Find Things To Do In Cavan

Cavan is surrounded by the counties of Monaghan, Meath, Westmeath, Longford, and Leitrim. Northern Ireland is located to the north. Northwestern Cavan consists of uplands intersected by valleys that progressively drop into the main valley of the River Erne, where the primary features are drumlins that alternate with lakes, rivers, peat bogs, and meadows. East of the Erne River runs a band of slate and shale hills. The Cavan area is mentioned in St. Patrick’s life chronicles. Cavan was part of the kingdom of Bréifne, which included Leitrim, and the O’Rourkes ruled over it. Cavan, or East Bréifne, later became known as Bréifne O’Reilly, while Leitrim, or West Bréifne, became known as Bréifne O’Rourke. For a long time, Bréifne resisted Anglo-Norman colonisation, and the O’Reillys of Cavan were not permanently brought under English authority until the late 16th century. Cavan, which had previously been part of Connacht, was recognised as part of Ulster in the early 17th century and was included in the Ulster plantation from 1608 onwards, when Scots and English immigrants colonised it.