Family-friendly Food & drink Walking
Drumlins, a castle and a poet
Monaghan is one of Ireland’s least-visited counties, and that’s a big part of its charm. It’s a gentle landscape of small hills, lakes and hedgerows, the countryside that shaped the poet Patrick Kavanagh, and it’s home to one of the most famous castle estates in Ireland. It’s an easy, relaxed weekend about an hour and a half from Dublin, perfect for a slow break with a bit of luxury.
Don’t come expecting crowds or big-ticket attractions. Come for long walks by quiet lakes, a good dinner, a castle bar with a fire, and the kind of country lanes where people still lift a finger off the steering wheel to say hello.
Castle Leslie Estate
In the village of Glaslough, Castle Leslie is a Victorian castle on a 1,000-acre estate of woodland, lakes and parkland, still run by the Leslie family. It’s famous for its eccentric history and for hosting Paul McCartney’s wedding in 2002. Even if you’re not staying, you can eat in the estate’s restaurant and bar, take a horse ride from the equestrian centre (one of the best in Ireland) or walk in Glaslough village, which is one of the prettiest in the county.
Patrick Kavanagh country
The poet Patrick Kavanagh was born in Inniskeen in 1904, and the Patrick Kavanagh Centre, in the old church where he’s buried nearby, tells his story. You can walk or drive the lanes that inspired poems such as Shancoduff and A Christmas Childhood, and the centre runs walks and events through the year. You don’t have to be a poetry fan to enjoy it. The landscape is lovely in its own right, and the small fields and hills look much as they did when he wrote about them.
Monaghan town and the forest parks
- Monaghan County Museum: a free, award-winning museum with the Cross of Clogher and the history of the county from the Stone Age.
- Rossmore Forest Park: woodland and lakeside trails just outside Monaghan town, with the ruins of the old castle.
- Lough Muckno, Castleblayney: a large lake with forest walks, watersports and a big park.
- Carrickmacross: a market town famous for its lace, with a lace gallery where you can see it being made.
Glaslough village
Even without the castle, Glaslough would be worth the trip. It’s a neat estate village of cut-stone houses, tidy gardens and a little lake, built around the castle gates, and it has done very well over the years in the national Tidy Towns competition. Walk the village, then follow the lane along the estate wall for views over the lake and parkland. It’s especially pretty in late spring, when the rhododendrons are out.
Clones and Sliabh Beagh
On the Fermanagh border, the market town of Clones has a round tower, an early Christian high cross and a long history of lace-making. To the north, Sliabh Beagh is a wild upland of blanket bog and lakes crossed by walking trails, popular with birdwatchers and very, very quiet.
When it rains
Monaghan County Museum, the Kavanagh Centre and the lace gallery in Carrickmacross are all good wet-day options. Or book a spa treatment and a long lunch at Castle Leslie.
Where to eat and drink
Castle Leslie’s restaurant and bar are the obvious treat. Monaghan town and Carrickmacross have good cafés and restaurants, and the county’s country pubs are friendly and unpretentious. Monaghan is also one of Ireland’s biggest mushroom-growing counties, so look out for them on local menus, along with farmhouse cheeses and local beef.
Good to know before you go
- There’s no railway in Monaghan, so you’ll need a car or the bus from Dublin.
- Castle Leslie hosts weddings most weekends, so book early if you want to stay.
- The Patrick Kavanagh Centre has limited opening hours, so check or book ahead.
- Monaghan borders Armagh, Tyrone and Fermanagh, so it’s easy to add a day across the border.
Which area to stay in
Glaslough and Castle Leslie are the dream base. Monaghan town has the most choice and is central for the museum and forest parks, and Carrickmacross is handy for Kavanagh country and the drive from Dublin.
If you’re bringing children, Lough Muckno’s park and watersports and the equestrian centre at Castle Leslie will keep them busy, and the county’s hotels with pools are a lifesaver on wet afternoons.
A two-night plan
Friday: arrive in Glaslough and have dinner at Castle Leslie.
Saturday: a ride or walk on the estate, then Rossmore Forest Park and the County Museum in Monaghan town.
Sunday: Inniskeen and the Kavanagh Centre, then lunch in Carrickmacross on the way home.
Monaghan is ideal for a quiet St Brigid’s Day or October bank holiday. Add a day in Armagh or Carlingford.
Frequently asked questions
Can you visit Castle Leslie without staying?
Yes. You can eat in the restaurant or bar, and the equestrian centre offers rides to non-residents. Book ahead.
Where is Patrick Kavanagh buried?
In Inniskeen, Co. Monaghan, beside the old church that is now the Patrick Kavanagh Centre.
How far is Monaghan from Dublin?
About an hour and a half by car via the M1 and N2. There’s no train, but buses run from Dublin to Monaghan town.
Is Monaghan good for families?
Yes. Lough Muckno, Rossmore Forest Park and the County Museum all suit children, and Castle Leslie’s equestrian centre offers lessons.
Where we’d stay
A Victorian castle and lodge on a 1,000-acre estate in Glaslough.
A family-run hotel with a pool on the edge of Monaghan town.
A modern hotel and spa close to Monaghan town centre.
We may earn a small commission if you book, at no extra cost to you.
Getting there
About an hour and a half from Dublin. There’s no train, so drive or take the bus.
- By car: about an hour and a half from Dublin to Monaghan town via the M1 and N2, or an hour to Carrickmacross.
- By bus: services run from Dublin to Monaghan town, some continuing to Omagh and Derry.
- Getting around: you’ll need a car for Glaslough, Inniskeen and the forest parks.
Timetables change, especially on bank holidays, so check with the operator before you travel.
