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County Monaghan

{{Short description|County in Ireland}}

{{Use Hiberno-English|date=July 2015}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}}

{{coord|54.244|-7.040|region:IE-MN_type:adm1st_scale:200000|display=title}}

{{Infobox settlement

| name = County Monaghan

| native_name = {{lang|ga|Contae Mhuineacháin}}

| settlement_type = County

| image_shield = County Monaghan CoA.png

| shield_size = 100px

| nickname = The Drumlin County

The Farney County

| motto = {{native name|ga|Dúthracht agus Dícheall}}
"Diligence and Best Endeavour"

| image_map = Island of Ireland location map Monaghan.svg

| area_total_km2 = 1295

| area_rank = 28th

| seat_type = County town

| seat = Monaghan

| blank_name_sec1 = Vehicle index
mark code

| blank_info_sec1 = MN

| population_total = 65288

| population_footnotes = {{cite web | title = Census Mapping – Monaghan County Council | url = https://visual.cso.ie/?body=entity/ima/cop/2022&boundary=C03789V04537&guid=2ae19629-1495-13a3-e055-000000000001 | work = Census 2022 | publisher = Central Statistics Office | access-date = 9 January 2024}}

| population_rank = 28th

| population_as_of = 2022

| population_density_km2 = auto

| leader_title = Local authority

| leader_name = Monaghan County Council

| leader_title2 = Dáil constituency

| leader_name2 = Cavan–Monaghan

| leader_title3 = EP constituency

| leader_name3 = Midlands–North-West

| subdivision_type = Country

| subdivision_name = Ireland

| subdivision_type1 = Province

| subdivision_name1 = Ulster

| subdivision_type2 = Region

| subdivision_name2 = Northern and Western

| website = {{official website}}

| timezone = WET

| utc_offset = ±0

| timezone_DST = IST

| utc_offset_DST = +1

| established_title = Established

| established_date = 1585{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xz1gAAAAcAAJ&q=%22County+Monaghan%22+1607+founded&pg=PA164|title=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|first=C. W.|last=Russell|date=21 June 1874|publisher=Longmans, Green, Reader, & Dyer|via=Google Books}}

| area_code_type = Telephone area codes

| area_code = in the South of the County 042 - Carrickmacross and Castleblayney

in the North of the County 047 - Clones and Monaghan

| postal_code_type = Eircode routing keys

| postal_code = A75, A81, H18, H23

| elevation_max_m = 373

| elevation_max_point = Slieve Beagh

| module = {{infobox mapframe|zoom=8}}

| iso_code = IE-MN

}}

County Monaghan ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|m|ɒ|n|ə|h|ən }} {{respell|MON|ə|hən}};{{Cite web|url=https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/monaghan|title=Monaghan definition and meaning {{!}} Collins English Dictionary|website=www.collinsdictionary.com|language=en|access-date=2020-01-04|archive-date=10 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310052126/https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/monaghan|url-status=live}} {{langx|ga|Contae Mhuineacháin}}) is a county in Ireland. It is in the province of Ulster and is part of Border strategic planning area of the Northern and Western Region. It is named after the town of Monaghan. Monaghan County Council is the local authority for the county. The population of the county was 65,288, according to the 2022 census.

The county has existed since 1585 when the Mac Mathghamhna rulers of Airgíalla agreed to join the Kingdom of Ireland. Following the 20th-century Irish War of Independence and the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty, Monaghan was one of three Ulster counties to join the Irish Free State rather than Northern Ireland.

Geography and subdivisions

County Monaghan is the fifth-smallest of the Republic's 26 counties by area, and the fourth smallest by population.{{cite book| first=Eoghan| last=Corry| title=The GAA Book of Lists| publisher=Hodder Headline Ireland| year=2005| pages=186–191}} It is the smallest of Ulster's nine counties in terms of population.

{{Historical populations

|state=collapsed

|1600|2988

|1610|4663

|1653|5801

|1659|9734

|1821|174697

|1831|195536

|1841|200442

|1851|141823

|1861|126482

|1871|114969

|1881|102748

|1891|86206

|1901|74611

|1911|71455

|1926|65131

|1936|61289

|1946|57215

|1951|55345

|1956|52064

|1961|47088

|1966|45732

|1971|46242

|1979|50376

|1981|51192

|1986|52379

|1991|51293

|1996|51313

|2002|52593

|2006|55997

|2011|60483

|2016|61386

|2022|65288

||footnote={{cite web | url = http://census.cso.ie/sapmap2016/Results.aspx?Geog_Type=CTY31&Geog_Code=2AE19629149513A3E055000000000001 | title = Census 2016 Sapmap Area: County Monaghan | publisher = Central Statistics Office (Ireland) | access-date = 25 February 2020 | archive-date = 28 July 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200728230117/http://census.cso.ie/sapmap2016/Results.aspx?Geog_Type=CTY31&Geog_Code=2AE19629149513A3E055000000000001}}[http://www.cso.ie/census 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.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050309005718/http://www.cso.ie/census/ |date=9 March 2005 }}

}}

=Baronies=

{{main|Baronies of Ireland}}

=Civil parishes and townlands=

{{main|List of civil parishes in County Monaghan|List of townlands in County Monaghan}}

=Towns and villages=

{{div col}}

{{div col end}}

=Largest towns=

As of the 2022 census:

  1. Monaghan – 7,894{{cite web | title = Census Interactive Map – Towns: Monaghan | url = https://visual.cso.ie/?body=entity/ima/cop/2022&boundary=C04160V04929&guid=e8c6a576-7c65-4db1-9964-20ceb00cefec | work = Census 2022 | publisher = Central Statistics Office | access-date = 21 December 2024}}
  2. Carrickmacross – 5,745{{cite web | title = Census Interactive Map – Towns: Carrickmacross | url = https://visual.cso.ie/?body=entity/ima/cop/2022&boundary=C04160V04929&guid=c984ac58-80a7-4651-8cb7-c1dbf1779ad8 | work = Census 2022 | publisher = Central Statistics Office | access-date = 21 December 2024}}
  3. Castleblayney – 3,926{{cite web | title = Census Interactive Map – Towns: Castleblayney | url = https://visual.cso.ie/?body=entity/ima/cop/2022&boundary=C04160V04929&guid=1bc88e3a-8b27-493b-8852-88e01d368f20 | work = Census 2022 | publisher = Central Statistics Office | access-date = 21 December 2024}}
  4. Clones – 1,885{{cite web | title = Census Interactive Map – Towns: Clones | url = https://visual.cso.ie/?body=entity/ima/cop/2022&boundary=C04160V04929&guid=c52070a9-b558-4746-8f10-48f068982cad | work = Census 2022 | publisher = Central Statistics Office | access-date = 21 December 2024}}
  5. Ballybay – 1,329{{cite web | title = Census Interactive Map – Towns: Ballybay | url = https://visual.cso.ie/?body=entity/ima/cop/2022&boundary=C04160V04929&guid=bf717de8-2dc5-4ab0-825b-c5d1c15008fc | work = Census 2022 | publisher = Central Statistics Office | access-date = 21 December 2024}}

=Geography=

File:Shannahergoa Townland - geograph.org.uk - 168118.jpg

Notable mountains include Slieve Beagh (on the Tyrone and Fermanagh borders), Mullyash Mountain and Coolberrin Hill (214 m, 702 ft). Lakes include Lough Avaghon, Dromore Lough, Drumlona Lough, Lough Egish, Emy Lough, Lough Fea, Inner Lough (in Dartrey Forest), Muckno Lough and White Lough. Notable rivers include the River Fane (along the Louth border), the River Glyde (along the Louth and Meath borders), the Ulster Blackwater (along the Tyrone border), and the Dromore River (along the Cavan border, linking Cootehill to Ballybay).

Monaghan has a number of forests, including Rossmore Forest and Dartrey Forest. Managed by Coillte since 1988, the majority of trees are conifers. Because of a long history of intensive farming and recent intensive forestry practices, only small pockets of native woodland remain.

The Finn Bridge is a border crossing point over the River Finn to County Fermanagh. It is close to Scotshouse.

File:Clones Round Tower - geograph.org.uk - 289630.jpg

Geology

Lead used to be mined in County Monaghan. Mines included Annaglogh Lead Mines and Lisdrumgormley Lead Mines.

History

Monaghan has a number of ancient burial sites (court cairns, dolmens and wedge tombs) spread across the county.{{cite book |last=Meehan |first=Cary |date=2004 |title=Sacred Ireland |url= |location=Somerset |publisher=Gothic Image Publications |page=61 |isbn=0-906362-43-1 |access-date=}}

In 1585, the English Lord Deputy of Ireland, Sir John Perrot, visited the area and met the Irish chieftains. They requested that Ulster be divided into counties and land in the kingdom of Airgíalla be apportioned to the local chiefs. A commission was established to accomplish this and County Monaghan came into being. The county was subdivided into five baronies: Farney, Cremorne, Dartrey, and Monaghan controlled by MacMahon and Truagh by McKenna.

After the defeat of the rebellion of The Earl of Tyrone and 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 the Irish Rebellion of 1641, the McMahons and their allies joined the general rebellion of Irish Catholics. Following their defeat, some colonisation of the county took place by Scottish and English families.

Inland waterways

County Monaghan is traversed by the derelict Ulster Canal.{{cite book |last=Hajducki |first=S. Maxwell |year=1974 |title=A Railway Atlas of Ireland |location=Newton Abbott |publisher=David & Charles |isbn=0-7153-5167-2 |at=map 9}} However, Waterways Ireland are embarking on a scheme to reopen the canal from Lough Erne into Clones.

Railways

The Ulster Railway linked {{rws|Monaghan}} with {{rws|Armagh}} and Belfast in 1858 and with the Dundalk and Enniskillen Railway at {{rws|Clones}} in 1863.{{rp|Map 8}} It became part of the Great Northern Railway (GNR) in 1876.{{rp|xiii}} The partition of Ireland in 1922 turned the boundary with County Armagh into an international frontier, after which trains were routinely delayed by customs inspections. In 1957, the Government of Northern Ireland made the GNR Board close the line between {{rws|Portadown}} and Armagh, 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.{{rp|Map 39}} CIÉ took over the remaining section of line between Clones, Monaghan and Glaslough in 1958, but withdrew goods services between Monaghan and Glaslough in 1959 and between Clones and Monaghan in 1960, leaving Monaghan with no railway service.{{rp|Map 39}}

Governance and politics

{{Update|section|reason=to reflect more recent general and local elections|date=June 2022}}

=Local government=

{{main|Monaghan County Council}}

At the 2019 local election, County Monaghan was divided into three local electoral areas, each of formed a municipal district: Ballybay–Clones, Carrickmacross–Castleblayney, and Monaghan.{{cite Irish legislation|year=2018|type=si|number=629|name=County of Monaghan Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts Order 2018|date=19 December 2018|access-date=11 September 2020|archive-date=3 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190203084919/http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2018/si/629/made/en/print|url-status=live}}

class="wikitable" style="width:250px; float:right; margin:5px"

|+ 2019 local election
Monaghan County Council

! Party !! style="text-align:center;"| Seats !! style="text-align:center;"| Change

Sinn Féinstyle="text-align:right;"| 6style="text-align:right;"| −1
Fine Gaelstyle="text-align:right;"| 5style="text-align:right;"| =
Fianna Fáilstyle="text-align:right;"| 4style="text-align:right;"| =
Independentstyle="text-align:right;"| 3style="text-align:right;"| +1

=Former districts=

The towns of Ballybay, Carrickmacross, Castleblayney, Clones and Monaghan were formerly represented by nine-member town councils which dealt with local matters such as the provision of utilities and housing.[http://www.monaghan.ie/websitev2/TownCouncils/default.html] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100829171106/http://www.monaghan.ie/websitev2/TownCouncils/default.html|date=29 August 2010}} These were abolished in 2014 under the Local Government Reform Act 2014.

=National politics =

For elections to Dáil Éireann, the county is part of the constituency of Cavan–Monaghan which elects five TDs.{{cite Irish legislation|year=2017|number=39|schedule=y|name=Electoral (Amendment) (Dáil Constituencies) Act 2017|date=23 December 2017|access-date=22 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718205639/http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2017/act/39/schedule/enacted/en/html|archive-date=18 July 2018|url-status=live}} In the 2011 general election, there was a voter turnout of 72.7%.{{cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/news/election2011/results/cavan-monaghan.html |title=Cavan-Monaghan - RTÉ News |website=RTÉ.ie |access-date=3 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110307075855/http://www.rte.ie/news/election2011/results/cavan-monaghan.html |archive-date=7 March 2011 }} - Election 2011 Cavan–Monaghan

For elections to the European Parliament, the county is part of the Midlands–North-West constituency.{{cite Irish legislation|year=2019|number=7|section=7|stitle=Substitution of Third Schedule to Principal Act|name=European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Act 2019|date=12 March 2019|access-date=21 December 2021}}

Culture and architecture

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 20th-century Irish poetry. The poems "Stony Grey Soil" and "Shancoduff" refer to the county.

File:CastleLeslieSummer2006.jpg

County Monaghan has produced several successful artists. Chief among these is George Collie (1904–75), who was born in Carrickmacross and trained at the Dublin Metropolitan School of Art. He was a prolific exhibitor at the Royal Hibernian Academy throughout his lifetime and is represented by works in the collection of the National Gallery of Ireland and the Ulster Museum.

County Monaghan was also the home county of the Irish writer Sir Shane Leslie (1885–1971), 3rd Baronet of Glaslough, who lived at Castle Leslie in the north-east corner of the county. A Catholic convert, Irish nationalist and first cousin of Sir 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 novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896–1940), who dedicated his second novel, The Beautiful and Damned, to Leslie.

Monaghan County Museum is 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 the Georgian and Victorian periods 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, Clones and Castle Leslie, Glaslough.

Significant ecclesiastical buildings include St Joseph's Catholic Church in Carrickmacross; the Gothic-Revival St Patrick's Church of Ireland Church, Monaghan Town, and St Macartan's Catholic Cathedral, Monaghan Town, by James Joseph McCarthy (1817–1882).

Economy

Agriculture is a significant part of the County Monaghan economy, employing about 12% of the population in 2011 (compared with 5% nationally).{{cite web | title = Monaghan Socio Economic Profile | url = https://monaghan.ie/communitydevelopment/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2016/12/MonaghanSocioEconomicDraftforConsulationApril2015.pdf | date = April 2015 | publisher = Monaghan County Council | access-date = 8 May 2020 | archive-date = 28 July 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200728224628/https://monaghan.ie/communitydevelopment/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2016/12/MonaghanSocioEconomicDraftforConsulationApril2015.pdf | url-status = live }} The county is the main source of egg supplies in the Republic of Ireland.{{cite news|url=https://www.thejournal.ie/egg-shortage-ireland-5086007-Apr2020/|title=Egg shortage in some supermarkets amid bird flu outbreak and increased demand|work=TheJournal.ie|first=Órla|last=Ryan|date=28 April 2020|access-date=5 May 2020|archive-date=3 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200503142140/https://www.thejournal.ie/egg-shortage-ireland-5086007-Apr2020/|url-status=live}}

Notable people

{{more citations needed|section|date=October 2017}}

{{See also|Category:People from County Monaghan}}

=Literature and scholarship=

  • John Robert Gregg (1867–1948) – Pioneer of modern shorthand writing.Cowan, Leslie. "John Robert Gregg: A Biography". Oxford: The Pre-Raphaelite Press, 1984, p. 11.
  • Sir Tyrone Guthrie (1900–1971) – Writer, theatrical director and founder of the Tyrone Guthrie Centre.{{Cite web|url=http://www.tyroneguthrie.ie/history/william-tyrone-guthrie|title=William Tyrone Guthrie|website=Tyrone Guthrie Centre|access-date=2018-10-16|archive-date=17 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181017001655/http://www.tyroneguthrie.ie/history/william-tyrone-guthrie|url-status=live}} Born in Royal Tunbridge Wells, his maternal grandmother was from Newbliss. He settled at Annaghmakerrig House in County Monaghan late in his life.
  • Patrick Kavanagh (1904–1967) – Poet{{cite web |url=http://www.tcd.ie/English/patrickkavanagh/life.html |title=Life |work=Patrick Kavanagh 1904 – 1967 |publisher=Patrick Kavanagh Trust, Trinity College Dublin |access-date=10 November 2009 |archive-date=7 June 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090607162100/http://www.tcd.ie/English/patrickkavanagh/life.html |url-status=live }}
  • Sir Shane Leslie, 3rd Baronet (1885–1971) – Writer and political activist, 3rd Baronet of Glaslough and first-cousin of Sir Winston Churchill. Resided at Castle Leslie.
  • Eugene McCabe (1930–2020) – Playwright, novelist and screenwriter, also a member of Aosdána. Lived in Clones.{{Cite web|url=http://aosdana.artscouncil.ie/Members/Literature/McCabe.aspx|title=Current members. Literature: Eugene McCabe|website=Aosdána|access-date=2018-10-16|archive-date=16 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181016165531/http://aosdana.artscouncil.ie/Members/Literature/McCabe.aspx|url-status=live}}
  • Patrick McCabe (born 1955) – Novelist and member of Aosdána{{Cite web|url=http://aosdana.artscouncil.ie/Members/Literature/McCabe-(1).aspx|title=Current members. Literature: Patrick McCabe|website=Aosdána|access-date=2018-10-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181016165525/http://aosdana.artscouncil.ie/Members/Literature/McCabe-(1).aspx|archive-date=16 October 2018|url-status=dead}}
  • Evelyn Shirley – Writer and antiquarian. Resided at Lough Fea House near Carrickmacross.

=Politics and military=

=Sport=

  • Dame Mary Bailey (1890–1960), aviator who was the daughter of The 5th Baron Rossmore and wife of Sir Abe Bailey, the South African 'Randlord'.
  • Tommy Bowe (born 1980), Rugby Union player, born in Monaghan town{{cite web|url=http://www.lions-tour.com/the_lions/profile.asp?id=62 |title=Tommy Bowe 2009 British and Irish Lions Squad Profile |access-date=10 November 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090425092328/http://www.lions-tour.com/the_lions/profile.asp?id=62 |archive-date=25 April 2009 |df=dmy }}
  • Kevin McBride, Olympic Boxer
  • Barry McGuigan (born 1960), world boxing champion 1985. Born in Clones.{{cite encyclopedia |url=http://www.boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=012746&cat=boxer |title=Barry McGuigan |encyclopedia=BoxRec.com Boxing Encyclopedia |access-date=10 November 2009 }}{{dead link|date=March 2022}}
  • Daniel McKenna (born 1987), rally driver
  • John McKenna (1855–1936), the first manager of Liverpool Football Club along with W.E. Barclay.
  • 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

=Music and entertainment=

  • Oliver Callan (born 1980), satirist and mimic, born County Monaghan{{cite web |url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p1008787/biography|pure_url=yes}} |title=Biography: Monaghan Mimic |author=Chris True |work=all music |access-date=10 November 2009 }}
  • Terry Cavanagh, video game designer{{citation needed|date=April 2024|reason=for his County Monaghan connection}}
  • The Flaws, indie rock band from Carrickmacross
  • "Big Tom" McBride (1936–2018), country singer{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/artists/3ead0fc5-d162-4a3b-87d6-cbaca9d1d853 |title=Big Tom |work=BBC Music |publisher=BBC |access-date=10 November 2009 |archive-date=6 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100406100440/http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/artists/3ead0fc5-d162-4a3b-87d6-cbaca9d1d853 |url-status=live }}
  • Ryan Sheridan, singer and guitarist{{cite web |title=Ryan Sheridan |url=http://www.rubyworks.com/ryansheridan_biog.html |publisher=Rubyworks Records |access-date=2011-08-02 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927103236/http://www.rubyworks.com/ryansheridan_biog.html |archive-date=27 September 2011 }}

=Acting=

=Art=

=Religion=

Twin cities

{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in the Republic of Ireland}}

County Monaghan is twinned with the following places:

See also

Notes

{{reflist}}

External links

{{commons category}}

{{Wikivoyage}}

  • [http://www.monaghan.ie/ Monaghan County Council]
  • [http://www.monaghantourism.com/ Monaghan Tourism] [https://web.archive.org/web/20061209115837/http://www.monaghantourism.com/html/moncountymap.html Map]
  • [http://www.knockatallon.com/ Sliabh Beagh Hotel and Tourism Centre]
  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20140518172346/http://aharney.us/monaghan/default.htm History: Overview and Resources], [http://www.mcmahonsofmonaghan.org/the_mcmahon_story.html The McMahon Story], [http://www.clogherhistory.ie/ Clogherhistory.ie]
  • [http://www.libraryireland.com/Atlas/Monaghan.php/ Description of County Monaghan (1900)]
  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20130402153403/http://archiseek.com/buildings/ireland-buildings/ulster/monaghan-buildings/ Monaghan Architecture]
  • [https://www.theregister.co.uk/2003/03/20/us_irish_in_st_patricks/ US protest as map of Monaghan bears an uncanny resemblance to an outline map of Iraq]

{{Geographic Location

|North = County Tyrone 30px

|South = County Meath 30px

|East = County Louth

|West = County Fermanagh 32px

|Northeast = County Armagh 30px

|Southwest = County Cavan 22px

|Centre = County Monaghan

}}

{{County Monaghan}}

{{Ireland_counties}}

{{Authority control}}

Monaghan

Monaghan

Monaghan