |
|---|---|
 Coat of arms | |
| Nickname: The Drumlin County
The Farney County | |
| Motto(s): | |
 | |
| Country | Ireland |
| Province | Ulster |
| Region | Northern and Western |
| Established | 1585[1] |
| County town | Monaghan |
| Government | |
| •Local authority | Monaghan County Council |
| •Dáil constituency | Cavan–Monaghan |
| •EP constituency | Midlands–North-West |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1,295 km2(500 sq mi) |
| • Rank | 28th |
| Highest elevation | 373 m (1,224 ft) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 65,288 |
| • Rank | 28th |
| • Density | 50/km2(130/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC±0(WET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+1(IST) |
| Eircoderouting keys | A75, A81, H18, H23 |
| Telephone area codes | in the South of the County 042 - Carrickmacross and Castleblayney in the North of the County 047 - Clones and Monaghan |
| Vehicle index mark code | MN |
| Website | Official website |
 | |
County Monaghan(/ˈmɒnəhən/MON-ə-hən;[3]Irish:Contae Mhuineacháin) is acountyin Ireland. It is in theprovinceofUlsterand is part ofBorderstrategic planning area of theNorthern and Western Region.It is named after the town ofMonaghan.Monaghan County Councilis thelocal authorityfor the county. The population of the county was 65,288 according to the 2022 census.[2]
The county has existed since 1585 when theMac Mathghamhnarulers ofAirgíallaagreed to join theKingdom of Ireland.Following the 20th-centuryIrish War of Independenceand the signing of theAnglo-Irish Treaty,Monaghan was one of three Ulster counties to join theIrish Free Staterather thanNorthern Ireland.
Geography and subdivisions[edit]
County Monaghan is the fifth smallest of the Republic's 26 counties by area, and the fourth smallest by population.[4]It is the smallest of Ulster's nine counties in terms of population.
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1600 | 2,988 | — |
| 1610 | 4,663 | +56.1% |
| 1653 | 5,801 | +24.4% |
| 1659 | 9,734 | +67.8% |
| 1821 | 174,697 | +1694.7% |
| 1831 | 195,536 | +11.9% |
| 1841 | 200,442 | +2.5% |
| 1851 | 141,823 | −29.2% |
| 1861 | 126,482 | −10.8% |
| 1871 | 114,969 | −9.1% |
| 1881 | 102,748 | −10.6% |
| 1891 | 86,206 | −16.1% |
| 1901 | 74,611 | −13.5% |
| 1911 | 71,455 | −4.2% |
| 1926 | 65,131 | −8.9% |
| 1936 | 61,289 | −5.9% |
| 1946 | 57,215 | −6.6% |
| 1951 | 55,345 | −3.3% |
| 1956 | 52,064 | −5.9% |
| 1961 | 47,088 | −9.6% |
| 1966 | 45,732 | −2.9% |
| 1971 | 46,242 | +1.1% |
| 1979 | 50,376 | +8.9% |
| 1981 | 51,192 | +1.6% |
| 1986 | 52,379 | +2.3% |
| 1991 | 51,293 | −2.1% |
| 1996 | 51,313 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 52,593 | +2.5% |
| 2006 | 55,997 | +6.5% |
| 2011 | 60,483 | +8.0% |
| 2016 | 61,386 | +1.5% |
| 2022 | 65,288 | +6.4% |
| [2][5][6] | ||
Baronies[edit]
- Cremorne(Irish:Críoch Mhúrn)
- Dartree(Irish:Dartraighe)
- Farney(Irish:Fearnaigh)
- Monaghan(Irish:Muineachán)
- Truagh(Irish:An Triúcha)
Civil parishes and townlands[edit]
Towns and villages[edit]
Largest Towns in County Monaghan (2016 Census)[edit]
- Monaghan= 7,678[7]
- Carrickmacross= 5,032[7]
- Castleblayney= 3,607[7]
- Clones= 1,680[7]
- Ballybay= 1,241[7]
Geography[edit]
Notable mountains includeSlieve Beagh(on the Tyrone and Fermanagh borders),Mullyash MountainandCoolberrin Hill(214 m, 702 ft). Lakes includeLough Avaghon,Dromore Lough,Drumlona Lough,Lough Egish,Emy Lough, Lough Fea, Inner Lough (inDartrey Forest),Muckno LoughandWhite Lough.Notable rivers include theRiver Fane(along the Louth border), theRiver Glyde(along the Louth and Meath borders), theUlster Blackwater(along the Tyrone border) and theDromore River(along the Cavan border, linkingCootehilltoBallybay).
Monaghan has a number of forests, including Rossmore Forest andDartrey Forest.Managed byCoilltesince 1988, the majority of trees areconifers.Due to a long history ofintensive farmingand recent intensive forestry practices, only small pockets of native woodland remain.
TheFinn Bridgeis a border crossing point over the River Finn to County Fermanagh. It is close toScotshouse.
Geology[edit]
Leadused to be mined in County Monaghan. Mines includedAnnaglogh Lead MinesandLisdrumgormley Lead Mines.
History[edit]
In 1585, the EnglishLord Deputy of Ireland,Sir John Perrot,visited the area and met the Irishchieftains.They requested thatUlsterbe divided into counties and land in the kingdom ofAirgíallabe apportioned to the local chiefs. A commission was established to accomplish this and County Monaghan came into being. The county was subdivided into fivebaronies:Farney,Cremorne,Dartrey,andMonaghancontrolled byMacMahonand Truagh byMcKenna.
After the defeat of the rebellion ofThe Earl of Tyroneand the Ulster chieftains in 1603, the county was not planted like the other counties of Ulster. The lands were instead left in the hands of the native chieftains. In theIrish Rebellion of 1641,the McMahons and their allies joined the general rebellion ofIrish Catholics.Following their defeat, some colonisation of the county took place by Scottish and English families.
Inland waterways[edit]
County Monaghan is traversed by the derelictUlster Canal.[8]However,Waterways Irelandare embarking on a scheme to reopen the canal fromLough ErneintoClones.
Railways[edit]
TheUlster RailwaylinkedMonaghanwithArmaghandBelfastin 1858 and with theDundalk and Enniskillen RailwayatClonesin 1863.[8]: Map 8 It became part of theGreat Northern Railway(GNR) in 1876.[8]: xiii Thepartition of Irelandin 1922 turned the boundary withCounty Armaghinto an international frontier, after which trains were routinely delayed by customs inspections. In 1957, theGovernment of Northern Irelandmade the GNR Board close the line betweenPortadownandArmagh,and all lines between Armagh and County Monaghan. This left the GNR Board with no option but to withdraw passenger services between Armagh and Clones as well.[8]: Map 39 CIÉtook over the remaining section of line between Clones, Monaghan andGlasloughin 1958, but withdrew goods services between Monaghan and Glaslough in 1959 and between Clones and Monaghan in 1960, leaving Monaghan with no railway service.[8]: Map 39
Governance and politics[edit]
 | This section needs to beupdated.The reason given is: to reflect more recent general and local elections.(June 2022) |
Local government[edit]
At the2019 local election,County Monaghan was divided into threelocal electoral areas,each of formed a municipal district:Ballybay–Clones,Carrickmacross–Castleblayney,andMonaghan.[9]
| Party | Seats | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Sinn Féin | 6 | −1 |
| Fine Gael | 5 | = |
| Fianna Fáil | 4 | = |
| Independent | 3 | +1 |
Former districts[edit]
The towns of Ballybay, Carrickmacross, Castleblayney, Clones and Monaghan were formerly represented by nine-membertown councilswhich dealt with local matters such as the provision of utilities and housing.[10]These were abolished in 2014 under theLocal Government Reform Act 2014.
National politics[edit]
For elections toDáil Éireann,the county is part of the constituency ofCavan–Monaghanwhich elects fiveTDs.[11]In the2011 general election,there was a voter turnout of 72.7%.[12]
For elections to theEuropean Parliament,the county is part of theMidlands–North-Westconstituency.[13]
Culture and architecture[edit]
County Monaghan is the birthplace of the poet and writerPatrick Kavanagh,who based much of his work in the county. Kavanagh is one of the most significant figures in 20th-centuryIrish poetry.The poems "Stony Grey Soil" and "Shancoduff" refer to the county.
County Monaghan has produced several successful artists. Chief among these is George Collie (1904–75), who was born inCarrickmacrossand trained at theDublin Metropolitan School of Art.He was a prolific exhibitor at theRoyal Hibernian Academythroughout his lifetime and is represented by works in the collection of theNational Gallery of Irelandand theUlster Museum.
County Monaghan was also the home county of the Irish writerSir Shane Leslie(1885–1971), 3rdBaronetofGlaslough,who lived atCastle Lesliein the north-east corner of the county. A Catholic convert, Irish nationalist and first cousin ofSir Winston Churchill,Prime Minister of the United Kingdom,Leslie became an important literary figure in the early 1900s. He was a close friend of many politicians and writers of the day including the American novelistF. Scott Fitzgerald(1896–1940), who dedicated his second novel,The Beautiful and Damned,to Leslie.
Monaghan County Museumis recognised as one of the leading provincial museums in Ireland, with a Council of Europe Award (1980), among others, to its credit. Located in Hill Street, Monaghan Town, the museum aims to reflect the history of County Monaghan and its people in all its richness and diversity.
The best of the county's architecture developed in theGeorgianandVictorianperiods and ranges from the dignified public spaces of Church Square and The Diamond in Monaghan Town to the great country houses of Lough Fea, Carrickmacross; Hilton Park,Clonesand Castle Leslie, Glaslough.
Significant ecclesiastical buildings include St Joseph's Catholic Church inCarrickmacross;the Gothic-Revival St Patrick's Church of Ireland Church, Monaghan Town, and St Macartan's Catholic Cathedral, Monaghan Town, byJames Joseph McCarthy(1817–1882).
Economy[edit]
Agriculture is a significant part of the County Monaghan economy, employing about 12% of the population in 2011 (compared with 5% nationally).[14]The county is the main source ofeggsupplies in theRepublic of Ireland.[15]
Notable people[edit]
 | This sectionneeds additional citations forverification.(October 2017) |
Literature and scholarship[edit]
- Patrick Kavanagh(21 October 1904 – 30 November 1967) – Poet[16]
- Patrick McCabe– Novelist and member ofAosdána.Born 1955.[17]
- Eugene McCabe– Playwright, novelist and screenwriter, also a member of Aosdána. Born 1930, lives inClones.[18]
- Sir Shane Leslie,3rdBt(1885–1971) - Writer and political activist, 3rdBaronetofGlasloughand first-cousin ofSir Winston Churchill.Resided atCastle Leslie.
- Evelyn Shirley– Writer and antiquarian. Resided at Lough Fea House near Carrickmacross.
- John Robert Gregg(1867–1948) – Pioneer of modern shorthand writing.[19]
- Sir Tyrone Guthrie(1900–1971) – Writer, theatrical director and founder of theTyrone Guthrie Centre.[20]Born inRoyal Tunbridge Wells,his maternal grandmother was fromNewbliss.He settled at Annaghmakerrig House in County Monaghan late in his life.
Politics and military[edit]
- Andrew, 11th Baron Blayney(1770–1834), a prominent military commander with theBritish Army,especially during theNapoleonic Wars.Also hadCastleblayney,his estate town, rebuilt in the early nineteenth century.
- Sir Charles Gavan Duffy(12 April 1816 – 9 February 1903), Irish Nationalist and Australian politician who served asPrime Ministerof theColony of Victoria.Born inMonaghantown.[21]
- Joseph Finegan(17 November 1814 – 29 October 1885),ConfederateGeneral and victor at theBattle of Olustee
- Francis Fitzpatrick(1859–1933), recipient of theVictoria Cross
- Eoin O'Duffy(20 October 1892 – 30 November 1944), turns Chief of Staff of theIrish Republican Army,Commissioner of theGarda Síochánaand leader of theBlueshirtsand ofFine Gael.He was also Commander of theIrish Brigadein theSpanish Civil War.Born near Castleblayney.[22]
- Sir Basil Kelly(1920–2008) -UUPpolitician and senior-ranking Northern Irish judge. He served as the lastAttorney General for Northern Irelandunder the oldStormont regime,serving in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Born in County Monaghan but raised and educated inBelfast.
- Juan Mackenna(1771–1814), veteran of theChilean War of Independenceand Co-Liberator of Chile.
- Heber MacMahon,Lord Bishop of Clogher-Catholicprelatewho also served as a military commander for the 'Confederation of Kilkenny' during the 1640s. He commanded at theBattle of Scarrifholis,nearLetterkenny,in 1650. Bishop MacMahon was born inInishkeen.
- Sir William Whitla(1851–1933), physician and politician. Born and raised inMonaghan Town.
- Thomas Taggart(1856–1929), United States Senator andMayor of Indianapolis.
- Charles Davis Lucas(1834–1914), A native ofCounty Armaghwho was the first-ever recipient of theVictoria Cross.Resided for a time atCastleshane.
- Fergal O'Hanlon(1936–1957),IRAvolunteer, killed during theBorder Campaign.
- Thomas Hughes(1885–1942), Soldier and recipient of the Victoria Cross.
- Patricia McKenna,former MEP
- Rory O'Hanlon,politician, formerCeann Comhairleand formercabinetminister. Born 1934.
- David Nelson,recipient of theVictoria Cross
- David Storey(1856–1924), member of theNew South Wales Legislative Assembly
- Jim Lynagh,Commander East Tyrone Brigade IRA
- Séamus McElwaine,OC South Fermanagh Brigade IRA
Sport[edit]
- Dame Mary Bailey(1890–1960),aviatorwho was the daughter ofThe 5th Baron Rossmoreand wife ofSir Abe Bailey,theSouth African'Randlord'.
- Barry McGuigan,world Boxing Champion 1985. Born inClones28 February 1960.[23]
- Tommy Bowe,Rugby Unionplayer, born inMonaghantown, 22 February 1984.[24]
- James Cecil Parke(1881–1946), Tennis and rugby player. Olympic silver medalist in tennis, twice winner of the Wimbledon Mixed Doubles title and Australian Men's Singles title winner. Captain of the Irish rugby team
- Kevin McBride,Olympic Boxer
- Daniel McKenna(born 1987), rally driver
- John McKenna(1855–1936), the first manager of Liverpool Football Club along with W.E. Barclay.
Music and entertainment[edit]
- Oliver Callan(born 1980), satirist and mimic, born County Monaghan[25]
- Terry Cavanagh,video game designer[citation needed]
- The Flaws,indie rock band fromCarrickmacross
- "Big Tom"McBride (1936–2018), country singer[26]
- Ryan Sheridan,singer and guitarist[27]
Acting[edit]
- Caitriona Balfe,fashion model and actress
- Ardal O'Hanlon,actor and comedian
- Charlene McKenna,actress
- Aoibhinn McGinnity,actress
Art[edit]
- Alexander Williams(1846–1930), Artist, born inMonaghantown.
Religion[edit]
- DrJohn Darley(1799–1884),Church of IrelandLord Bishop of Kilmore, Elphin and Ardagh,1874–84.
- George Jeffreys(1889–1962),Welshfounder of theElim Pentecostal Church,which was first established inMonaghantown in 1915. The movement now has some 9,000 churches worldwide.
- Ellen McKenna(1819–1883), Irish Sisters of Mercy nun, American civil war nurse and teacher.
Twin cities[edit]
County Monaghan istwinnedwith the following places:
Geel,Flanders,Belgium
Emyvale, Prince Edward Island,Canada- Miramichi,New Brunswick,Canada
- Peterborough,Ontario,Canada
See also[edit]
- List of abbeys and priories in the Republic of Ireland (County Monaghan)
- Lord Lieutenant of Monaghan
- High Sheriff of Monaghan
Notes[edit]
- ^Russell, C. W. (21 June 1874)."Calendar of the State Papers, Relating to Ireland, of the Reign of James I.: Preserved in Her Majesty's Public Record Office, and Elsewhere. 1606 - 1608".Longmans, Green, Reader, & Dyer – via Google Books.
- ^abc"Census Mapping – Monaghan County Council".Census 2022.Central Statistics Office.Retrieved9 January2024.
- ^"Monaghan definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary".www.collinsdictionary.com.Archivedfrom the original on 10 March 2021.Retrieved4 January2020.
- ^Corry, Eoghan (2005).The GAA Book of Lists.Hodder Headline Ireland. pp. 186–191.
- ^"Census 2016 Sapmap Area: County Monaghan".Central Statistics Office (Ireland).Archived fromthe originalon 28 July 2020.Retrieved25 February2020.
- ^for post 1821 figures, 1653 and 1659 figures from Civil Survey Census of those years, Paper of Mr Hardinge to Royal Irish Academy 14 March 1865, For a discussion on the accuracy of pre-famine census returns see JJ Lee "On the accuracy of the Pre-famine Irish censuses Irish Population, Economy and Society edited by JM Goldstrom and LA Clarkson (1981) p54, in and also New Developments in Irish Population History, 1700–1850 by Joel Mokyr and Cormac O Grada in The Economic History Review, New Series, Vol. 37, No. 4 (Nov., 1984), pp. 473-488.Archived9 March 2005 at theWayback Machine
- ^abcde"Percentage population change in Ireland's cities and towns, 2011-2016".Census 2016.CSO.2016.Archivedfrom the original on 1 November 2020.Retrieved21 April2020.
- ^abcdeHajducki, S. Maxwell (1974).A Railway Atlas of Ireland.Newton Abbott:David & Charles.map 9.ISBN0-7153-5167-2.
- ^County of Monaghan Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts Order 2018 (S.I. No. 629 of 2018). Signed on 19 December 2018. Statutory Instrument of theGovernment of Ireland.Archivedfrom the original on 3 February 2019. Retrieved fromIrish Statute Bookon 11 September 2020.
- ^[1]Archived29 August 2010 at theWayback Machine
- ^Electoral (Amendment) (Dáil Constituencies) Act 2017,Schedule (No. 39 of 2017, Schedule). Enacted on 23 December 2017. Act of theOireachtas.Archivedfrom the original on 18 July 2018. Retrieved fromIrish Statute Bookon 22 December 2021.
- ^"Cavan-Monaghan - RTÉ News".RTÉ.ie.Archived fromthe originalon 7 March 2011.Retrieved3 March2011.- Election 2011 Cavan–Monaghan
- ^European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Act 2019, s. 7: Substitution of Third Schedule to Principal Act (No. 7 of 2019, s. 7). Enacted on 12 March 2019. Act of theOireachtas.Retrieved fromIrish Statute Bookon 21 December 2021.
- ^"Monaghan Socio Economic Profile"(PDF).Monaghan County Council.April 2015.Archived(PDF)from the original on 28 July 2020.Retrieved8 May2020.
- ^Ryan, Órla (28 April 2020)."Egg shortage in some supermarkets amid bird flu outbreak and increased demand".TheJournal.ie.Archivedfrom the original on 3 May 2020.Retrieved5 May2020.
- ^"Life".Patrick Kavanagh 1904 – 1967.Patrick Kavanagh Trust,Trinity College Dublin.Archivedfrom the original on 7 June 2009.Retrieved10 November2009.
- ^"Current members. Literature: Patrick McCabe".Aosdána.Archived fromthe originalon 16 October 2018.Retrieved16 October2018.
- ^"Current members. Literature: Eugene McCabe".Aosdána.Archivedfrom the original on 16 October 2018.Retrieved16 October2018.
- ^Cowan, Leslie. "John Robert Gregg: A Biography". Oxford: The Pre-Raphaelite Press, 1984, p. 11.
- ^"William Tyrone Guthrie".Tyrone Guthrie Centre.Archivedfrom the original on 17 October 2018.Retrieved16 October2018.
- ^Joy E. Parnaby (1972)."Sir Charles Gavan Duffy (1816–1903)".Australian Dictionary of Biography.Vol. 4. Canberra: National Centre of Biography,Australian National University.ISBN978-0-522-84459-7.ISSN1833-7538.OCLC70677943.Archivedfrom the original on 8 April 2011.Retrieved10 November2009.
- ^"GEN. EOIN O'DUFFY (1892 -1944)".Cumann na nGaedhael History.Collins 22 Society. Archived fromthe originalon 8 December 2009.Retrieved10 November2009.
- ^"Barry McGuigan".BoxRec.com Boxing Encyclopedia.Retrieved10 November2009.[dead link]
- ^"Tommy Bowe 2009 British and Irish Lions Squad Profile".Archived fromthe originalon 25 April 2009.Retrieved10 November2009.
- ^Chris True."Biography: Monaghan Mimic".all music.Retrieved10 November2009.
- ^"Big Tom".BBC Music.BBC.Archivedfrom the original on 6 April 2010.Retrieved10 November2009.
- ^"Ryan Sheridan".Rubyworks Records.Archived fromthe originalon 27 September 2011.Retrieved2 August2011.
External links[edit]
- Monaghan County Council
- Monaghan TourismMap
- Sliabh Beagh Hotel and Tourism Centre
- History: Overview and Resources,The McMahon Story,Clogherhistory.ie
- Description of County Monaghan (1900)
- Monaghan Architecture
- US protest as map of Monaghan bears an uncanny resemblance to an outline map of Iraq
Places adjacent to County Monaghan | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||||||||||||||
Places inCounty Monaghan | ||
|---|---|---|
| Towns | | |
| Villages andtownlands | ||
| Landforms | ||
The counties are listed perprovince | ||
 Connacht |  | |
 Leinster | ||
 Munster | ||
 Ulster | ||
| ||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Geographic | |