The Modern Age

From the mid-1800s improvements were made to Cavan town which saw it enter the modern age. The town was given a new street layout and many new Georgian buildings were constructed.

In 1852 the streets of Cavan town were lit up for the first time with the introduction of gas lighting. The Cavan Gas Light Company was in charge of making sure the streets were illuminated. Their contract with the Borough Commissioners stated that the public lamps were to be lighted from 15th September to 15th April, from dusk until midnight. There were about thirty lamps in total and just four of them were to be kept lighted all night long. Electricity took over from gas in 1921.

One of the first films to be shown in the town was screened in 1898. Cavan's first cinema was set up in 1912. The Town Hall was rented out to Dr.J.A. Thompson, a dentist and film enthusiast, for a yearly rent of £100. Dr.Thompson began to show "moving pictures". Films continued to be screened in the Town Hall until the 1960s.

Statue of Percy French, Ballyjamesduff

A statue of Percy French erected in his honour in Ballyjamesduff. One of French's most popular songs is "Come Back Paddy Reilly to Ballyjamesduff". It tells the story of a young man who has emigrated from the town.

© Cavan County Tourism

Statue of Percy French, Ballyjamesduff
© Cavan County Tourism

Statue of Percy French, Ballyjamesduff

A statue of Percy French erected in his honour in Ballyjamesduff. One of French's most popular songs is "Come Back Paddy Reilly to Ballyjamesduff". It tells the story of a young man who has emigrated from the town.

© Cavan County Tourism

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One of the first bicycles in the town was owned by Percy French, an engineer who would become well known as a composer. He lived in the town during the 1880s. The bicycle must have been quite an expensive posession because French shared ownership of the bicycle with another man in the town! By 1890 however, bicycles had become popular. An advertisement in The Cavan Weekly News of April 25th informed readers that repairs to all classes of bicycles could be carried out by R.Morris, Main Street.