County Cavan

County Cavan is a county in Ireland. It is in the province of Ulster and is part of the Northern and Western Region. It is named after the town of Cavan and is based on the historic Gaelic territory of East Breffny (Bréifne). Cavan County Council is the local authority for the county, which had a population of 81,201 at the 2022 census.
Geography
Cavan borders six counties: Leitrim to the west, Fermanagh and Monaghan to the north, Meath to the south-east, Longford to the south-west and Westmeath to the south. Cavan shares a border with County Fermanagh in Northern Ireland. Cavan is the 19th largest of the 32 counties in area and the 25th largest by population.
The county is part of the Northern and Western Region, a NUTS II area, and in that region, is part of the Border strategic planning area, a NUTS III entity.
The county is characterised by drumlin countryside dotted with many lakes and hills. The north-western area of the county is sparsely populated and mountainous. The Cuilcagh mountain range contain the highest point, Cuilcagh, at .
Cavan is the source of many rivers. Shannon Pot on the slopes of Cuilcagh is the source of the River Shannon, the longest river in Ireland at . The River Erne is a major river which rises from Beaghy Lough, two miles (3 km) south of Stradone in Cavan and flows for to Lough Erne. Other rivers in the county include the Blackwater River, which rises near Bailieborough and flows through Lough Ramor, joining the River Boyne at Navan; the Dee which springs near Bailieborough; the River Annalee which flows from Lough Sillan and joins the Erne; and the Cladagh river which rises from Cuilcagh and flows into Fermanagh. The Glyde and the Owenroe also source in Cavan.
Cavan is known as 'The Lakeland County' and is reputed to contain 365 lakes. At , Lough Sheelin is the county's largest lake; it is situated in the south of the county and forms a three way border on its waters between counties Meath, Westmeath and Cavan. A large complex of lakes form in the north and west of Cavan into designated Specially Protected Areas (SPA); an example is Lough Oughter. Other important wildlife protected lakes such as Lough Gowna and Lough Ramor are in the south and east of the county. Cavan has a mainly hilly (drumlin) landscape and contains just under of forested area, 3.6% of Cavan's total land area. The county contains forests such as Bellamont Forest near Cootehill, Killykeen Forest Park at Lough Oughter (a Coillte state forest concern), Dún na Rí Forest Park and the Burren Forest.
Climate
Met Éireann records the climate data for Cavan from their station at Ballyhaise. Under Köppen climate classification, Cavan experiences a maritime temperate oceanic climate with cold winters, mild humid summers, and a lack of temperature extremes. The average maximum January temperature is , while the average maximum July temperature is . On average, the sunniest months are May and June, while the wettest month is October with of rain, and the driest months are May and June with and respectively. Humidity is high year round and rainfall is evenly distributed throughout the year, with the annual precipitation at Ballyhaise being
On average, snow showers occur between November and March. In the winter of 2010–11, record low temperatures for November, December and January were recorded in Cavan. In late December, the temperature at the station fell to , its lowest ever. On 21 December 2010, a daily maximum of was recorded at Ballyhaise, the lowest daily maximum ever recorded in Ireland. Summer daytime temperatures range between and , with temperatures rarely going beyond . The average annual sunshine hours range between 1,300 hours in the north to 1,500 hours in the south.
Subdivisions
Baronies
There are eight historic baronies in the county. While baronies continue to be officially defined units, they are no longer used for many administrative purposes. Their official status is illustrated by Placenames Orders made since 2003, where official Irish names of baronies are listed under "Administrative units".
Castlerahan (Caisleán Raithin) see Virginia, County Cavan
Clankee (Clann Chaoich)
Clanmahon (Clann Mhathúna)
Loughtee Lower (Lucht Tí Íochtarach)
Loughtee Upper (Lucht Tí Uachtarach) – whose chief town, Cavan, is also the county town
Tullygarvey (Teallach Ghairbhíth)
Tullyhaw (Teallach Eathach) – the largest in the county at
Tullyhunco (Teallach Dhúnchadha)
Civil parishes and townlands
Townlands are the smallest officially defined geographical divisions in Ireland. There are approximately 1979 townlands in the county.
Towns and villages
Arvagh
Bailieborough
Ballinagh
Ballyconnell
Ballyhaise
Ballyjamesduff
Ballymagauran
Bawnboy
Belturbet
Blacklion
Bunnoe
Butlersbridge
Canningstown
Cavan
Cootehill
Crossdoney
Dowra
Glangevlin
Kilcogy
Killeshandra
Kilnaleck
Kingscourt
Lough Gowna
Milltown
Mountnugent
Mullagh
Redhills
Shercock
Stradone
Swanlinbar
Virginia
Largest towns (2016)
Cavan – 10,914
Bailieborough – 2,683
Ballyjamesduff – 2,661
Virginia – 2,648
Kingscourt – 2,499
History
From around the thirteenth century the area (Cavan) was part of the petty kingdom of East Bréifne anglicized Breffny O'Reilly after its then ruling Gaelic family. This in turn was the east division Kingdom of Bréifne. For this reason the county is colloquially known as the Breffni County. A high degree of defense was achieved by using the natural landscape of drumlin hills and loughs. The poorly drained heavy clay soils contributed as an obstacle against invasion.
From the late twelfth century East Breifne were subjected to Norman influence and the remains of several motte and bailie fortifications are still visible, as well as the remains of stronger works such as Castlerahan and Clogh Oughter castle. The growing influence of several monastic orders in the new diocese called Tir Briuin Breifne from the mid twelfth century with abbey remains existent in locations such as Drumlane and later Trinity Island.
Historically, the Ui Briuin Kingdom of Breifne was part of the western province of Connacht ruled over by the O'Rourke clan until around 1256 when under Norman occupation the kingdom was split in half. West Breifne still ruled by O'Rourkes and East Breifni ruled by O'Reillys. During the sixteenth century in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I the county of Cavan was formed and transferred to Ulster from 1584, following the composition of Breifne. In the south, the Lough Sheelin area was part of Leinster until the late 14th century.
Under King James I, from 1610 the Plantation of Ulster saw the settlement and origins of several new towns within the county that include Bailieborough, Cootehill, Killeshandra and Virginia. Existing towns such as Cavan and Belturbet became over time more important as trading centres. Wars during the mid-seventeenth century aimed at trying to unsettle the Plantation only led to further plantations of English and Scottish settlers into the county, bringing with them better farming methods and the beginnings of a thriving flax and linen industry.
Some areas of Cavan were hard hit by the Great Famine potato blight between 1845 and 1849. The winter of 1847 is particularly noted for the high levels of deaths nationally caused by diseases such as typhus and cholera. Several instances of eviction also occurred during the nineteenth century, with one such story where the local landlord in Mountnugent parish decided to evict over 200 people. The famous ballad "By Lough Sheelin Side" is based on this event witnessed by the local Catholic priest.
Edward Saunderson, founder of the Ulster Unionist Council, was born in the county. However, when the Irish Unionist Party met on 9 June 1916, the delegates from Cavan learnt that they would not be included in any "temporary exclusion of Ulster" from Home Rule; they agreed only with very great reluctance.
Local government and national politics
Local government
Cavan is divided into three local electoral areas: Bailieborough-Cootehill, Ballyjamesduff-Virginia and Cavan-Belturbet, which hold 18 county council seats in total. The 2019 local elections in Cavan had an average voter turnout of 55.5%, roughly equalling the turnout in 2014 (56.42%). The highest turnout for an electoral area was Bailieborough-Cootehill with 57.1%.
Former districts
It was formerly divided into the rural districts of Bailieborough, Bawnboy, Castlerahan, Cavan, Enniskillen No. 2, and Mullaghoran, and the urban districts of Cavan, Belturbet and Cootehill. The rural districts were abolished in 1925. Belturbet and Cootehill were downgraded to town commissioners in 1950. In 2002, the urban district of Cavan and the town commissioners of Belturbet and Cootehill became town councils. All town councils in Ireland were abolished in 2014.
National elections
County Cavan is within the Dáil constituency of Cavan–Monaghan, which returns five deputies. This constituency was created in 1977, replacing the constituency of Cavan, which had been in existence from 1921. From 2016 to 2020, the area of West Cavan was within the constituency of Sligo–Leitrim.
European elections
For elections to the European Parliament, the county is part of the Midlands–North-West constituency.
Places of interest
Cabra Castle
Castle Saunderson
Cathedral of Saint Patrick and Saint Felim
Cavan County Museum
Cloughoughter Castle
Drumlane Monastery
Killeshandra Church of the Rath
Magh Slécht
Saint Fethlimidh's Cathedral
Saint Kilian Heritage Centre
Natural attractions
Cuilcagh
Dún na Rí Forest Park
Killykeen Forest Park
Lough Sheelin
Marble Arch Caves Global Geopark
Rockfield Lake
Shannon-Erne Waterway
Transport
Road
Two national primary routes pass through the county, The N3 road and the N16 road. The N3 is the longest route in Cavan, crossing the county for from the Meath border at Whitegate near Virginia and through Belturbet into Fermanagh. The N16 begins in Sligo and ends at Blacklion in the far northwestern tip of Cavan, it crosses the county for roughly .
Three national secondary routes pass through the county. The N87 road begins in Belturbet and passes through Ballyconnell and Swanlinbar before crossing into County Fermanagh where it becomes the A32. The N54 route from Monaghan and Clones joins the N3 at Butlersbridge. The N55 links Cavan to Athlone via Ballinagh and Granard.
Bus Éireann provide bus services to villages and towns across the county, including a direct route from Cavan to Dublin Airport.
Rail
In the mid-1850s the Midland Great Western Railway built a line between the Inny Junction in County Westmeath (along their expanding network which was eventually to reach Sligo) and Cavan town. The first railway station to open in Cavan, was Cavan railway station in 1856. Many notable railway stations were built in the 19th century such as Kingscourt railway station and the Cavan and Leitrim Railway. The railways were an important part of the economic development of Cavan and carried passengers and freight to all over Ireland. The railways also helped the popularity of GAA in Cavan grow, spectators could travel easily between towns.
After World War II, due to the shortage of coal in the country, uneconomic lines were terminated. In 1947 all passenger services were terminated though the transport of freight and livestock continued. The Great Northern Railway (G.N.R.) continued to serve the Cavan and Leitrim Railway. However, in 1959 all services along the remaining rail lines were terminated and the stations along their routes were closed.
Belturbet railway station is open as a railway museum.
Water
In the historical context and before water levels in lakes were lowered, water transport in the region was once very important through the complex of lakes and waterways that fed into the major river systems such as the Erne, Shannon and Boyne. Today however this is mainly confined to leisure craft on the River Erne and Shannon-Erne Waterway from Belturbet and Ballyconnell as well as for angling activities. Cavan also has 365 lakes all around, one for everyday of the year.
Sport
In Gaelic football, the dominant sport in the county, Cavan GAA competes annually in the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, which it has won 5 times, between 1933 and 1952. The team is currently in division 4 of the National Football League. Cavan was the only county in Ireland without a senior hurling team, the county board having discontinued the team in 2011. The sport was on the decline and the senior team was disbanded to promote Hurling at junior level. Cavan's senior hurling team was reformed in 2017. They compete in division 3B of the National Hurling League and in the Lory Meagher Cup.
The first GAA club founded in Cavan was Ballyconnell in 1885. However the club didn't affiliate to GAA Central Council until March 1886 so that can be taken as the founding of the GAA in Cavan and Ulster. The most successful club in Cavan is Cornafean with 20 Senior Football Championship titles, their last title was won in 1956. Ramor United are the current senior football champions. No team from Cavan has ever won a national or provincial title.
There are several athletics club and facilities in Cavan, including a 300m Tartan track in Shercock. There are five athletics clubs in the county, including Annalee AC, Bailieborough AC, Innyvale AC, Laragh AC and Shercock AC.
Cavan has two rugby football clubs, County Cavan R.F.C. and Virginia R.F.C., both teams compete in the Ulster qualifying leagues.
Fishing is a very popular activity in Cavan because of its complex of large rivers and lakes.
Below is a list of various sporting clubs in Cavan:
Demographics
Cavan had a population of 76,176, a modest increase on the 2011 census. the 2016 census reported the county's most numerous non-Irish nationalities as UK, Poland and Lithuania respectively.
Religion
The 2016 census reported that of Cavan's 76,173 residents, 82% (62,393 people) identified as Roman Catholic. Other stated religions made up 11% of the population (8,671 people). 5% (3,904 people) stated that they followed no religion. 2% (1,209 people) did not state their religion.
The Cathedral of Saint Patrick and Saint Felim in Cavan town, is the seat of the Bishop of Kilmore and the mother church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kilmore. St Fethlimidh's Cathedral, near Cavan town in Kilmore, is one of two cathedral churches in the Diocese of Kilmore, Elphin and Ardagh of the Church of Ireland. The Cavan Baptist Church is located in Oldtown and the Islamic Cultural Centre, which is primarily used as a mosque, is located in Cavan town. There are two Methodist churches located in Ballyconnell and Corlespratten. There are a number of Presbyterian churches throughout the county and a restored 1800s Wesleyan Chapel in Bailieborough.
Economy
Agriculture is the largest industry in the county, especially dairy milk processing as well as pig and beef farming. Much of Cavan's land consists of clay soils, which are rich in minerals, but heavy and poorly drained, making pasture farming the dominant farming system in the county. There is a total farmed area of in the county, and there are approximately 219,568 cattle in Cavan. Lakeland Dairies Group, which is based in Killeshandra and has manufacturing sites located throughout Cavan, is Ireland's second largest dairy co-operative with an annual revenue of €545 million.
Cavan is one of Ireland's leading counties for pig production, with the county's farms raising a fifth of the national pig herd. Pig farming regulations have put pressure on the industry, which is highly dependent on affordable credit. Traditionally an agricultural economy, Cavan has since expanded in other industries, chiefly quarrying, energy production and manufacturing facilities. , Cavan produced 113.14 MW of wind energy, on 9 windfarms. The largest wind farm was in Bindoo townland, with a capacity of 48 MW. Peat cutting exists in the northwest of the county, in the Cuilcagh range. Major industries such as Quinn Quaries and Gypsum Industries are also important employers within the county. There are a number of quarries located in the county and the Quinn cement facility is located in Ballyconnell.
Average Disposable Income per Person in Cavan is €17,251, roughly €4,000 behind Dublin, Ireland's richest county and 89.3% of the state average. The county has seen a significant drop in average disposable income since the 2006 Census.
Notable people
Gerard Beirne – writer
Henry Brooke – writer
Charlotte Brooke – writer
Timothy J. Campbell – Cavan-born American lawyer and politician from New York
Dallán Forgaill (Saint Dallán or Eochaid mac Colla) – early Christian poet, writer, and martyr to whom the original Old Irish words of the hymn "Be Thou My Vision" are often attributed
Marcus Daly – Cavan-born American businessman known as one of the three "Copper Kings" of Butte, Montana, United States
Séamus Dolan – Fianna Fáil politician
Eric Dorman-Smith – British Army Brigadier in WWII, later member of the Irish Republican Army
Thomas "Broken-Hand" Fitzpatrick – famous "mountain man", U.S. Indian Agent, trailblazer and fur trapper
Michael Harding – writer
Margaret Jane Scott Hawthorne – tailor, trade unionist and factory inspector
Cathal Buí Mac Giolla Ghunna ("Yellow Cathal McElgunn") – poet, wrote the famous poem ("The Yellow Bittern")
Tom MacIntyre – writer
Leona Maguire – professional golfer
Neven Maguire – chef and television personality, Blacklion
Owen Roe McGovern – former Cavan Gaelic footballer
Thomas McGovern – former Roman Catholic Bishop of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
John William Nixon – District Inspector with both the R.I.C. and the R.U.C. and, later, a Stormont MP.
Agnes O'Farrelly – academic, writer and political activist
Patrick O'Rorke – US Union Army colonel, killed at Gettysburg, born Cavan
James Owens – recipient of the Victoria Cross
Mary Anne Sadlier – writer
Edward James Saunderson – Irish Unionist MP and Privy Councillor
Brendan Smith TD – former Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and former Minister for Justice and Law Reform
John P. Wilson TD – All Ireland SFC Winner and Tánaiste from 1990 to 1993
See also
List of abbeys and priories in Ireland (County Cavan)
Lord Lieutenant of Cavan
High Sheriff of Cavan
Ralaghan Man
References
External links
Cavan County Museum
Cavan Heritage website
Cavan County Council Retail Strategy 2008-2014
Development plans for County Cavan and Cavan Town and Environs
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