Owen Roe O'Neill, leader of the anti-English revolt of the 1640s, died here in November 1649. It was soon captured by the O'Reilly family, the Irish rulers of east Breifne, who used it as a prison for the rest of the Middle Ages. Situated on an island in the middle of the lake, Lough Oughter Castle was built by the Anglo-Normans in the early 13th century when they tried to conquer the Cavan area. The main character in the book Gulliver was loosely based on a local giant of a man, Big John Doughty, who was so strong he could carry a pony on his shoulders.įor more in-depth information on Cavan, visit ThisIsCavan. It was sold by the widowed Lady Mairead Smith and the house and estate has now been converted to a luxury hotel.Ī little-known fact about Cavan is that the famous classic Gulliver’s Travels was reputedly penned by Dean Jonathan Swift while vacationing in Mullagh, a beautiful village in East Cavan. It is believed to have been built for the Maxwell family – who holds the title of Baron Farnham – in 1810. Farnham House, to the northwest of Cavan, is one of the largest houses in the county. Three miles west of Cavan Town is the Church of Ireland Kilmore Cathedral, which contains a Romanesque doorway dating from the 12th century. In 1938, work began on the Roman Catholic Cathedral of Saints Patrick and Felim. In the late 19th century, Cavan became an important rail junction between the midland and western lines and those of the Northern Railways.

The phrase 'Life of Reilly' was credited to the O'Reilly clans due to their great wealth and power, having created and issued their own currency during the 1600s. King James I of England granted the town a charter in 1610. A Franciscan monastery was also established at around the same time. The O'Reilly family (still the most common surname in the area) established a castle in the town in the late 13th century.

Death in the Pot by Charles W. Doughty