County Cavan (pronounced KAV-ən; in Irish, Contae an Chabháin) is a beautiful county in Ireland. It's located in the province of Ulster and is part of the Northern and Western Region. The county gets its name from Cavan, its main town. It was once known as the historic area of East Breffny. Cavan County Council helps manage the county. In 2022, about 81,704 people lived here.

Exploring County Cavan's Landscape

Cavan shares its borders with six other counties. These include Leitrim to the west and Fermanagh to the north. It also borders Monaghan, Meath, Longford, and Westmeath. A 70-kilometer (43-mile) border connects Cavan with County Fermanagh in Northern Ireland. Cavan is the 19th largest county in Ireland by size and the 25th largest by population.

Lough Oughter

The county is famous for its rolling hills, called drumlins, and its many sparkling lakes. The northwestern part of Cavan is more mountainous and has fewer people. The highest point in the county is Cuilcagh mountain, which stands 665 meters (2,182 feet) tall.

Lakes and Rivers

Cavan is often called 'The Lakeland County' because it has so many lakes – people say there are 365! Lough Sheelin is the biggest lake in Cavan, covering about 18.8 square kilometers (7.3 square miles). It touches the borders of counties Meath, Westmeath, and Cavan. Many lakes in the north and west of Cavan are special protected areas for wildlife, like Lough Oughter. Other important lakes for nature include Lough Gowna and Lough Ramor.

Many important rivers start in Cavan. The River Shannon, Ireland's longest river, begins at Shannon Pot on Cuilcagh mountain. The River Erne also starts in Cavan, flowing for 120 kilometers (75 miles) to Lough Erne. Other rivers include the Blackwater River, the Dee, the River Annalee, and the Cladagh. Cavan also has beautiful forests, like Killykeen Forest Park and Dún na Rí Forest Park.

Cavan's Weather and Climate

Weather chart for Ballyhaise, Cavan

temperatures in °C
precipitation totals in mm

Imperial conversion

J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
3.1 46 35	2.7 46 35	2.6 49 37	2.3 53 39	2.2 59 43	2.2 63 51	2.3 66 54	3.5 66 53	2.3 61 47	3.9 55 44	2.7 49 38	3 46 37
temperatures in °F precipitation totals in inches

Cavan has a mild, wet climate, typical of places near the ocean. Winters are cool, and summers are mild and humid. Temperatures usually don't get too extreme. The warmest month is July, with average high temperatures around 19.8°C (67.6°F). January is the coldest, with average highs around 8.2°C (46.8°F).

May and June are usually the sunniest months. October is the wettest month, while May and June are the driest. Snow can fall between November and March. In December 2010, Cavan experienced its lowest recorded temperature, dropping to -15.4°C (4.3°F).

Towns and Communities in Cavan

Cavan is divided into different areas for local management. Historically, there were eight main areas called baronies. These old divisions are still recognized today. The county also has many smaller areas called townlands, which are the smallest official geographical divisions in Ireland. There are almost 2000 townlands in Cavan!

Main Towns and Villages

Cavan is home to many charming towns and villages. Some of these include:

Arvagh
Bailieborough
Ballinagh
Ballyconnell
Ballyhaise
Ballyjamesduff
Bawnboy
Belturbet
Blacklion
Butlersbridge
Canningstown
Cavan
Cootehill
Crossdoney
Dowra
Glangevlin
Kilcogy
Killeshandra
Kilnaleck
Kingscourt
Lough Gowna
Milltown
Mountnugent
Mullagh
Redhills
Shercock
Stradone
Swanlinbar
Virginia

Largest Towns by Population

Based on the 2022 census, here are the largest towns in County Cavan:

Cavan – 11,741 people
Virginia – 3,211 people
Bailieborough – 2,974 people
Kingscourt – 2,955 people
Ballyjamesduff – 2,917 people
Cootehill – 1,856 people
Mullagh – 1,651 people
Belturbet – 1,610 people
Ballyconnell – 1,422 people

A Look Back at Cavan's History

Cloughoughter Castle

For a long time, starting around the 1200s, the area we now call Cavan was part of a smaller kingdom known as East Breffny. It was ruled by the O'Reilly family. This is why Cavan is sometimes called the Breffni County. The natural landscape, with its hills and lakes, helped protect the area from invaders.

Early Kingdoms and Castles

From the late 1100s, people from Normandy (called Normans) began to influence East Breffny. You can still see the remains of their old forts, like Cloghoughter Castle. Monasteries also became important, with old abbey ruins found in places like Drumlane.

Around 1256, the larger Kingdom of Breifne split into two parts. The O'Rourkes ruled West Breifne, and the O'Reillys ruled East Breifne. In the 1500s, during the time of Queen Elizabeth I, County Cavan was officially formed. It became part of the province of Ulster in 1584.

New Settlements and Challenges

In the early 1600s, during the "Plantation of Ulster," new settlers came to live in Cavan. This led to the creation of towns like Bailieborough, Cootehill, and Virginia. Older towns like Cavan and Belturbet grew into important trading centers. Later, conflicts in the mid-1600s brought even more English and Scottish settlers. They introduced new farming methods and helped start a successful flax and linen industry.

Cavan faced a very difficult time during the Great Famine between 1845 and 1849. Many people suffered because the potato crops failed. The winter of 1847 was especially harsh, with many deaths from diseases. There were also sad stories of people being forced to leave their homes during this time.

How Cavan is Governed

The island of Ireland, showing location of County Cavan.

County Cavan has its own local government, called Cavan County Council. This council makes decisions about local services and improvements for the county. People in Cavan vote for representatives to be on this council.

Local Elections and Representation

For local elections, Cavan is divided into three areas: Bailieborough-Cootehill, Ballyjamesduff-Virginia, and Cavan-Belturbet. These areas together elect 18 members to the county council. In the 2019 local elections, about 55.5% of eligible voters in Cavan cast their ballots.

For national elections, County Cavan is part of the Dáil constituency of Cavan–Monaghan. This area elects five members to the Dáil Éireann, which is Ireland's main parliament. For elections to the European Parliament, Cavan is part of the Midlands–North-West constituency.

Fun Places to Visit in Cavan

Cavan has many interesting places to explore, from old castles to beautiful natural spots.

Historical Sites and Museums

Cabra Castle: A grand castle with a long history.
Cavan County Museum: Learn all about Cavan's past.
Cloughoughter Castle: A stunning castle ruin on an island in a lake.
Drumlane Monastery: The remains of an ancient monastery.
Saint Kilian Heritage Centre: Discover the story of Saint Kilian, who was born in Mullagh.

Natural Attractions

Cuilcagh: Explore this impressive mountain range.
Dún na Rí Forest Park: Enjoy walks and nature in this lovely forest.
Killykeen Forest Park: Another beautiful forest park, great for outdoor activities.
Lough Sheelin: The county's largest lake, perfect for fishing and enjoying the scenery.
Marble Arch Caves Global Geopark: Discover amazing caves and unique landscapes.
Shannon-Erne Waterway: A great place for boating and enjoying the water.

Getting Around Cavan

Road Travel

Two main national roads pass through Cavan. The N3 road crosses the county for about 60 kilometers (37 miles), connecting places like Virginia and Belturbet. The N16 road goes through the northwestern part of Cavan, near Blacklion. Other important roads include the N87, N54, and N55. Bus Éireann provides bus services to many towns and villages, including a direct route to Dublin Airport.

Rail History

In the mid-1800s, railways came to Cavan, connecting towns like Cavan and Belturbet to other parts of Ireland. The railways were very important for moving people and goods. They also helped sports like GAA grow, as fans could easily travel to games. However, after World War II, many railway lines closed. By 1959, all train services in Cavan had stopped. Today, Belturbet railway station is open as a railway museum, where you can learn about its past.

Waterways

Long ago, water transport was very important in Cavan because of its many lakes and rivers. Today, these waterways are mostly used for fun activities like boating on the River Erne and Shannon-Erne Waterway, and for fishing.

Sports and Activities

Sports are a big part of life in County Cavan!

Gaelic Games

Gaelic football is the most popular sport in the county. The Cavan GAA team has won the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship five times! They are currently in Division 2 of the National Football League. Hurling is also played in Cavan, and the senior team was reformed in 2017. The first GAA club in Cavan was founded in Ballyconnell in 1885. The most successful club in Cavan is Cornafean, with 20 Senior Football Championship titles.

Other Sports

Cavan also has several athletics clubs and facilities, including a running track in Shercock. There are five athletics clubs in the county: Annalee AC, Bailieborough AC, Innyvale AC, Laragh AC, and Shercock AC.

For rugby fans, Cavan has two rugby football clubs: County Cavan R.F.C. and Virginia R.F.C. Both teams compete in the Ulster qualifying leagues. With so many lakes and rivers, fishing is a very popular activity throughout Cavan.

People of Cavan

In 2016, County Cavan had a population of 76,176 people. Besides Irish citizens, many people from the UK, Poland, and Lithuania also live in Cavan.

Beliefs and Religions

According to the 2016 census, most people in Cavan, about 82%, are Roman Catholic. Other religions make up about 11% of the population. About 5% of people said they did not follow any religion.

The Cathedral of Saint Patrick and Saint Felim in Cavan town is an important church for Roman Catholics. St Fethlimidh's Cathedral, near Cavan town, is a Church of Ireland cathedral. There are also Baptist, Methodist, and Presbyterian churches, and an Islamic Cultural Centre in Cavan town.

Cavan's Economy

Cavan town is the most populous in the county

Agriculture is the biggest industry in County Cavan. Farmers here mainly focus on dairy farming, pig farming, and raising beef cattle. Cavan's soil is rich in minerals, which is great for growing grass for animals. There are about 144,269 hectares (356,500 acres) of farmed land in the county, and around 219,568 cattle. Lakeland Dairies Group, based in Killeshandra, is one of Ireland's largest dairy companies.

Cavan is also a leader in pig production, raising about one-fifth of all pigs in Ireland. While farming is very important, Cavan has also grown in other areas like quarrying, energy production, and manufacturing. For example, the county has several wind farms that produce clean energy. The Quinn cement facility in Ballyconnell is also a major employer.

Famous Faces from Cavan

Many interesting people have come from County Cavan:

Gerard Beirne – A talented writer.
Henry Brooke and Charlotte Brooke – Both were well-known writers.
Dallán Forgaill – An early Christian poet and writer.
Marcus Daly – A successful American businessman, known as one of the "Copper Kings."
Michael Harding – A popular writer.
Saint Kilian – A missionary and martyr in Germany, born in Mullagh.
Leona Maguire – A professional golfer who has achieved great success.
Neven Maguire – A famous chef and television personality from Blacklion.
Lisa O'Neill – A talented singer-songwriter.
Patrick O'Rorke – A US Union Army colonel who fought in the Battle of Gettysburg.
Brendan Smith TD – A former government minister.

County Cavan facts for kids

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