County Monaghan (Irish: Contae Mhuineacháin) is a county in the Republic of Ireland. It is one of three counties situated in the province of Ulster without being part of Northern Ireland. The name comes from the Irish, derived from Muine Cheain meaning the Land of the little hills. This name refers to the density of drumlins in the area, those small hills formed from glacial action (during a previous ice age).

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 principal town. Other major towns include Carrickmacross, Castleblayney, and Clones.

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.

Geography

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. (see link to Monaghan tourism map below).

Towns and villages

Towns with legally defined boundaries are shown in boldface.

Ballinode, Ballybay
Cabragh, Carrickmacross, Castleblayney, Clones
Emyvale
Inniskeen
Glaslough
Monaghan
Newbliss
Rockcorry
Scotstown, Smithborough, Tydavnet, Truagh

Wikipedia information about County Monaghan
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