History of County Cavan

The Cavan area has been inhabited for over 5,000 years and there is much evidence of these early Cavan people throughout the county. The West Cavan area is particularly rich in archaeological sites. Throughout Co. Cavan many people lived on artificial islands or Crannogs, many of which were used for hundreds of years.

Missionaries converted the County Cavan to Christianity in the 6th Century.  St Feidhlim founded a church at Kilmore, while St Mogue set up an abbey at Drumlane.

In the Later Middle Ages (1200-1600), Cavan was a border area under the control of Irish chieftains. The Anglo-Normans had settled to the West and South as they  tried to conquer Cavan but were driven back. They built a castle at Lough Oughter and a motte and bailey at Belturbet.  In 1579 County Cavan took on its present boundaries.

In the early 17th Century Cavan was settled by planters from England and Scotland who laid the foundations for many towns and villages such as  Belturbet, Killeshandra and Virginia. In the next century their descendants built fine houses, many of which are still standing today. Cavan's history as a holiday destination dates from this time, when visitors from all over Ireland flocked to the mineral spas at Swanlinbar in West Cavan.

The countryside prospered with the growth of the linen industry. The process of turning flax plants into linen took place locally. The cloth was then sold in Cootehill. The population grew dramatically, and in 1841 nearly a quarter of a million people lived here - over four times the current population. At this time over half the population depended entirely on potatoes for food. When the potato crop failed for two successive years in 1845 and 1846, there was widespread starvation and hardship.

After the Famine Cavan became a very rural area, with many lively market towns and villages, but few industries. Widespread emmigration took place in search of work to America, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, where many gained wealth and fame.

The partition of Ireland in 1922 made Cavan into a border area once again, though thankfully it was spared involvement in the conflicts of recent years.