Cavan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cavan
An Cabhán
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Town
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Cathedral of Saints Patrick & Felim, Cavan
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 Cavan
Location in Ireland
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| Country | Ireland |
| Province | Ulster |
| County | County Cavan |
| Barony | Loughtee Upper |
| Elevation | 113 m (371 ft) |
| Population
(2022)
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| • Total | 11,741 |
| Time zone | UTC±0 (WET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+1 (IST) |
| Eircode routing key |
H12
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| Telephone area code | +353(0)49 |
| Irish Grid Reference | H419041 |
Cavan (pronounced KAV-ən) is a town in Ireland. It is the main town of County Cavan and is located in the province of Ulster. Cavan is near the border with County Fermanagh in Northern Ireland. The main N3 road goes around the town. This road connects Dublin to the south with towns like Enniskillen and Donegal Town to the north.
Contents
History of Cavan Town
How Cavan Began: 1300s to 1600s
Cavan was founded by an Irish clan chief named Giolla Íosa Ruadh O’Reilly. He started the town between the years 1300 and 1330. During his time, a friary (a type of monastery) was built near the O’Reilly family's stronghold at Tullymongan. This friary was a central part of the new settlement, close to a river crossing and the town's market.
In the 15th century, another local ruler, Bearded Owen O'Reilly, made the town's market bigger. This attracted traders from cities like Dublin and Drogheda. Some people believe the saying "life of Reilly" comes from the great wealth of the O'Reilly chiefs, partly thanks to this busy market.
Cavan in Later Times
In 1611, King James I gave Cavan town a special charter. This allowed Cavan to send two members to the Irish parliament. Later, in 1690, a battle took place near Cavan. Soldiers attacked a fort overlooking the town, and much of Cavan was burned during the fighting.
During the 18th century, a powerful family called the Maxwells (who later became known as the Barons Farnham) gained influence in Cavan. Farnham House, a large country house, was built for Barry Maxwell, the 3rd Lord Farnham, around 1780. Today, this house and its estate have been turned into a luxury hotel.
In the early 1800s, a wide new street called 'Farnham Street' was built in Cavan. It was lined with nice houses, public buildings like Cavan Courthouse (built in 1824), and churches. Cavan also became an important railway hub in the mid-1800s. Cavan Town Hall was built between 1908 and 1910.
Cavan in the 20th Century
Work on the Cathedral of Saints Patrick and Felim began in 1938. This cathedral is the main Catholic church for the Diocese of Kilmore. The current Cathedral has a special doorway from around 1170.
In the 1990s and 2000s, Cavan town grew very quickly. Many parts of the town were improved, and new areas were built. Today, Cavan is an important economic center in the middle of Ireland. It has many businesses, including financial services, legal offices, medical facilities, and shops.
Getting Around Cavan
Road Travel
Cavan is located where two important national roads meet: the N3 (which goes to Dublin) and the N55 (which goes to Athlone). A major upgrade of these roads has been planned. A bypass road around Cavan town was finished in March 2006. This means that heavy traffic no longer has to drive through the busy town center.
Train Travel
Even though Cavan does not have any train links today, it once had two railway stations. These stations connected to different train lines, including the Great Northern Railway and the Midland Great Western Railway. These lines linked Cavan to places like Clones, Dublin, Longford, and Mullingar. All of these train lines in Cavan were closed by 1960.
Bus Travel
Cavan's bus station is on Farnham Street. It has a ticket office, waiting room, and toilets. Buses from Cavan can take you to many places. The Expressway route 30 goes to Donegal Town, Enniskillen, Dublin Airport, and Busáras (Dublin's main bus station). Route 165 goes to Athlone and Belfast.
There are also many local bus routes. Route 109 goes to Dublin every hour. Other local routes connect Cavan to towns like Ballinagh, Dundalk, Monaghan, and Carrigallen. There are also TFI Local Link routes that serve different parts of Cavan and nearby villages.
Education in Cavan
Cavan town has four secondary schools for teenagers: Saint Patrick's College, Loreto College, Breifne College, and Royal School Cavan. The Royal School Cavan is the oldest, founded in the early 1600s.
Saint Patrick's College is an all-boys Catholic school, and Loreto College is an all-girls Catholic school. Breifne College is a school for both boys and girls. The Royal School is also for both boys and girls and has a Protestant background.
Cavan also has a college for further education called Cavan Institute. It was started in 1985 and is the biggest provider of FETAC courses in the northeast of Ireland. The college offers many courses in areas like Business, Healthcare, Sport, Beauty, Computing, and Performing Arts. Many students from Cavan and nearby counties attend this college.
Fun Things to Do in Cavan
All-Ireland Fleadh Music Festival
Cavan Town was proud to host the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann (pronounced FLAH KYOHL na HAIR-an) in 2010, 2011, and 2012. This is Ireland's biggest annual festival for traditional Irish music, singing, and dancing. It also includes competitions for musicians.
The 2010 Fleadh was special because it was the 50th one, and it was the first time it returned to Cavan since 1954. Up to 250,000 visitors come to the Fleadh each year, and about 10,000 musicians compete. This festival brings a lot of money to the town that hosts it.
Exploring Cavan's Heritage
County Cavan is known for its many lakes, which are part of Ireland's lakelands. The beautiful wildlife and wetlands around these lakes offer chances for nature tourism. Lough Oughter and Killykeen, just a few kilometers from Cavan town, have facilities for ecotourism, which means tourism that focuses on nature and the environment.
Twin Towns
Cavan is twinned with the following place:
Jaunay-Clan, Vienne, France
See also
In Spanish: Cavan (Irlanda) para niños
