Things to Do in Carrickmacross (2026) — Your Complete Local Guide
The complete guide to Carrickmacross, County Monaghan — Courthouse Restaurant (Michelin Bib Gourmand 2026), Carrickmacross Lace, Brehon Brewhouse, Nuremore Estate, where to eat, shop, and stay.
A Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant, a craft brewery with 10 generations of history, Carrickmacross Lace, the Nuremore Estate, and a food scene that's been quietly getting very good — here's your complete guide to Carrickmacross.
Carrickmacross sits in the south of County Monaghan, closer in driving time to Dundalk and Dublin than to Monaghan Town, and that southern position has always given it a slightly different character from the rest of the county. It is the largest town in south Monaghan and one of the most commercially active in the county overall — a proper market town with a strong Main Street, a growing food scene, and the kind of deep local pride that takes a while to see but is very much there once you start looking.
Things to Do in Carrickmacross
Carrickmacross Lace Gallery
Carrickmacross Lace is one of Ireland's great craft traditions — a needle-art technique so delicate and distinctive that it has been used in royal wedding dresses, including Princess Diana's. The Carrickmacross Lace Gallery is the place to see the craft in action, browse finished pieces, and understand the centuries of skill that go into each one. Classes are available for anyone wanting to try it themselves. As a gift, a piece of authentic Carrickmacross Lace is as distinctively and specifically local as anything you'll find anywhere in Ireland.
Brehon Brewhouse
Just a few miles outside Carrickmacross in the rolling drumlin countryside, Brehon Brewhouse is one of Monaghan's most talked-about artisan producers. Set on a working dairy farm with 10 generations of family history on the same land, it produces a range of award-winning craft ales brewed on site, with guided tasting tours available for groups and individuals. The setting is beautiful, the stories are genuinely interesting, and the beer is very good. Worth booking a tour if you haven't been.
Carrickmacross Workhouse
Built in 1841 to house the poor during the famine era — known in Irish as Teach na mBocht — the Carrickmacross Workhouse is one of the most intact workhouse structures in the country. It has been carefully preserved and interpreted, and for anyone with Carrickmacross or south Monaghan ancestry, a visit here is a genuinely moving experience.
The Nuremore Estate by McGettigans
Set on 160 acres of rolling hills, shimmering lakes, and mature parkland just outside the town, the Nuremore Estate is one of the most significant hospitality developments in County Monaghan in years. Under its new chapter as the Nuremore Estate by McGettigans, it has been redeveloped into a luxury hotel and leisure destination combining its heritage setting with a thoroughly modern approach. For a spa day, a wedding venue, a special occasion dinner, or an afternoon escape, it is the standout option in south Monaghan.
Concra Wood Golf Club
Eight kilometres outside town, Concra Wood Golf & Country Club offers 18 holes of parkland golf open seven days a week to the public. Located an hour from both Belfast and Dublin, it draws visitors from well beyond Monaghan and is consistently rated among the more scenic courses in Ulster.
Walking and the Greenway Network
The Carrickmacross area offers walking options across its drumlin countryside — the rolling hill-and-valley landscape that defines Monaghan's visual identity. The area around the River Fane and the south Monaghan drumlin trails is particularly rewarding for walkers.
Where to Eat in Carrickmacross
See our guide to the best restaurants in County Monaghan for county-wide dining options, or read on for Carrickmacross specifically.
Courthouse Restaurant — Michelin Bib Gourmand
The standout name in Carrickmacross food — and not just locally. Courthouse holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand in the 2026 Michelin Guide Republic of Ireland, the guide's recognition for "good quality, good value cooking." A Michelin recognition in a County Monaghan town is not a small thing, and Courthouse has earned it with a menu that takes Irish ingredients seriously and delivers them with real skill. Thursday to Sunday evenings, plus Sunday lunch. Booking recommended.
Fiddlers Bistro & Café
Award-winning locally and nationally, Fiddlers offers a relaxed bistro atmosphere with a menu that draws on fresh, local ingredients. Thursday to Sunday evenings and Sunday lunch. One of the most consistently praised dining experiences in the town.
The Riverbank Country Pub and Restaurant
A long-established favourite that combines a proper country pub atmosphere with a food offering spanning everything from casual pub food to a more serious restaurant menu. The guesthouse attached makes it a self-contained stop for overnight visitors.
Rocksalt Café
Operating seven days a week from 8am to 5pm, Rocksalt is one of the town's most popular café options — a reliable choice for breakfast, lunch, coffee, and freshly made food.
Grey Porter
A café-restaurant in the heart of Carrickmacross, focusing on home-cooked meals using fresh, locally sourced produce — breakfast and lunch, sit-in or takeaway.
Shopping in Carrickmacross
Carrickmacross Main Street is one of the stronger independent retail streets in County Monaghan — a mix of long-established local businesses, fashion boutiques, homeware, food shops, and services that gives it a vitality that larger towns with more chain retail sometimes lack.
Staying in Carrickmacross
The Nuremore Estate by McGettigans — luxury stay in exceptional grounds. Browse all hospitality and tourism businesses in County Monaghan. The Shirley Arms Hotel — well-regarded town centre hotel with strong local history. The Riverbank Country Pub and Guesthouse — relaxed rural setting on the edge of town.
Browse all Carrickmacross businesses on monaghanbusinesses.ie →
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Carrickmacross known for? Carrickmacross is known above all for Carrickmacross Lace (used in Princess Diana's wedding dress), Courthouse Restaurant (Michelin Bib Gourmand 2026), and its position as the largest and most commercially active town in south County Monaghan.
What is the best restaurant in Carrickmacross? Courthouse Restaurant holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand in the 2026 Michelin Guide Republic of Ireland — the guide's recognition for good quality, good value cooking. Open Thursday–Sunday evenings. Fiddlers Bistro is another consistently praised local favourite.
What is Carrickmacross Lace? Carrickmacross Lace is a needle-art tradition developed in the early 19th century, used in royal wedding dresses including Princess Diana's. The Carrickmacross Lace Gallery offers exhibitions, finished pieces, and lacemaking classes.
Is Brehon Brewhouse worth visiting? Yes — it's one of Monaghan's most praised artisan experiences. Set on a working dairy farm with 10 generations of history, it produces award-winning craft ales and offers guided tasting tours. Visitors from outside the county consistently rate it highly.
Where can I stay in Carrickmacross? The Nuremore Estate by McGettigans is the standout option — luxury on 160 acres of parkland. The Shirley Arms Hotel is a well-regarded town centre choice. The Riverbank Country Pub and Guesthouse offers a relaxed rural alternative.
Last updated July 2026.