County Monaghan - Towns

Ballybay is a progressive town set among low-lying hills on the shores of Lough Major, head-water of the Dromore River, a tributary of the River Erne. There is excellent coarse fishing in the neighbourhood, particularly for bream. Lough Major, on the Castleblayney road, has also been developed as a trout lake.

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Carrickmacross is an attractive town with a spacious main street, in the southern part of County Monaghan; there is coarse fishing in the lakes near by. The exquisite Carrickmacross lace, which gained the town a great reputation, is still for sale at a local convent. Some slight traces remain of the castle built by the Earl of Essex, on the site now occupied by the St Louis convent.

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Castleblayney is named after Sir Edward Blayney, who received a grant of land here from James I. The town is built on ground sloping up from the western shore of Lough Muckno, the largest and most beautiful of Monaghan's lakes and a well-known coarse fishing water. There are boats for hire, sailing, horse-riding, tennis, golf (9) and forest walks. In the grounds of Lough Muckno Leisure Park stands Hope Castle; the ill-omened Hope Diamond derived its name from the family which lived in the castle. The leisure park is set on 900 acres of wooded country with facilities of many kinds available.

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This is an important agricultural centre beside the Fermanagh border in the western part of County Monaghan. In early Christian times it was the site of a monastery founded by St Tighearnach, who died here in 548. There are some slight remains of a later abbey and a well-preserved round tower. An ancient sculptured Celtic Cross stands in the centre of the town. Clones crochet lace, once widely exported, is still made in the area and a permanent exhibition of Clones lace may be viewed at the Diamond.

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Emyvale was the stronghold of the McKennas, a powerful Celtic family. Originally from Meath, it is said that they established here after one John McKenna came on a hunting trip and spent two days chasing his prey, a wild stag. After the hunt, he rested with the Treanors, the local chieftains and while here, he heard that his position in Meath had been usurped. He subsequently married one of Treanor's daughters, established himself in Tully Fort (which is still in evidence south-east of the village) and his family grew to be the most powerful influence in the area.

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