Buildings of Monaghan

The town of Monaghan, owes its existence to the fortified crannogs of the MacMahons, the abbey of the Franciscans (built in 1462 destroyed in 1530 by the English) and in later times to the placement of an English garrison there in 1601. The county town of the County of Monaghan – one of three counties of Ulster sited in the Republic of Ireland, Monaghan is a busy market town with a rich architectural heritage.

A map of the town from 1602 shows a star shaped fort, houses, the remains of the abbey and the remains of the two crannogs in the nearby convent lake. Many of the houses in the town are said to have been built with the stone of the town walls. The town as it exists today is a product of the late 18th and early 19th centuries when its layout was formalised into the sequence of streets and squares visible today.

Unlike many northern towns, Monaghan has a irregular plan, radiating triangularly from the centre. Many of the streets are short, acting as links between the four major squares – the Diamond, Church Square, Market Square and Old Cross Square.

Many of the buildings are built from local limestone and in recent years many stuccoed buildings have had their stonework cleaned and restored. A feature of the town is the use of softly rounded corners causing many of the open spaces to seemlessly blend into each other.

1760 – Aviemore House, Monaghan, Co. Monaghan

Aviemore House is the most imposing residence in Monaghan both from its grand facade to its positioning on Hill Street.

1780s – Camla Vale, Monaghan, Co. Monaghan

After World War II, when nearby Rossmore Castle developed a severe case of dry rot,

1791 – Infantry Barracks, Monaghan, Co. Monaghan

Closed by 1908, the barracks dated from 1791 and consisted of a pair of two-storey blocks,

1792 – Market House, Monaghan, Co. Monaghan

Architect: Colonel William Hayes

The Market House was designed by Colonel William Hayes of Avondale,

17th C – Old Cross, Monaghan, Co. Monaghan

The origins of the Old Cross are unclear. It’s not even certain if it were even a cross –

1820s – Cornacassa House, Monaghan, Co. Monaghan

A dignified smaller classical house with a lower service wing. Described in Lewis as “Cornacassa,

1824 – Monaghan Gaol, Co. Monaghan

According to Lewis, “The county gaol, completed in 1824, and situated on an eminence near the entrance to the town,

1824 – Old Town Chapel, Park Street, Monaghan

Replaced by William Hague’s church, which was constructed alongside, this simple church with gothic windows to the street was demolished in the early 20th century.

1829 – Court House, Monaghan, Co. Monaghan

Architect: Joseph Welland

The Court House was probably designed by Joseph Welland,

1830 – Gate Lodge, Camla Vale, Monaghan, Co. Monaghan

Former gatelodge for Camla Vale house, and not Rossmore Castle as usually assumed due to its proximity across the road.