Cavan, the most southerly of the Ulster counties, is greatly diversified in surface. Its highest point is Cuilcagh Mountain (2,188 feet) in the mountainous projection of the county which reaches northwestwards between Counties Leitrim and Fermanagh. Ireland’s longest river, the Shannon has its source on the southern slopes of Cuilcagh. Most of the county is undulating land, with low round hills and myriad lakes.
The River Erne, rising in Lough Gowna and flowing northwards through the centre of the county, spreads itself in a maze of small sheets of water separated by promontories and islands of every shape and size. Many of the Cavan lakes are very beautiful and offer first class coarse angling.
In the Province of Ulster, though not one of the Six counties that make up Northern Ireland, Cavan is home to a thriving agricultural industry, ranging from poultry to pigs to cattle. Cavan Town, with its beautiful cathedral, is home to the popular Cavan Crystal brand of hand-cut glass, and also to Killykeen Forest park, on Lough Oughter, one of the finest coarse fishing lakes in Ireland.
In song, Cavan is most famous because of Percy French’s song, ‘Come back Paddy Reilly to Ballyjamesduff’. Cavan is dotted with numerous lakes, and small picturesque villages and is very popular with visitors.