County Monaghan.(The Northwest)

Monaghan is an inland county and one of the smallest, only covering 500 square miles (1,300 square km). It's often described as "drumlin country" from the small hills dotting the landscape, which were left behind when the glaciers retreated--the word coming from the Irish "droim," meaning back or hump. Patrick Kavanagh, one of Ireland's greatest poets, described his birthplace as having "stony grey soil.'

The county takes its name from the Irish "muineachan," meaning "the place of the shrubs," which is understandable even today, given the areas of woodland and forest parks, which make it so attractive.

Its undulating and fertile landscape, with small sloping hills, is perfect for walking. For the cyclist there is a maze of little roads away from the traffic and off main routes. Because of the gentle terrain, the cyclist will enjoy exploring, stopping in a quiet village to rest. West of Emyvale, in the north of the county, is particularly interesting.

Its streams, rivers and lakes have made the county one of the most popular destinations for anglers in the country for many years. As a result, a number of its towns are well-developed centers. It's also dotted with many interesting and historic sites.

The county capital and largest town is also called Monaghan and among its other main towns are Castleblaney and Carrickmacross.

* Getting Here

Monaghan Town is on major routes N2 from Dublin (79 miles/ 127 km); and N54-N2-A3-A27-A3-M1 from Belfast (58 miles/ 93 km). It is 132 miles (212 km) from Galway and 216 miles (348 km) from Cork.

The bus station in town is at [telephone] (047) 82377. The nearest train station is in Newry, the nearest airport is Belfast City, and the nearest seaport is Belfast.

* Tourist Information

Failte Ireland Tourist Office, Market House, Monaghan, open March-October. [telephone] (047) 81122.

TRACING YOUR ANCESTORS

Monaghan Ancestry, 6 Tully, Monaghan Town, is the official family research center for the county. [telephone] (087) 6310360; theomcmahon@eircom.net.

* Sightseeing

Monaghan Town

Monaghan Town is in the north-central area of the county. It was built near a crannog (lake-dwelling) in early Christian times, but what you see today really began at the time of the Plantations around 1613 (see page 14), when it became a thriving center for the linen industry and also for lace-making. Most of the planters were Calvinists from Scotland, and they built the town around three squares, called the Diamond, Church Square, and Market Square. Around the Diamond some fine Classical and Regency buildings survive, including the Market House, now housing the Tourist Office, and the Courthouse. What you notice first, however, is the Rossmore Memorial, an enormous and flamboyant Victorian drinking fountain. In Church Square, appropriately, there's a Regency Gothic church.

There's a town…