The Unique Layout of Monaghan Town

Street Map of Monaghan Town

A colour street map of MOnaghan town centre. The four main squares which form the focus points within the town are indicated with arrows. The map shows how many of the main routes within the town lead in to or from these four main areas.

Permission to use this map kindly given by Monaghan Tourist Office

Street Map of Monaghan Town
Permission to use this map kindly given by Monaghan Tourist Office

Street Map of Monaghan Town

A colour street map of MOnaghan town centre. The four main squares which form the focus points within the town are indicated with arrows. The map shows how many of the main routes within the town lead in to or from these four main areas.

Permission to use this map kindly given by Monaghan Tourist Office

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The layout of Monaghan is curious. In his statistical survey of 1801, Sir Charles Coote remarked 'the town is remarkably neat, but is rather whimsically built, branching triangularly from the centre'.

The town consists of a number of streets, radiating from a central space called the Diamond. These include Dublin Street, Glaslough Street and Market Street. Adjoining the Diamond is Church Square with the Episcopalian Church and the Courthouse, the latter a solid and roomy building. Close by is a market square, in which stands an old market house, still in use though the markets of the town have outgrown it and sought other accommodation. At the opposite end of the town is a space known as Old Cross Square, under which the Ulster canal is carried and in which is an ancient market cross.

Brett remarks that Monaghan town's unconvential structure is refreshing after the boring gridirons of so many of the planters' towns in the north. The Diamond, the triangular Church Square and the triangle of Market Street are inter-locked in a chain-like relationship.

The Diamond

A View of The Diamond 2003

This is a view of the Diamond in Monaghan. In it we can see the Rossmore Monument and a selection of some of the buildings which surround this area

A View of The Diamond 2003

A View of The Diamond 2003

This is a view of the Diamond in Monaghan. In it we can see the Rossmore Monument and a selection of some of the buildings which surround this area

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Rossmore Monument

Dated back to 1875, this victorian fountain and memorial was built and dedicated to the memory of Rt. Hon. Henry 4th Baron Rossmore who was killed in a hunting accident in 1874. It stands in the centre of the Diamond which is located in the centre of Monaghan town, Ireland.

Courtsey of Cavan-Monaghan Rural development co-op

Rossmore Monument
Courtsey of Cavan-Monaghan Rural development co-op

Rossmore Monument

Dated back to 1875, this victorian fountain and memorial was built and dedicated to the memory of Rt. Hon. Henry 4th Baron Rossmore who was killed in a hunting accident in 1874. It stands in the centre of the Diamond which is located in the centre of Monaghan town, Ireland.

Courtsey of Cavan-Monaghan Rural development co-op

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'As a square, not of great distinction; as an open space providing a focus and a centre for the town, important. The town consists chiefly of a number of streets, radiating from this central space. These include Dublin street and Glaslough Street' (Brett,1970).

Originally the old Courthouse was the commanding feature of the Diamond, however, this has since disappeared, as has the hiring cross which can now be found in Old Cross Square.

The hiring cross was removed in the 1870's to make way for the Victorian Fountain and Memorial in 1875 to the memory of Rt. Hon. Henry 4th Baron Rossmore, who was killed in a hunting accident in 1874. (Cavan-Monaghan Rural Development Co-op).