The town of Cavan is cozily nestled between two drumlins. This explains its name Cavan or An Cábhan which means “the hollow place.” What makes Cavan unique is that this is the only town in Ireland that was established by O’Reillys, a Native Irish family, and not by Norse or Anglo-Roman settlers.  

Located just about 90 minutes from Belfast and Dublin, Cavan is the best place to explore Ireland’s Ancient East and Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands.  

Attractions including the Cuilcagh Boardwalk, Cavan Burren Park, the WW1 Trench Experience, Cavan Adventure Centre, Clogh Oughter Castle, Killykeen Forest Park, and Enniskillen Castle are within one hour’s drive or even less. 

There are numerous fine buildings all over the town as well as restaurants, busy pubs, shops, nightclubs, cafes, cinema, a leisure complex, cinema, and the top-notch Cavan Equestrian Centre, Europe’s biggest host of international and national show-jumping events. A tourist office, Genealogy Centre, and the modern Library can be found on Farnham Street.  

Numerous accommodations are also available in the area. The state of the art Farnham Estate made up of historic woodland spanning 1,300 acres can be found on the outskirts of Cavan. The astonishing Cavan Crystal Hotel on Dublin Road may look contemporary but is traditional in welcome and warmth.   

The friendly and long-established Hotel Kilmore also located on Dublin Road boasts of excellent facility.  Main Street’s Farnham Arms Hotel provides homey accommodation combined with regular entertainment in its hotel bar.  

Aside from the selection of hotels, there are also guesthouses and bed and breakfast available. Some of the restaurants in the town include The Bridge, Ko’s, Barduccis, Shades Grill, Peoples, and The Oak Room. Most pubs also serve food and you can also find several cafes and coffee shops dotting the town.    

Cavan has a vibrant art scene with a variety of cultural and music festivals all year-round. Cavan Arts Festival is held in May while the NYAH Arts Festival and the County Drama Festival are both held every year in March. Large crowds fill the town yearly during St. Patrick’s Day and there are also several heritage events hosted all over the town and the county as a whole during Heritage Week in the months of August and September.  

The town also abounds in history. The Roman Catholic cathedral and the Town Hall are two of the fine buildings in Cavan. It was in 1909 when the Town Hall was constructed and was the first movie house of the town.   

The Cathedral of SS Feidhlim and Patrick was finished in 1942. It has a 68-meteer flanking domes and spire and a basilica-style vast interior with different colors of marble and exceptional ecclesiastical art examples.   

St. Mary’s Abbey located on Abbey Street was established in 1300 by the O’Reillys. Only a graveyard and a three-storey bell tower remain from this notable Franciscan friary. The friary was reconstructed several times after damage in fire and wars.   

There is also a plaque interred here in 1649 commemorating Eoghan Roe O’Neill, Ireland’s commander of Catholic forces. This is also where most of the prominent members of O’Reilly family including Primate Hugh and Myles “The Slasher.”