Things to do and to see in County Monaghan
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| County Monaghan |
When planning my journey to County Monaghan, I didn't really know what to expect except the famous Castle Leslie. To be honest, I expected a flat, rural countryside, interspersed by small villages of little interest. Monaghan is not a county that you absolutely need to see, but I was surprised to discover that it is composed of a series of hills and is fairly interesting from a photographic point of view. It's a pity that the roads are narrow and that it's not easy to stop your car on the way to take a shot. In brief, this is a great county to go through, still unspoiled. However, make sure that you have good weather on your journey. There are quite a few sites to visit in County Monaghan, so if you plan to stay a few days, here is what you can see, do and visit... Examples in images and in text... |
| 1. Go to Clones Graveyard... [   ] Amongst the stone tombs of Clones Graveyard, you will be able to see a round tower dated from the 9th century, similar to the one in Clonmacnoise (Co. Offaly), in Monasterboice (Co. Louth) or in Glendalough (Co. Wicklow). The tower, which is 23 m high, lost its top in the 12th century, and didn't have the chance to be restored like its sisters in Offaly and Wicklow. Note that some gravestones are over 200 years old. |
| 2. Go into the centre of Clones... [ ] Only a few minutes are enough to visit the town of Clones, located at the border with Northern Ireland. In the town centre, you'll be able to see a high cross dated also from the 9th century. The cross is around 4.6 m high and is decorated with scenes from the bible or from Clones history. Similar high crosses can be seen in Monasterboice (Co. Louth), in the National Museum of Dublin (resin replicas) or sheltered from the weather conditions like in Clonmacnoise (County Offaly). |
| 3. Play golf in Hilton Park... [ ] During my search of Hilton Park and its house, I stopped in the local golf course of Hilton. One of the locals, dressed like a cowboy, told me that the property I was looking for was private but he cordially invited me to follow a path via the golf course to catch sight of the house. During the discussion, this gentleman forgave us for our controversial qualification to the World Cup 2010 (See Freisk! News)! That must have been a saint! |
| 4. Catch sight of Hilton Park House... [ ]
After around 15 minutes of walking through the golf course, I could catch sight of Hilton Park House (see in the background of the photo). There's a gate (not locked), which separates the golf course and the Park. Suspecting that I could be in a private property, I didn't go far from the gate, but it looks like nothing can prevent you from going further. |
| 5. Visit the town of Monaghan... [ ] After several kilometres on tortuous roads in the middle of hills, you'll arrive in the town, which gave its name to the County: Monaghan. The town has only 8,000 inhabitants (the County itself counts only 56,000 inhabitants). A short stroll through the town allows you to see, among other things, St Patrick's Church (Protestant), Peter's Park and the Dawson Obelisque (in memory of Colonel Dawson – a local landowner, who died in 1854 in the battle of Inkerman). |
6. Have a stroll in Castle Leslie... [ ] To my very great surprise, everyone can enter Castle Leslie Park for free. You'll also be able to park your car in the car park located at the entrance to the Park. (It is free of charge as well). With its fields full of flowers, its trees, its lovely horses and its castle, the park is a real joy for ramblers and photographers. It seems that you can also have riding lessons in the area. On the right-hand side, I had the opportunity to watch one of those lessons and to take photos with horses and the castle in the background. It looks like it was great timing. |
 Photo 6. Castle Leslie. |
| 7. Canter on Lough Glaslough... [ ] As an amateur photographer, one of my wishes is to go one day in the Camargue (South of France) and to take photos of those splendid white horses cantering in the swamps. Eventually, I didn't have to go that far. My visit inside the park allowed me to realise part of this wish. Evidence on the right-hand side. |
County Monaghan in pictures |
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 Photo 2. High Cross in Clones. |
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 Photo 3. Hilton Golf Course. |
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 Photo 4. Hilton Park and House. |
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 Photo 5. Monaghan - St Patrick Church. |
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 Photo 7. Lough Glaslough. |
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Legend:
Nice; Worth a visit; Well worth visiting
Please note that this grading system is only based on my interests and personal experience as a French expat in Ireland. Feel free to visit the same locations and share your experience 
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Free or Not Applicable 
Entrance fee ≤€5 ; €5<Entrance fee≤€10 ; €10<Entrance fee≤€15 and so on...
These price ranges are indicative only to help you plan your holiday budget and are subject to change. Discounts generally apply for families, groups, children, students and seniors citizens.
While the admission to this site is free, a parking fee may apply.
Heritage Site managed by the Office of Public Works. Most OPW sites are free of charge on the first Wednesday of every month during 2011. A Good tip: the Heritage Card entitles you unlimited admission for one year to all OPW sites (around €21).