Rossmore Forest ParkRossmore's old estate outside the town has colour coded trails, a lake and a family cycle route through it.
Muineachán
Monaghan
Drumlin country of small lakes, round towers and old estate woods.
- Ulster
- 20 places
- 1 event in the next 30 days
- 4 more listings
The list
Top 10 things to do in Monaghan
Monaghan is drumlin country, so it is small lakes, old estate woods and short hills the whole way across. Clones has a 75-foot round tower and a carved ninth century cross in the middle of the town. Patrick Kavanagh wrote about the townlands around Inniskeen and you can walk them.
Rossmore Forest ParkRossmore's old estate outside the town has colour coded trails, a lake and a family cycle route through it.
Clones Round Tower and High CrossSeventy-five feet of round tower and a carved ninth century cross stand in the centre of Clones, off the monastery St Tiernach founded.
Monaghan County MuseumThe county museum moved into the new Peace Campus on Plantation Road in 2024, and the Cross of Clogher is in its collection.
Patrick Kavanagh CentreMuseum · InniskeenThe centre is in the old Inniskeen church in Patrick Kavanagh's home parish, on his life and the townlands he wrote about.
Lough Muckno Leisure ParkPark · CastleblayneyThe Blayney and Hope families, the landlords of Castleblayney, once held this estate on the shore of Lough Muckno. It is public parkland now, with forest and lakeside trails.
Dartrey ForestForest · RockcorryDawson's old estate between Cootehill and Rockcorry has lakes linked by the Dromore river and a famine wall along the road.
Inniskeen Round TowerMonastic site · InniskeenTwelve metres of round tower stump in the village graveyard is all that is left of St Daig's monastery.
Carrickmacross WorkhouseMuseum · CarrickmacrossWhat survives of the famine era workhouse on the edge of town was restored and is open to visitors.
Carrickmacross Lace GalleryMuseum · CarrickmacrossThe appliqué lace has been made in this town since the 1820s, and the gallery is a working one.- GlasloughVillage · Co. MonaghanStone houses beside the Castle Leslie demesne, with a heritage trail through the village.
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- Emy LoughLake · EmyvaleEmy Lough sits just outside Emyvale, with a four kilometre looped walk around it.
Sliabh Beagh WayWalk · ScotstownThe route runs over the bog and heather of Sliabh Beagh, along the northern county boundary.
Errigal Truagh Old Church and GraveyardRuin · EmyvaleA roofless medieval church and its graveyard sit north of Emyvale, beside the modern parish church.
Mullan VillageVillage · Co. MonaghanThe village near Emyvale was built for the workers of a flax mill, and a shoe factory has worked out of the old mill since the 1920s.
Monaghan Market HouseMuseum · MonaghanThe market house of 1792 on Market Street is used as a gallery and arts space now.
St Peter's Tin Church, LaraghChurch · CastleblayneyCorrugated iron, at Laragh, and one of the few prefabricated tin churches left standing in the country.
Lisnadarragh Wedge TombPrehistoric site · CarrickmacrossThe wedge tomb sits in farmland in the south of the county, chamber stones still in place.
Edergole Court TombPrehistoric site · BallybayThe court tomb sits in the drumlins near Ballybay, forecourt stones still standing.
The Monaghan WayWalk · MonaghanThe route crosses the middle of the county, signposted the whole way with fingerposts.
Knockatallon Looped WalksWalk · ScotstownLooped walks on the Sliabh Beagh slopes at Knockatallon, passing the penal era mass rock at Poll an Altair.
Where they are
Tap a pin to open the place.
16 of the 20 places are on the map. The rest are listed above.
in Monaghan today
- Rossmore Forest Park
- Clones Round Tower and High Cross
- Monaghan County Museum
- Patrick Kavanagh Centre
- Lough Muckno Leisure Park
- Carrickmacross Workhouse
- Emy Lough
- Sliabh Beagh Way
- Errigal Truagh Old Church and Graveyard
- Mullan Village
- Monaghan Market House
- St Peter's Tin Church, Laragh
- Lisnadarragh Wedge Tomb
- Edergole Court Tomb
- The Monaghan Way
- Knockatallon Looped Walks
What’s on in Monaghan
Coming up, soonest first.
Saturday 21st November
Towns
The one with enough in and around it for a page of its own.
More to see in Monaghan
4 more places from Fáilte Ireland’s own listings, linked to their own sites where they have one.
Abbeys and churches1
Gardens and parks1
Where to stay in Monaghan
9 places on Fáilte Ireland’s register of approved accommodation: the three and four star hotels and guest houses, plus historic houses.
- Shirley Arms Hotel4-star hotel · Carrickmacross
- The Lodge At Castle Leslie Estate4-star hotel · Glaslough
- Four Seasons Hotel & Leisure Club4-star hotel · Monaghan
- Hillgrove Hotel Leisure and Spa4-star hotel · Monaghan
- Hilton ParkHistoric house · Clones
- Castle Leslie Estate4-star guest house · Glaslough
- Lynster House4-star B&B · Milltown
- Creighton Hotel3-star hotel · Clones
- Westenra Arms Hotel3-star hotel · Monaghan
Where to eat and drink in Monaghan
5 restaurants, pubs and cafés listed with Fáilte Ireland. A list of who registered, not a ranking, linked to their own sites where they have one.
- Wild Thyme RestaurantRestaurant · Cabragh
- Courthouse Restaurant - MonaghanRestaurant · Carrickmacross
- Shirley Arms Restaurant in the Shirley Arms HotelRestaurant · Carrickmacross
- Raglan Road TearoomRestaurant · LacklomFacebook page
- Andy's Bar & RestaurantRestaurant · Mullaghmonaghan
Getting to Monaghan
- By air
- Dublin Airport, Belfast International Airport
- By rail
- Dundalk is the nearest station.
- By road
- The N2, N12 and N54.
Questions
What are the best things to do in Monaghan?
Our top three are Rossmore Forest Park, Clones Round Tower and High Cross and Monaghan County Museum. The full list of twenty is at the top of this page, and every place on it has a page of its own.
What can you do in Monaghan for free?
Walks and open ground cost nothing to visit. On our list that includes Rossmore Forest Park, Lough Muckno Leisure Park, Dartrey Forest and Sliabh Beagh Way. Some forest parks charge for the car park, so check parking and access with the place before you go.
What is on in Monaghan?
There is 1 event listed in Monaghan over the months ahead. See them all.
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