Things to Do in County Monaghan This Summer (2025)
Looking for things to do in County Monaghan this summer? From lakes and walks to festivals and family days out, here's your guide to the best summer activities in the Drumlin County.
Summer in County Monaghan is one of Ireland's underrated seasonal pleasures. When the days stretch out and the countryside turns its most vivid green, the Drumlin County comes into its own. The lakes glitter, the forest parks fill with walkers, the pub gardens open up, and a community calendar packed with events gives visitors and locals alike a reason to be out and about.
Whether you're planning a weekend trip from Dublin, organising a family day out, or just looking for something to do closer to home, here's our guide to the best things to do in County Monaghan this summer.
Get Out on Lough Muckno
If there's one summer activity that defines County Monaghan, it's spending time around Lough Muckno in Castleblayney. Ireland's largest lake in the county, Lough Muckno and its surrounding leisure park are the centrepiece of summer in south Monaghan.
Walking: The looped walks around the lake through mature woodland are among the most pleasant in Ulster. The main loop is accessible to all fitness levels and takes you through varied terrain with regular lake views. Morning walks here, when the mist is still on the water, are particularly special.
Fishing: Lough Muckno is one of Ireland's best coarse fishing lakes, with excellent stocks of pike, bream, roach, and perch. Summer is a great time to fish — permits are available locally and the lake has numerous access points. Boat hire is also available for those who want to get out on the water.
Watersports: Kayaking and canoeing on Lough Muckno are popular summer activities, and the calm water of the lake makes it suitable for beginners and families. Check locally for current hire and lesson options.
Picnics: The parkland around Lough Muckno is ideal picnic territory — grassy banks, shade from mature trees, and the sound of the water. Pack a lunch and make an afternoon of it.
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Walk Rossmore Forest Park
Just outside Monaghan Town, Rossmore Forest Park is one of the most beautiful and accessible outdoor spaces in the county. The park covers several hundred acres of mature mixed woodland and offers a network of walking and cycling trails that suit all levels.
The main walking loop takes you past the ruins of Rossmore Castle, the former seat of the Rossmore family, which sits in atmospheric ivy-covered decay in the heart of the woodland. The castle is a genuinely evocative spot — particularly in summer when the surrounding trees are in full leaf.
The park is free to enter and is well maintained by Coillte. Dogs are welcome. It's a reliable option for a summer morning or afternoon that won't cost a penny.
Explore the Ulster Canal Greenway
The Ulster Canal Greenway is a developing walking and cycling route that follows the line of the historic Ulster Canal through County Monaghan. The completed sections offer a peaceful off-road route through countryside that most visitors never see — along the canal towpath and through the drumlin landscape between Monaghan Town and the border.
Summer is the ideal time to explore the Greenway — the vegetation is at its most lush, wildlife is active along the canal margins, and the light in the evenings is beautiful. Cyclists will find the mostly flat terrain very manageable, and walkers can pick out shorter sections according to their time and energy.
Plans to extend the Greenway are ongoing, so there may be new sections open this summer — check the Monaghan County Council website for the latest.
Visit the Patrick Kavanagh Centre, Inniskeen
The village of Inniskeen in south County Monaghan is the birthplace of Patrick Kavanagh, one of Ireland's greatest poets. The Patrick Kavanagh Centre, based in the village's old church, is a fascinating museum and cultural hub dedicated to Kavanagh's life, work, and legacy.
The centre is open to visitors throughout the summer and is particularly worth visiting if you have any interest in Irish literature. The surrounding countryside — the very fields and roads that Kavanagh wrote about in The Great Hunger and Tarry Flynn — can be explored on a self-guided walk from the centre.
Admission is charged. Allow at least an hour and a half for a proper visit.
Take a Horse Riding Lesson at Castle Leslie
Castle Leslie Estate in Glaslough is home to one of Ireland's finest equestrian centres, and summer is the ideal time to take a lesson or a trail ride through the estate's beautiful grounds.
The equestrian centre offers lessons for all abilities, from complete beginners to experienced riders looking to develop their skills. Trail rides through the woodland and farmland of the estate are a lovely summer activity — the combination of good horsemanship, fresh air, and beautiful scenery is hard to beat.
Non-riders visiting the estate can also enjoy the grounds on foot — the estate gardens and lakeside walks are accessible to day visitors.
Discover County Monaghan's GAA Summer
The Ulster GAA Championship is one of Irish sport's great summer events, and County Monaghan are always at or near the top of the Ulster table. Following Monaghan through the summer championship is a genuine experience — the colour, the passion, and the local pride that surrounds county GAA are unique to rural Ireland and are something that visitors frequently mention as a highlight.
If Monaghan are playing a home fixture, going along is strongly recommended. The atmosphere at a championship match in County Monaghan is something that can't be replicated. Club football also runs throughout the summer, and county championship matches between the county's clubs are competitive and entertaining.
Check the Monaghan GAA website for the summer fixture list.
Family Days Out in County Monaghan
County Monaghan is well suited to family summer days out. Here are some reliable options:
Lough Muckno Leisure Park, Castleblayney — as mentioned above, the park is excellent for families. The lake, the woodland trails, and the open picnic areas give children and adults alike plenty to do for a full day.
Rossmore Forest Park, Monaghan Town — a great forest walk that children enjoy, with the bonus of the atmospheric castle ruins to explore.
Monaghan County Museum — free entry and genuinely interesting for curious children. The hands-on elements and the historical artefacts tend to go down well with primary school-age children.
Fishing — teaching children to fish at one of County Monaghan's many lakes is a summer activity with a long tradition in the county. Many of the county's lakes have accessible banks suitable for young anglers.
Farm visits — several farms in County Monaghan welcome visitors during summer, particularly around open farm events. Check local listings for farms near you.
Eat and Drink Your Way Around the County
Summer is the best time to explore County Monaghan's food and drink scene. Pub gardens open up, restaurants extend their hours, and the general good mood of an Irish summer lifts everything.
A few summer-specific suggestions:
- Al fresco lunch beside Lough Muckno after a morning walk
- Sunday carvery at one of the county's great hotel restaurants
- Pint in a pub garden on a warm evening in Monaghan Town or Carrickmacross
- Farmers' market visit to pick up local produce and artisan food
- Ice cream from a local café after a beach — well, lake — walk
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Stay Overnight and Make a Weekend of It
County Monaghan is within two hours of Dublin, Belfast, and much of Ulster — close enough to be an easy day trip but with enough to offer that staying overnight is worth considering. A summer weekend in the county, with the right base, gives you time to explore properly.
Accommodation options range from Castle Leslie Estate for a special occasion to a range of B&Bs, guesthouses, and self-catering properties across the county for more everyday stays.
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Plan Your Summer in County Monaghan with monaghanbusinesses.ie
For the most comprehensive directory of activities, accommodation, restaurants, and local businesses in County Monaghan, visit monaghanbusinesses.ie — your one-stop resource for everything the Drumlin County has to offer this summer.
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Last updated 2025. Events and activities subject to change — check local listings for the most current information.