Cavan Town History
Cavan town is the largest town in County Cavan, and is 
strategically located on the N3 from Dublin and N55 (Longford - Southern) routes. The centre of the town is located in a valley between the drumlins that are characteristic of the county. The name Cavan comes from the Irish word for a hollow. During the past twenty years the town has expanded rapidly and now covers much of these drumlins. There are many great views of the town centre from these vantage points.
The town originated as the seat of the O'Reilly clan of East Breffni who built the Franciscan Friary in 1300. During the latter part of the 19th century, the number of friars in Cavan increased and the Main Street developed as a retail centre for the town and surrounding area.
The Town centre has developed considerably since that period and is now a bustling and attractive shopping town. Cavan has become an important centre of commercial and leisure activity, attracting people from a wide area.
Cavan town has many fine buildings in its centre. Among these are the Town Hall, the Court House, the Roman Catholic Cathedral, the Presbyterian Church and the remains of the Franciscan Friary.
There is a wealth of history associated with Cavan. There are many traces remaining of our ancient ancestors such as ringforts, crannogs, dolmens etc. as well as many buildings from our more recent past. There are monastic remains as well as old towers & castles.
To really appreciate the history of Cavan a trip to the county museum in Ballyjamesduff is a must.
Co. Cavan is located in the north midlands and borders Fermanagh, Monaghan, Meath, Westmeath, Leitrim & Longford. It's known as "The Lake County" and the reason for this is obvious as Cavan has over 365 lakes.
The two largest rivers in Ireland also rise in Co. Cavan, the Shannon & the Erne. The Shannon rises in the Shannon Pot high in the Cuilcagh Mountains above Blacklion in the west of the county, and the Erne has its source in Lough Gowna in the north of the county. Cavan is a great haven for fishermen and they come from all over the world to enjoy all that Cavan has to offer.
A large part of the Shannon-Erne waterway also cuts through Cavan. This is the canal that links the navigable part of the Shannon to that of the Erne, which makes Cavan a popular destination for boating.
However there's more to Cavan than just water. The other main feature is the drumlins, which cover most of the county. There are a multitude of small and winding back roads and trails between these, which are perfect for walking, hiking & cycling. The Cuilcagh Mountains cover the west of the county. The Cavan way is a very popular hiker's trail that takes you up and over these beautiful mountains and past some beautiful sights along the way.
Click here to view a map of Cavan town and see where Cavan Institute is located.
Cavan Facilities
Students have a wide range of leisure facilities to choose from in this busy and vibrant town and in its hinterland. These include:
- Killykeen Forest Park,
- Speedway Go Karting track,
- Storm Cinema - with four screens,
- Abbey Bowling,
- Two Equestrian Centres,
- Cavan 18 Hole Golf Club,
- Cavan County Library,
- Cavan Swimming Pool and Leisure Complex.
Students can enjoy an extensive range of shops, restaurants, nightclubs, and pubs that regularly win national awards for their standards of service and welcome. Students are always encouraged to partake in the town's clubs and societies.
Cavan town is easily accessible from any part of Ireland. The Bus Eireann Depot, which is only a ten minute walk from the Institute provides a service to all towns and cities.
Private bus companies also operated a daily service on a number of local routes to and from the Institute.
- Cavan-Dublin 2 hours
- Cavan-Belfast 2 hours
- Cavan-Athlone 1hr 15 min
- Cavan-Galway 3 hours
- Cavan-Donegal 2 1/2hrs
