View source for Cavan

{{Short description|County town of Cavan, Ireland}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=October 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Cavan
| native_name        = {{Native name|ga|An Cabhán|paren=omit}}
| settlement_type    = Town
| image_skyline      = Cavan Cathedral.JPG
| image_caption      = [[Cavan Cathedral|Cathedral of Saints Patrick & Felim, Cavan]]
| motto              = 
| mapsize            = 230px
| map_caption        = Location of Cavan in Ireland
| pushpin_map        = Ireland
| pushpin_relief     = 1
| pushpin_label_position = right
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Ireland
| coordinates        = {{coord|53.9910|-7.3601|dim:100000_region:IE|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = Ireland
| subdivision_type1  = [[Provinces of Ireland|Province]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[Counties of Ireland|County]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Ulster]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[County Cavan]]
| subdivision_type3  = [[Barony (Ireland)|Barony]]
| subdivision_name3  = [[Loughtee Upper]]
| unit_pref          = Metric
| elevation_m        = 113
| population_as_of   = [[2022 census of Ireland|2022]]
| population_total   = 11741
|population_footnotes = <ref name=cso2022>{{cite web | title = Profile 1 - Population Distribution and Movement – F1015 - Population | url = https://data.cso.ie/table/F1015 | work = [[2022 census of Ireland|Census 2022]] | publisher = [[Central Statistics Office (Ireland)]] | access-date = 29 August 2023}}</ref>
| unemployment_rate  = 
| blank_name_sec1    = Irish Grid Reference
| blank_info_sec1    = {{iem4ibx|H419041}}
| website            = {{URL|thisiscavan.ie}}
| area_code_type     = [[Telephone numbers in the Republic of Ireland|Telephone area code]]
| area_code          = +353(0)49
| postal_code_type   = [[Eircode]] routing key
| postal_code        = H12
| timezone           = [[Western European Time|WET]]
| utc_offset         = ±0
| timezone_DST       = [[Irish Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset_DST     = +1
}}

'''Cavan''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|æ|v|ən}} {{respell|KAV|ən}}; {{Irish place name|An Cabhán|the hollow}}<ref name=logainm>{{cite web | url = https://www.logainm.ie/en/1165586 | title = An Cabhán/Cavan | website = [[Placenames Database of Ireland]] (logainm.ie) | access-date = 29 August 2023}}</ref>) is the [[county town]] of [[County Cavan]] in [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]]. The town lies in [[Ulster]], near the border with [[County Fermanagh]] in [[Northern Ireland]]. The town is bypassed by the main [[N3 road (Ireland)|N3 road]] that links [[Dublin]] (to the south) with [[Enniskillen]], [[Ballyshannon]] and [[Donegal Town]] (to the north).

==History==
===Gaelic Cavan 1300–1607===

[[File:Cavan Towne Map 1591.jpg|thumb|left|Map of Cavan town from 1591 showing its market square and the O'Reilly castle on Tullymongan Hill]]
Cavan was founded by the [[Chief of the Name|Irish clan chief]] and Lord of [[East Breifne]], Giolla Íosa Ruadh O’Reilly, between 1300 and his death in 1330. During his lordship, a [[Priory|friary]] run by the [[Dominican Order]] was established close to the O’Reilly stronghold at Tullymongan and was at the centre of the settlement close to a crossing over the river and to the town's marketplace. It is recorded that the (Cavan) Dominicans were expelled in 1393, replaced by an Order of Conventual [[Franciscan]] friars. The friary's location is marked by an eighteenth-century tower in the graveyard at Abbey Street which appears to incorporate remains of the original medieval friary tower. The imprint of the medieval town can be followed in the area of Abbey Street, Bridge Street and Main Street (townlands of Tullymongan Upper and Lower).

Clan O'Reilly later built a new castle in the late fourteenth century on Tullymongan Hill, overlooking the town centre. In the 15th century, the local ruler, Bearded Owen O'Reilly, expanded the town marketplace which attracted merchants from [[Dublin]] and [[Drogheda]]. The phrase "life of Reilly" is believed to derive from the great wealth and power of the Chief of Clan O'Reilly, some of which came from the market. The Chiefs also allowed, however, counterfeit English and Scottish coins to be minted in their territory at this time.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Parker |first=Kieran |title=The Ui Raghallaigh Lordship of East Breifne c.1250-.c. 1450 |journal=Brefne |year=1991 |volume=8 |issue=2 |page=415 |url=http://breifnehistory.com/journal.html}}</ref>

During the [[Elizabethan era]] religious persecution of the Catholic Church in Ireland, Archbishop [[Dermot O'Hurley]], who would be one of the most celebrated of the 24 [[Irish Catholic Martyrs]], was covertly sheltered by [[Thomas Fleming, 10th Baron Slane]] at [[Slane Castle]],<ref>{{cite book |title=The Irish Martyrs |editor1=Patrick J. Cornish |editor2=Benignus Millet |date=2005 |publisher=Four Courts Press |location=Dublin |page=69 |isbn=978-1-85182-858-6}}</ref> where the Archbishop was allegedly concealed inside a [[priest hole]],<ref>{{cite book |last=Conyngham |first=David Power |title=Lives of the Irish Martyrs |date=1873 |publisher=D. & J. Sadlier |location=New York |pages=63–64 |url=https://archive.org/details/livesofirishmart0000unse/page/62/mode/2up}}</ref><ref name="Dermot O'Hurley">{{cite web |website=[[Dictionary of Irish Biography]] |title=O'Hurley, Dermot |url=https://www.dib.ie/biography/ohurley-dermot-a6817 |publisher=Royal Irish Academy}}</ref> but from whence O'Hurley covertly travelled to and from Cavan to visit with some fellow priests whom he had known while living in [[Catholic Europe]].<ref name="Dermot O'Hurley"/>

===Early modern history===
[[James I of England|King James I]] granted the town a charter in 1611. This also entitled Cavan town to [[Cavan Borough (Parliament of Ireland constituency)|send two members]] to the Irish parliament.<ref>{{cite web |title=Cavan |url=https://www.ancestryireland.com/history-of-the-irish-parliament/constituencies/cavan/ |website=Ulster Historical Foundation |access-date=27 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220127045518/https://www.ancestryireland.com/history-of-the-irish-parliament/constituencies/cavan/ |archive-date=27 January 2022 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In February 1690, during the [[Glorious Revolution]], the [[Battle of Cavan]] took place after Williamite Inniskillinger forces led by Colonel William Wolseley attacked the strategic fort overlooking Cavan town at Tullamongan which was held then by the Duke of Berwick Jacobite army. During the battle much of the town was burned by Colonel Wolseley's soldiers and Jacobite general [[William Nugent (soldier)|William Nugent]] was killed.<ref name="Battle of Cavan">{{cite news |last=Parker |first=Ciaran |title=The Battle of Cavan, 1690 |newspaper=Cavan Echo |date=9 February 2007}}</ref> Later, during the 18th century, local administrative influence and power passed to the Maxwell family, descendants of [[Robert Maxwell (bishop)|Robert Maxwell]], [[Church of Ireland]] [[Bishop of Kilmore]] (1643–1672), a family who later entered the [[peerage]] as [[Baron Farnham]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nli.ie/pdfs/mss%20lists/farnham2.pdf |title=National Library of Ireland – Collection List No. 95 – Farnham Papers |publisher=National Library of Ireland |access-date=10 November 2023}}</ref>

Farnham House, located at Farnham, a small rural district to the north-west of Cavan, is one of the largest [[English country house|country house]]s in the county. It was built for [[Barry Maxwell, 1st Earl of Farnham|Barry Maxwell, 3rd Lord Farnham]] (later created, by the second creation, [[Baron Farnham|Earl of Farnham]]), head of the Maxwell dynasty, around 1780. The house was designed by [[James Wyatt]]. It was extended in 1810 to the design of [[Francis Johnston (architect)|Francis Johnston]], a [[County Armagh]]-born, but Dublin-based, architect. It was sold by Diana, Lady Farnham (widow of [[Barry Maxwell, 12th Baron Farnham|Barry Maxwell, 12th Lord Farnham]]), to a local entrepreneur in 2001, and the house and estate has per 2006 been converted into a luxury hotel and leisure complex under the [[Radisson SAS]] international hotel group.<ref>{{cite web |title=First ever Radisson SAS resort in Ireland to open at Farnham Estate in Cavan |website=HoganStand |date=2006 |url=https://www.hoganstand.com/county/cavan/article/index/62251 |access-date=3 May 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817095515/http://www.hoganstand.com/cavan/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=62251 |archive-date=17 August 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.irelandin1.com/Ireland-Hotel/FEH/Radisson-SAS-Farnham-Estate |title=Radisson Blu Farnham Estate Hotel, CavanHotels |website=Ireland in 1 |access-date=3 May 2018 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180503140843/http://www.irelandin1.com/Ireland-Hotel/FEH/Radisson-SAS-Farnham-Estate |archive-date=3 May 2018}}</ref>

[[File:Town Hall, Cavan Town, County Cavan, Ireland - geograph.org.uk - 336451.jpg|thumb|left|[[Cavan Town Hall]]]]
Developments in Cavan during the early 19th century saw the building of a new wide street that still bears the name 'Farnham Street'. This was lined with comfortable town houses, public buildings (such as [[Cavan Courthouse]] which dates from 1824) and churches. From the mid-19th century, Cavan became an important rail junction for the [[Midland Great Western Railway]] (MGWR) and those of the [[Great Northern Railway (Ireland)|Great Northern Railway]] (GNR). [[Cavan Town Hall]] was built between 1908 and 1910.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/40000161/cavan-town-hall-town-hall-street-keadew-cavan-rl-and-urban-cavan-cavan|title=Cavan Town Hall, Town Hall Street, Keadew (Cavan RL. and Urban), Cavan, County Cavan|publisher=National Inventory of Architectural Heritage|access-date=9 November 2023}}</ref>

===20th century===

In 1938, work began on the [[Cavan Cathedral|Cathedral of Saints Patrick and Felim]]; the original Kilmore cathedral was built c.1455, as the main church of the [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] [[Diocese of Kilmore (Roman Catholic)|Diocese of Kilmore]] located around five kilometres (3&nbsp;mi) south-west of Cavan Town, on the [[Regional roads in Ireland|R]]198. During the [[Plantation of Ulster]] in the seventeenth century, this church became the main [[Church of Ireland]] Kilmore Diocese church known as St. Feidhlimidh Cathedral. A new [[Kilmore Cathedral]] church was built in 1860 and dedicated to the memory of Bishop [[William Bedell]] who died and was buried here in 1642. Bedell was also famously noted for his translation of the old testament Bible into the Irish language. The present Cathedral contains a Hiberno [[Romanesque architecture|Romanesque]] doorway dating from c. 1170, in the twelfth century, conjectured locally ''(but unlikely)'' originally to have come from Holy Trinity priory located a short distance away upon Trinity Island in [[Lough Oughter]]. Holy Trinity priory was built mid-thirteenth century. A short distance from the Kilmore Cathedral is the [[See (religion)|See]] House, a late [[Georgian architecture|Georgian]]-style house constructed in the 1830s. This house, designed by [[William Farrell (architect)|William Farrell]], was formerly the official residence (or "Bishop's Palace") of the [[Church of Ireland]] [[Bishop of Kilmore, Elphin and Ardagh|Bishops of Kilmore, Elphin and Ardagh]].

On 23 February 1943, a [[Cavan Orphanage Fire|fire at St Joseph's Orphanage]] in the town claimed the lives of 35 children and an elderly woman. A [[public inquiry]] found no culpability on the part of the nuns who ran the orphanage, but the circumstances surrounding the high death toll in the fire remain controversial to this day.<ref>{{cite news|last=Parker|first=Ciaran|title=Cavan's darkest day|newspaper=Cavan Echo|date=23 February 2007}}</ref> The secretary of the Commission of Enquiry, Brian O'Nolan, is better known to posterity as the writer [[Flann O'Brien]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dib.ie/biography/onolan-brian-flann-obrien-a6969|title=O'Nolan, Brian (‘Flann O'Brien’)|publisher=Dictionary of Irish Biography|access-date=10 November 2023}}</ref>

The former Cavan Town [[Royal Irish Constabulary]] Barracks was demolished in 1968. Its successor stood on the corner of Farnham Street (also known as Casement Street, named after [[Sir Roger Casement]]) and Abbey Street. The current [[Garda Síochána|Garda]] Station is further along Farnham Street, just across from the Courthouse.

===21st century===

In the 1990s and 2000s Cavan town expanded rapidly with extensive urban regeneration and suburban expansion. It is one of the main economic hubs of the north central part of Ireland and has an extensive range of financial services, legal, medical, industrial and retail enterprises.

Adjacent to the Courthouse is the Cavan Central Library building constructed in 2006. The entrance is dominated by an aquarium, with commissioned [[bog-wood|bog oak]] sculptures by local artist Joey Burns that portray Cavan history. An arts feature based on ''[[Gulliver's Travels]]'' enriches the interior space, and two large paintings by award-winning author PJ Lynch were commissioned by Cavan Library Service, in a lasting tribute to [[Jonathan Swift]] and to Cavan where ''Gulliver's Travels'' was written.

==Transport==

===Road===
The town is located on the junction of two national routes, the [[N3 road (Ireland)|N3]] to [[Dublin]] and [[N55 road|N55]] to [[Athlone]]. The National Development Plan provides for a major upgrading of the route with an M3 motorway from [[Kells, County Meath|Kells]] to [[Dublin]] (completed and officially opened on 4 June 2010) and [[2+2 road|type 2 dual carriageway]] from Whitegate on the Meath border to Cavan, which will eventually bypass Virginia too. The N3 and N55 eastern [[bypass route|bypass]] around Cavan town was fully completed in March 2006, eliminating the need for heavy traffic to pass through an already congested town.

===Railway===
[[File:Cavan churches.jpg|thumb|View of Cavan [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] Cathedral (spire on the right) and the [[Church of Ireland]] Parish Church (spire on the left)]]
[[File:Cavan centre.jpg|thumb|Cavan town centre]]
[[File:Cavan courthouse.jpg|thumb|[[Cavan Courthouse]]]]

Although Cavan has no railway links today, there were once two railway stations on separate lines, linking the [[Great Northern Railway (Ireland)|Great Northern Railway]] (GNR) and [[Midland Great Western Railway]], then an end junction of the Belfast-Cavan route linking [[Clones, County Monaghan|Clones]]<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94419981/notes-of-new-works/ |via=[[Newspapers.com]]|work=[[Irish Builder]]|date=15 February 1862 |page=11|title=New Works}}</ref> with a branch line to Crossdoney and [[Killeshandra]]. With the Cavan-Dublin route, via Inny Junction, [[Longford]] and [[Mullingar]] on the [[Dublin-Sligo railway line]]. There is an old railway line running through [[Kingscourt]] on the border of County Meath; this line is now overgrown.

A branch of the [[Cavan and Leitrim Railway]] was also indirectly linked to Cavan town via [[Belturbet]] (the C&L terminus) and [[Ballyhaise]] on the GNR line. When the [[Government of Northern Ireland]] closed the section of the Belfast line from [[Portadown]] to [[Glaslough]] in 1957, it was found to be uneconomical to keep running the rump section from Monaghan to Cavan. All these lines (including the Cavan and Leitrim Railway) were closed by 1960. The (GNR) Virginia Road Station, from 1863 to 1958 serviced the Drogheda and Navan extension route to Kells and Oldcastle. Cooperation between the Cavan and Westmeath county councils is striving to integrate this into the national and regional development plan. [[Cavan railway station]] opened on 8 July 1856, closed for passenger services on 14 October 1957, and finally closed altogether on 1 January 1960.<ref>{{cite web | title=Cavan station | work=Railscot – Irish Railways | url=http://www.railscot.co.uk/Ireland/Irish_railways.pdf | access-date=16 September 2007 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110302022802/http://www.railbrit.co.uk/Ireland/Irish_railways.pdf | archive-date=2 March 2011}}</ref>

===Bus===
Cavan's bus station is owned and operated by<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.buseireann.ie/|title=Bus Éireann – View Ireland Bus and Coach Timetables & Buy Tickets|website=www.buseireann.ie|access-date=1 December 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161130235044/http://www.buseireann.ie/|archive-date=30 November 2016}}</ref> [[Bus Éireann]] and is located on [[Baron Farnham|Farnham]] Street. It is a single-storey accessible building with a ticket office, waiting room, public 'phone, restaurant and toilets. The station is served by the [[Donegal Town]] – [[Enniskillen]] – [[Dublin Airport]] – [[Busáras]] Expressway route 30 which generally operates every two hours in each direction. Route 165 operates less frequently to [[Athlone]] and [[Belfast]]. The station is the terminus of several local routes, including route 109 to [[Dublin]], which operates hourly each way. Other local routes are the 111 to [[Ballinagh]], [[Granard]], [[Castlepollard]] and [[Athboy]], the 166 to [[Dundalk]], the 175 to [[Monaghan]] via [[Cootehill]], the 175A to [[Monaghan]] via [[Cloverhill, County Cavan|Cloverhill]] and [[Clones, County Monaghan|Clones]] and the Tuesdays-only 465 to [[Carrigallen]].

Leydons Coaches operate route '''930''' to [[Enniskillen]] via [[Belturbet]], [[Ballyconnell]], [[Bawnboy]] and [[Swanlinbar]].<ref>[http://www.leydonscoaches.com/timetable.html Leydons Coaches] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130608114706/http://www.leydonscoaches.com/timetable.html |date=8 June 2013 }}. Leydons Coaches (11 February 2013). Retrieved on 23 July 2013.</ref>

Whartons Travel operate a route to [[Longford railway station]] via [[Crossdoney]], [[Arvagh]], [[Drumlish]] and [[Longford]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.longford.ie/|title=Home {{!}} Longford.ie|last=Portal|first=Longford|website=www.longford.ie|access-date=1 December 2016}}</ref><ref>[http://www.whartonstravel.com/longford-bus.html Cavan to Longford Bus – Longford to Cavan Bus] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222102515/http://www.whartonstravel.com/longford-bus.html |date=22 December 2015 }}. Whartons Travel. Retrieved on 23 July 2013.</ref>

There are also a number of [[TFI Local Link]] routes serving Cavan:

* Route '''C1''' <small>([[Ballyhaise]] – [[Butlersbridge]] – Drumgola – Cavan Institute – Cavan Bus Station – Aldi – Crystal Retail Park – Kilmore roundabout)</small>;<ref>{{Cite web |title=C1-Timetable-August-2023-web.pdf |url=https://www.locallinkcm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/C1-Timetable-August-2023-web.pdf |access-date=23 August 2023 |website=Local Link Cavan-Monaghan |format=PDF}}</ref>
* Route '''C2''' <small>(Ballinagh – Corlurgan Business Park – Moynehall (Lidl) – Cavan Bus Station – Cavan Town Centre – Swellan – Cavan Hospital)</small>;<ref>{{Cite web |title=C2-Timetable-June-22-web.pdf |url=https://www.locallinkcm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/C2-Timetable-June-22-web.pdf |access-date=23 August 2023 |website=Local Link Cavan-Monaghan |format=PDF}}</ref>
* Route '''C3''' <small>([[Redhills, County Cavan|Redhills]] – Ballyhaise – Breffni College – Rocklands – Drumalee – Castlemanor –  Cavan Institute – Cavan Town Centre – Cavan Bus Station  – Cavan Hospital – Farnham Estate)</small> with Drumliff also at the weekend;<ref>{{Cite web |title=C3-Timetable-March-23-web.pdf |url=https://www.locallinkcm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/C3-Timetable-March-23-web.pdf |access-date=23 August 2023 |website=Local Link Cavan-Monaghan |format=PDF}}</ref>
* Route '''176''' <small>(Cavan Town – Ballyhaise – [[Scotshouse]] – Clones – [[Newbliss]] – [[Threemilehouse]] – Monaghan Town)</small>;<ref>{{Cite web |title=176-Timetable-June-22-web.pdf |url=https://www.locallinkcm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/176-Timetable-June-22-web.pdf |access-date=23 August 2023 |website=Local Link Cavan-Monaghan |format=PDF}}</ref>
* Route '''929''' <small>(Corlough Devines Cross – [[Ballinamore]] – [[Newtowngore]] – Taffs Cross – [[Killeshandra]] – Cavan Bus Station – Cavan Institute)</small>.<ref>{{Cite web |title=929-Timetable-June-2022.pdf |url=https://www.locallinkcm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/929-Timetable-June-2022.pdf |access-date=23 August 2023 |website=Local Link Cavan-Monaghan |format=PDF}}</ref>

==Education==
Cavan town has four secondary level schools: [[St Patrick's College, Cavan|Saint Patrick's College]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stpatscavan.com|title=Saint Patrick's College, Cavan|website=stpatscavan.com|access-date=3 May 2018|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180103073014/http://www.stpatscavan.com/|archive-date=3 January 2018}}</ref> Loreto College,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.loretocavan.ie|title=Home – Loreto College Cavan|website=www.loretocavan.ie|access-date=3 May 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180313140813/http://loretocavan.ie/|archive-date=13 March 2018}}</ref> Breifne College, and the oldest, [[Royal School Cavan]], founded in the early 17th century.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.royalschoolcavan.ie|title=Royal School Cavan|website=www.royalschoolcavan.ie|access-date=3 May 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171207190034/http://www.royalschoolcavan.ie/|archive-date=7 December 2017}}</ref>

Breifne College is a co-educational Vocational Education School administered by the County Cavan Education and Training Board.<ref>[http://www.cavanvec.ie/ Cavan Vocational Educational Committee] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060718165114/http://www.cavanvec.ie/ |date=18 July 2006 }}</ref>

Saint Patrick's College and Loreto College are respectively all boys and all girls Catholic voluntary schools, with The Royal School being a co-educational school with a Protestant ethos. These schools are administered by their respective patrons in conjunction with the Department of Education and Science.

The town has a third level college, [[Cavan Institute]] (formerly Cavan College of Further Studies), which was founded in 1985 and is the largest provider of FETAC courses in the northeast region. The college offers Further Education and Training Awards Council (FETAC) across its five schools; Business & Humanities, Healthcare, Sport & Education, Beauty Therapy & Hairdressing, Computing, Engineering & Science Design, Performing Arts & Services. Graduates are entitled to exemptions within most third level colleges and usually transfer to study a degree further completing their course by in their chosen field. The majority of students are Cavan locals, with a large proportion of its other students coming from nearby counties such as Leitrim, Roscommon, Monaghan, Meath and Westmeath. The college's main campus is located on Cathedral Road with other sites in the town centre and at the former Army Barracks on the Dublin Road.

==Tourism and events==
===All-Ireland Fleadh===
In 2010, 2011 and 2012, Cavan Town hosted the ''[[Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann]]''.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.anglocelt.ie/news/roundup/articles/2011/09/14/4006644-cavan-hattrick-as-fleadh-2012-is-secured/|title=Cavan hat-trick as Fleadh 2012 is secured|last=Hogan|first=Sinead|date=14 September 2011|publisher=The Anglo-Celt|access-date=24 November 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111118051343/http://www.anglocelt.ie/news/roundup/articles/2011/09/14/4006644-cavan-hattrick-as-fleadh-2012-is-secured|archive-date=18 November 2011}}</ref>
The 2010 Fleadh was held from 16 to 22 August. The Fleadh is the premier annual Irish traditional music, song and dance festival and series of competitions, which is run by [[Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann]] (CCÉ). Fleadh 2010 was the 50th annual ''Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann'', and the first to be [[Carbon neutrality|carbon neutral]]. That year it returned to Cavan for the first time since 1954.<ref>[http://www.fleadh2010.ie Fleadh Cheoil 2010] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130202025028/http://www.fleadh2010.ie/ |date=2 February 2013 }}</ref> Up to 250,000 visitors attend the annual ''Fleadhann'', and about 10,000 musicians compete. It is also estimated that the annual All-Ireland Fleadh generates €20-€25 million for the local economy of its host town.<ref>[http://www.talktourism.ie/forum/showthread.php?t=965 Fleadh Cheoil na nEireann 2010 Cavan] Cavan Gaa is also well regarded and very popular in the county. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721131413/http://www.talktourism.ie/forum/showthread.php?t=965 |date=21 July 2011 }} Talk Tourism, 14 September 2009</ref>

===Heritage and tourism development===
In the County Heritage Plan 2006–2011, published by Cavan County Council, a guiding principle was stated as: "The unique and diverse heritage of County Cavan is conserved, sustained and, above all, cherished and celebrated by the people of the County". Located in Ireland's lakelands, the [[wildlife]] and [[wetlands]] environment of County Cavan's loughs reputedly offers opportunities for [[sustainable tourism]] development.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sustainabletourism.net/|title=Sustainable Tourism {{!}} Sustainable & Responsible Planning and Management for the Tourism Industry|website=www.sustainabletourism.net|access-date=1 December 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161202101004/http://www.sustainabletourism.net/|archive-date=2 December 2016}}</ref> [[Lough Oughter]] and Killykeen, located a few kilometres from Cavan town has some infrastructure for [[ecotourism]] development.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ecotourism.org/|title=The International Ecotourism Society {{!}} Uniting Conservation, Communities, and Sustainable Travel|website=www.ecotourism.org|access-date=1 December 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161203100517/http://www.ecotourism.org/|archive-date=3 December 2016}}</ref>

==Twinning==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in the Republic of Ireland}}
Cavan has been [[town twinning|twinned]] with the following places:
*{{flagicon|France}} [[Jaunay-Clan]], [[Vienne (department)|Vienne]], France

==See also==
* [[:Category:People from Cavan (town)]]
* [[Cavan Orphanage fire]]
* [[Cavan Water Mill]]
* [[List of monastic houses in Ireland#County Cavan|List of abbeys and priories in County Cavan]]
* [[List of closed railway stations in Ireland]]
* [[List of towns and villages in the Republic of Ireland]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* Scott, Brendan (Editor), ''Cavan Town, 1610–2010: A Brief History''. Cavan Town Council, Cavan Town, 2012.

==External links==
{{Wikivoyage|Cavan Town}}
{{Commons category}}
{{wiktionary|Cavan}}
{{EB1911 poster|Cavan (town)|Cavan}}
*{{cite |url=https://www.cavanheritage.ie/ |title=Cavan Heritage |website=Cavan County Council }}

{{County Cavan}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cavan (town)| ]]
[[Category:County towns in the Republic of Ireland]]
[[Category:Towns and villages in County Cavan]]
[[Category:Former urban districts in the Republic of Ireland]]
[[Category:Former boroughs in the Republic of Ireland]]