The 'drumlin county', Monaghan is characterised by its sloping hills and myriad lakes. The ambience of the land is gentle, intimate, embracing - and it has sheltered farmers and inspired writers and artists for generations.

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The famous poet Patrick Kavanagh's birthplace can be found at Inishkeen, where one can now find the Patrick Kavanagh Rural and Literary Resource Centre. During the 18th century, Monaghan town was occupied by Scottish settlers and grew in importance as a hub of the linen industry.

Its rich architectural heritage is reflected in splendid buildings such as The Market House, The Courthouse and St. Macartan's Cathedral. Monaghan's history can be explored at The Monaghan County Museum, where one can see the unique 14th century Cross of Clogher, an early medieval crannog and local craftwork. But it is the seductive natural beauty of this loveliest of counties that will entrance you - from the diverse shoreline and wooded islands of Lough Muckno Leisure Park with its excellent watersports facilities to the nature trails, wild deer and waterfowl of Rossmore Forest Park and Dun-a-Ri Forest Park a short distance from Carrickmacross.

Attractions for the visitor are first class - from lace making courses at Carrickmacross to horse riding at Greystones Equestrian Centre, Glaslough. Monaghan County Museum, Hill Street, Monaghan is a national and European award-winning museum with art gallery and archaeological and historic displays.

St. Louis Convent Heritage Centre, Monaghan holds entrancing exhibitions of pictures, letters and records capturing Irish history. The Patrick Kavanagh Rural & Literary Resource Centre, Iniskeen offers tours of Kavanagh Country, audiovisual presentations and a research library. November sees the fun-filled Kavanagh weekend, with music, drama and poetry readings.

Lough Muckno Leisure Park, Castleblaney, Offers budget accommodation in Spectacular countryside and complete programme of outdoor and indoor activities. Castle Leslie Glaslough is a stately home set in 1000 acres of mature woodland, offering unique accommodation and tours. Canal Stores Clones, houses an exhibition of the unique Clones lace. Hilton Park and Gardens, Clones, is a Victorian pleasure ground restored to its original glory in a tranquil setting. Carrickmacross Lace Gallery, Carrickmacross. This exquisite delicate hand made world famous lace is locally made and is on display and for sale in the gallery.

Literary History

Patrick Kavanagh was born in the town land of Mucker, Inniskeen in 1904. Kavanagh's contribution to Irish literature is significant without a doubt and even more so for the fact that he was by comparison to those more privileged writers of his time such as Yeats and Joyce, relatively uneducated and writing in a time when Yeats' reputation was very well established and all were compared to his standards. Despite having plenty of potential, Kavanagh left school at twelve and yet his ability to portray his own feelings of the importance of place in terms of landscape and people, served as a visionary insight into Irish society.

Today, the old Parish Church in Inniskeen, which was frequented by Kavanagh and was a prime source of material for his writings, is home to The Patrick Kavanagh Rural & Literary Resource Centre. The centre houses exhibitions on local history and on Kavanagh himself.

The centre has a sixty seater audio visual theatre and a research library, twelve specially commissioned paintings illustrating Kavanagh's epic poem, "The Great Hunger", a miniature model depicting Kavanagh's classic, "A Christmas Childhood".

During the last weekend in November, the centre commemorates the anniversary of Kavanagh's death in 1967. During the weekend, the centre runs a programme of musical, cultural, academic and dramatic events, which combine very well to mae up an excellent weekends craic. For further information, contact the Patrick Kavanagh Centre, on Tel: 00353 429378560.