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“WE LCOMING · VIBRANT · MUSICAL NEOLITHIC · THE ONE TH AT G OT AW AY GOLFING · ACCESSIBLE · ENG AGING FOODIE · ENDLESS LAKES · UNSPOILED FORTS & FORE STS · DRIFTING · HO RSEY MEANDERING · GENEROUS · HI STORIC SURPRISING · FAMI LY-ORIENTED RAMBLING · FRIEND LY & DRUMLINY” 2

Lough , Shannon Erne Waterway, Ballymag ov ern, County Ca van 2 3

Chef Ne ven Maguire and Musician Martin Donohoe cooking reels in the ki tchen

COUNTY C AVAN is the beautiful land of la kes in the middle of our island. This is a place a way from it all - but not that far a way. The people here are down- to-earth and welcoming. The only residen ts who won’t be glad to meet you are our fish… that ’s just h ow they are. Our restauran ts rank among the best in the count ry and our l ov e of music is kn own to continue in to the early hou rs.. “An Cabhan” is an old Irish word meaning “The Holl ow” – and in a simple way that sa ys a lot about this place. Ca van is a refuge, a place to reju vena te, a shel ter from stress. Many visi tors no te that once you get here, the pace of things seems to sl ow down a bit. Wha tever the reason for this change of pace, you’ll be surprised by just h ow many great attractions and activities we ha ve here to fill all that wonde rfully sl owed-d own Ca van time.

Ca van Park ARTS & CU LTURE

THE A RTS really has found a good home in Ca van. Music and drama li ke to ta ke to the stree ts. Art Galleries and studios, culture centres, sculpture trails, concerts, sessions, artist residencies and County Museum’s calendar of exhibitions, lectures and cultural exchanges ensures a vibrant year-round calendar of events.

Cavan presents three drama festivals annually: , Cavan and Maudabawn, indeed many of the world’s finest actors found their stage in .

We’re proud to be home to the Ramor Theatre in Virginia, where a packed programme takes place throughout the year. Visitors should also look out for events taking place in Townhall Cavan - an artist-led cultural hub fast gaining a reputation for dynamic and creative arts productions.

Here in County Cavan we know that great things happen when we celebrate the arts and encourage more people to participate.

Image cour tesy of Aoi fe Gea ry

Ri te of Spring, Cathedral of Saint Patrick and Saint Felim, Ca van See the ind ex for more about ar ts and culture 4 in Ca van or visit: ww w.thisisca van.ie MUSIC 5

Ca van Musician Clare McDermott

The coun ty has a rich musical scene with dance, music and singing festi vals. Even ts such as N YAH, Virginia Pumpkin and the annual County Fleadh, ha ve all added to our gr owing reputation as one of ’s richest music, song and dance destinations. Ca van is open to new and inn ov ati ve ar ts and practice, particularly evidenced in the visual ar ts, youth ar ts and new media. As a film destination Ca van is ripe with contrasting locations and startling landscapes. So n ow you’ ve been warned; music and the ar ts ha ve an in fectious and p owerful e ffect on people in Ca van... Tá an-meas ar an nGaeilge i gContae an Chabhán. Tá pobal mhór ag labhairt agus ag usáid í go rialta Madcap events in Townhall Cavan ar fud an Contae uilig.

For more about music in Ca van visit: ww w.thisisca van.ie GOLF

The championship cou rse at Slie ve Russell, Ball yconnell.

...AND OTHER E XCUSES In Ca van a wise gol fer is al ways prepared for the inevitable with a few extra balls. It ’s almost a tradition for fi rst-time visi tors to blame the vie ws for adding six sho ts to their card… And if your dri ves keep finding those ancient woods along our lush fai rways… just blame the fairies. Why all the excuses? Well our golf cou rses are gorgeously challenging. Amongst the 8 cou rses in Co. Ca van, are magnificent, mature 18 hole parkland cou rses of national ren own, and charming 9 hole cou rses where e very hole dese rves to be pla yed twice. So t ry to ignore the beautiful vie ws and let us kn ow h ow that goes for you.

See the ind ex for a listing of our beautiful golf cou rses or visit: ww w.thisisca van.ie HEA LTH & WELLNESS 7

“RELISH THE TRANQUILITY ”

A HOLI STIC EXPERIENCE Ca van people and v isitors to the count y ha ve for yea rs enj oyed the health benefi ts of the tranquil landscapes of the Lakelands, the Geopark and Ca van ’s famed rolling drumlin hills. Enj oyment is the art of living in the moment and these da ys visi tors can experience holistic therapies from all ov er the world, all owing the mind and body to re-balance and revitalise. Amidst the numerous alluring la kes that lie among the drumlins and la kelands, visi tors are imme rsed in a wide array of treatmen ts and rela xation techniques in a lush land with no end of enj oy able momen ts.

The unspoiled uplands of West Ca van and the Geopark

Wellness Spa at the Radisson BLU Farnham Esta te Ho tel, Ca van

See the ind ex for a listing of our health and rela xation facilities or visit: ww w.thisisca van.ie LOW ER LOU GH ERNE

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L. SILIAN SHERCOCK R 1 GETTING HERE 91 CARRICKM ACROS S Loca ted on the main N3 Dublin-

8 R 17 Donegal road, Ca van town is R 1 6 2 centrally loca ted bet ween Bel fast 9 42 CABRA CA STL E 01 and Dublin, appr oxima tely a t wo 39 44 KINGSCOUR T LOUTH hour dri ve from the main fer ry 8 17 R por ts and airpor ts in both cities. By Car Dublin - Ca van 123 km Bel fast - Ca van 142 km 1 03 VIRGINI A MULLAGH Gal way - Ca van 170 km 04 Der ry - Ca van 156 km By Bus Regular buses from Dublin and Donegal N 3 T se rvice Virginia and Ca van town. Ca van O D U B L IN town is also se rviced regularly from MEA TH Be lfast, Sli go a nd Ga lway. Bl ack lio n and West Ca van can be accessed by bus from Dubl in to Enn is kil len an d f rom ther e ST. MOGUES ISLAND 40 CON SMITH PARK by taking the local se rvice to Blacklion BAWNB OY WORKHOUSE 41 CAVAN WATER MILL (twice daily). Blacklion is also se rviced SHANNON-ERNE BLUEWAY 42 DERRYHAM STABLES from Sligo. In addition, there is a daily CASTLE S AUNDERSON 43 RIVERSDALE J STABLES direct se rvice from Dublin airport to CORR AVAHAN HOUSE 44 ROCK EQUESTRIAN FARM Ca van town. CLOUGH OUGHTER C ASTLE 45 CROM DEMESNE TURBET ISLAND 46 JAMPA LING BUDDHIST RETREAT For further in formation visit: ww w.buseireann.ie RAILWAY MUSEUM 47 LOUGH CREW or Ca van office of Bus Eireann: t: +353 (0) 49 433 1353 or +353 (0) 49 433 2533 ROSS HOUSE EQUE STRIAN CENTRE e: in [email protected] KILLINKERE VISITOR FARM Bus Eireann opera tes a wheelchair accessible se rvice on the Dublin – Ca van bus rou te. Booking H GOLF COURSE essential. To book call t: +353 (0)1 8366 111 FOOD

“FOOD HE AVEN”

LOCAL FL AVOUR Our passion for food runs deep. Enj oying and tasting food in Ca van is pure indulgence - from meeting farmhouse foodies who invi te you to tas te their home made recipes to culina ry exper ts that sh ow you how to ma ke the pe rfect b oxty and of cou rse to the corner tables of our world-ren owned restauran ts.

Cavan is home to some of the country’s top chefs, with Neven Maguire, Richard Corrigan and Fáilte Ireland Food Champion and gluten-free guru Gearóid Lynch (The Olde Post Inn) all plying their trade here. The county is also home to Eddie Attwell (BBC Great British Menu) head chef at St Kyran’s Country House, overlooking Lough Ramor in Virginia.

Experience the Tas te of Ca van

St Kyrans Count ry House, Ho tel & Restaurant, Virginia, Co Ca van 10 Tempting

THE TASTE OF CAVAN

Taking place every August in Cavan Town, the Taste of Cavan has become the food event of the summer. Getting bigger every year, it’s your chance to experience local and regional produce, demonstrations by Ireland's top chefs and oodles of family fun! EATING & DRINKING There is something for e very tas te in Coun ty Ca van You can enj oy excellent food and drink in a variety of ways and from all corne rs of the world – restauran ts, ba rs, ho tel dining rooms, ca fes, Farme rs’ Mar kets, specialist food shops, cheese ma kers, farmhouses, guesthouses and much much more.

Afternoon tea at the Slieve Russell Hotel.

See the ind ex for some fine dining suggestions or visit: ww w.thisisca van.ie ACCESSIBLE “ACCESSIBLE CAVAN”

Enjoying a coffee

Using the reader at Johns ton Central Libra ry

Enj oying the Ca van sunshine in Con Smith Park WE T RY TO INCLUDE EVE RYBO DY All ages, all si zes, all abilities.

In Ca van, we care about inclusivit y. Our goal is for Ha ve a look at the facilities at the a ward -winning everyone to feel welcome. We n ow ha ve accessible Johns ton Central Libra ry, Ca van County Museum trails, pla ygrounds, wal ks, buildings, and our Leisure Centre. The European Commission accommodation and stree tscapes. Not to mention recognised our e ffor ts by a warding us with the the fact that, uniquely in Ireland, detailed access EDEN European Award for Accessibility in 2013 and in formation on almost all our public buildings is then in 2014, we picked up a World Responsible available online at ww w.disabledgo.com Tourism award for our work in making Cavan Town accessible to visitors with disabilities. Ca van Town is n ow an Age Friendly Business Town and many of the businesses ha ve We continue to work hard to ensure that e verybody underta ken training and made changes to can participa te fully and enj oy all that Ca van has to their businesses to ensure they are ca tering offer. to the needs of older people.

See the ind ex for more about our Accessible tourism facilities or visit: ww w. thisisca van.ie or visit ww w.disabledgo.com for in formation on County Ca van. HERI TAGE 13

“HI ST ORY HERE Clough Ough ter Castle JU ST STARES YOU IN THE FACE”

Ca van County Museum, Ballyjamesduff

HAND-M E-D OWNS from his tory. Be fore this place was called Ca van it was called Breifne, and be fore that it was called something else. This land has been home for Neolithic, Bron ze Age, this roof ov er their heads until Crom well ’s Celtic, Norman & Early Christian peoples. They all forces finally blas ted through the walls in 1653. built here and left their mark for us to admire. The breached walls lie where they fell, and for Clough Ough ter Castle was built by the Normans hundred s of yea rs the castle ha s be longed to no in the 12th centu ry. The locals were so impressed one but its pain ters, poe ts and curious visi tors. by the new place that they quickly captured it for So what was all the fuss about this place? The themsel ves. The O’ Reill ys fought hard to retain same as it e ver was - location, location, location!

See the ind ex for some of our heritage si tes or visit: ww w.thisisca van.ie FISHING

A fine ca tch, Trinity Island TAKE THE BAIT Un fortuna tely for our fish, Ca van is widely regarded as Ireland ’s finest fishing destination. If fishing is your thing, Ca van is defini tely your place. For coa rse and game fishing, we ha ve a peaceful spot for you. Surrounded by celebra ted landscapes with the water at your toes and the sounds of nature your only distraction, there ’s no bet ter place to wait it out. Famous for pi ke, the boa ts of many a hopeful pi ke angler can be seen on the wild waters la kes of Ca van. And as if that ’s not enough, there are many fine game angling ri ver stre tches and br own trout la ke fisheries, including the ren owned Lough Sheelin br own trout fishe ry. Visit Inland Fisheries Ireland website www.fishinginireland.info for updates, news and information on angling in County Cavan.

See the ind ex for some Ca van fishing tips or visit: ww w.thisisca van.ie

Carefully releasing a pi ke

“OUR BE ST DAY OUT THIS YEAR .”

14 WALKING 15

WHERE TO BEGIN Ca van is a wal ker’s place. Here we ha ve a great range of places to pace through. Walk along the ri ver and canal paths bet ween towns with a flask of soup and a companion or three. Try gently rolling drumlins one day Dún a Rí Forest Park, , Co. Ca van and upland blan ket bogs the n ext. Enj oy the tranquility of forest wal ks in Kingscourt, Virginia and Bailieborough. Find your own path on one of the fi ve mar ked trails (inc. multi-access trail) of Ca van Burren Park. Whether it ’s Ca van Burren ’s wide open landscapes, intriguing visi tor centre, the pe rfectly prese rved glacial erratics, spectacular dolmens or enc yclopaedic local guides, a visit to Ca van Burren Park is an opportunity to experience a world of natural and manmade his tory. Or walk the Ca van Way from D owra to Blacklion past the Shannon Pot – the source of the Shannon – a place of rich folklore. Entrance to Ca van Burren Park Visit the Marble Arch Ca ves Geopark – a UNESCO pro tec ted si te – a special place spanning the uplands of Ca van and Fermanagh. By foot, neo- lithic Ireland re veals i tself quietly as you stroll along. In ancient woods you get a feeling for why our ances tors pic ked this place ov er othe rs.

See the ind ex for some sugges ted wal ks or visit: ww w.thisisca van.ie

Walking in West Ca van 16

Johnston Central Libra ry Slie ve Russell Hotel Golf Ross House Equestrian Holida ys Genealogy & Tourism & Count ry Club Mountnugent Farnham Centre, Farnham St, Ca van Ball yconnell t: +353 (0)49 854 0218 18 holes | Par: 72 | Yards: 7053 ww w.ross-house.com Free wi-fi, in ternet access, t: +353 (0)49 952 6444 year-round lectures and exhibitions. e: slie ve-go lfcl ub@qu inn -ho tel s. co m Mount Prospect Stables t: +353 (0)49 437 8500 /1 ww w.slie verussell.ie Mount Prospect, Ca van e: libra ry@ca vancoco.ie Farnham Estate Golf Club t: 086 248 3721 ww w.ca vanlibra ry.ie Farnham Esta te, Ca van ww w.mountprospec tstables.com 18 holes | Par: 72 | Yards: 7047 Ca van Coun ty Museum Ca van Equestrian Centre t: +353 (0)49 437 7700 Virginia Road, Ballyjamesdu ff, Latt, Ca van e: in fo@ farnhamesta te.com Award -winning museum housed ww w.farnhamesta te.ie t: +353 (0)49 433 2017 in beautiful Georgian building. ww w.ca vanequestrian.com Features World War 1 trench Coun ty Ca van Golf Club experience, peace gardens, Drumelis House, Ca van Derryham Stables children ’s pla yground, tea 18 holes | Par: 70 | Metres: 5632 Killinkere, Virginia rooms and shop. t: +353 (0)49 433 1541 t: +353 (0)86 319 3769 e: in fo@ca vangol f.ie ww w.derryhamstables.com t:+353 (0)49 854 4070 Cr ov er House Hotel & Golf Club e: [email protected] Riversdale J Stables ww w.ca vanmuseum.ie Mountnugent 9 holes | Metres: 3306 Drumcase. Ramor Theatre t: +353 (0)49 854 0206 t: +353 (0)86 387 2222 Virginia e: cr ov [email protected] t: +353 (0)49 854 7074 (B ox Office) Rock Equestrian Farm t: +353 (0)49 854 8270 ( Reception) Blacklion Golf Club Stonewall, Bailieborough e: ramortheatre@ca vancoco.ie Toam, Blacklion t: +353 (0)82 966 5970 ww w.ramortheatre.com 9 holes | Par: 72 | Metres: 5785 ww w.bailieboroughequestrian.com t: +353 (0)71 985 3024 The Moth Studio & Art Galle ry 8 Church Street Ca van Belturbet Golf Club t: +353 (0)49 4362677 Erne Hill, Belturbet ww w.themothstudios.com 9 holes | Par: 68 | Yards: 5347 t: +353 (0)49 952 2287 Townhall Cavan Cabra Castle Golf Cou rse Main St, Cavan Kingscourt t: +353 (0) 87 149 7257 9 holes | Par: 68 | Length: 5261metres e: [email protected] t: +353 (0)42 9667030 www.townhallcavan.ie Virginia Golf Club Keep up to da te with all e ven ts on Park Ho tel Virginia ww w.ca vanar ts.ie 9 holes | Par: 64 | Metres: 4139 ww w.thisisca van.ie/ar ts t: +353 (0)49 854 8066 McSeain ’s Golf and Pitch & Putt Corn fean t: +353 (0)49 43 7138

ACCESSIBILITY

Johnston Central Libra ry, Genealogy & Tourism Bi ke Hire Dun a Rí Forest Park Farnham Street, Ca van Johns ton Central Libra ry, Ca van Kingscourt Multi-a ward winning accessible building Free bi ke hire including a wheelchair Access for all trail t: 049 437 8500 adaptable bi ke ww w.coill teoutdoo rs.ie ww w.ca vanlibra ry.ie t: 087 7802049 Castle Saunde rson All Ireland Scouting Facili ty Con Smith Park Ca van Burren Park Castle Saunde rson, Belturbet Cathedral Road, Ca van town Blacklion Online access audit: ww w.DisabledGo.com Play area for children with disabilities and adul ts ou tdoor fitness area, accessible trail 1km multi-access trail from visi tor centre to Bus Eireann Transport megalithic tombs with in terpretation along To book wheelchair accessible space Ca van Leisure Centre & Swimming Pool the way. on Dublin – Ca van bus rou te Drumalee, Ca van Green Lough Eco Ameni ty Area t: +353 (0)1 8366 111 Parking, ramps, lif ts, websi te, wheelchair Dublin Road, Ca van access fitness equipment, swimming pool hoist, h ydraulic changing table. Insect ho tel, animal footprin ts, paths and picnic area. t: 049 4362 888 ww w.ca vanleisure.ie Ca van Coun ty Museum Ballyjamesduff Killy keen Forest Park Ca van t: 049 854 4070 ww w.ca vanmuseum.ie Accessible paths and c ycle trails