Overview
Carrigallen (Irish: Carraig Álainn, ‘beautiful rock’) is a village in east County Leitrim, on the R201 and R203 about 19 km west of Cavan town. Its main claim is geography: it sits close to the point where the three provinces of Ulster, Leinster and Connacht come together, a genuine oddity even if the exact meeting point lies in the fields rather than on the main street. What draws visitors is smaller: a landscape of lakes and drumlins, a community theatre and the Leitrim lakeland.
The lakes
The village sits among the small lakes of the east Leitrim drumlins. Most lake shores and the farm entrances beside them are private, so do not assume public access to the water.
The Corn Mill Theatre
The Corn Mill Theatre and Arts Centre on Main Street has staged drama, music and poetry since it opened in 1989. For a village this size, a working theatre with a regular programme is a real asset, and it is the thing to build an evening around. Check the programme before you travel, as the run of any given show is short.
The mart, the fairs and some famous names
Carrigallen has a livestock mart with regular sales for sheep, cattle and pigs. It is the modern descendant of the old fair days: for generations, fairs were held on set dates through the year, on 12 April, 7 May, 28 May, 9 August, 8 October and 31 December. Check the mart’s own notices for current sale days if the working life of rural Leitrim interests you.
The parish has produced a surprising roll of names. Margaret Haughery (1813–1882), the New Orleans philanthropist remembered there in a public statue as ‘Margaret of New Orleans’, was born at Tully near the village. The actor Patrick McGoohan (1928–2009) spent part of his childhood in the Mullaghmore area of Carrigallen. And John Godley, 3rd Baron Kilbracken (1920–2006), the author and journalist, lived at Killegar House nearby.
History
The wider district was crossed by St Patrick in legend. He is said to have baptised followers at St Patrick’s holy well in Aghawillin and blessed the old graveyard at Errew. A 16th-century graveyard sits about 3 km east of the village, overlooking Gulladoo Lake, and Killahurk ring fort, 2 km out, is a good example of an early medieval enclosure. The Catholic church of St Mary’s dates from 1846, the Church of Ireland church from 1814.
Practical information
- Getting here: Carrigallen is on the R201 and R203. If you are travelling by bus, check the TFI journey planner for current services.
- Accessibility: Contact the Corn Mill Theatre in advance about seating or access needs.
Nearby
For a waterside walk, try the signed public routes around Ballinamore, a market town on the Shannon-Erne Waterway, a short drive north. Leave private lake shores and farm entrances clear. The county town of Carrick-on-Shannon is a little over twenty minutes away for riverside walks, restaurants and a wider choice of accommodation, and the Cavan & Leitrim Railway is at Dromod; check its operating days before you go.