Mullagh, County Cavan

Mullagh An Mullach
—  Town  —
Mullagh Location in Ireland
Coordinates: 53°29′N 6°35′W / 53.48°N 6.58°W / 53.48; -6.58Coordinates: 53°29′N 6°35′W / 53.48°N 6.58°W / 53.48; -6.58
Country	Ireland
Province	Ulster
County	County Cavan
Elevation	107 m (351 ft)
Population (2006)
- Urban	679
Time zone	WET (UTC+0)
- Summer (DST)	IST (WEST) (UTC-1)
Irish Grid Reference	N690852

Mullagh (Irish: An Mullach, meaning "The Mound") is a village (and a parish) in County Cavan province of Ulster, Ireland. It had a population of 679 in 2006. It lies in the south-east of the county, at the junction of the R191 and the R194 regional roads near the town of Virginia, County Cavan and the border with Kells, County Meath and the village of Moynalty.

It contains a heritage centre dedicated to St Kilian, who was born in Mullagh c 640 and was martyred in Würzburg, Germany in circa 689. The centre also has an exhibition related to ogham script and the development of illuminated manuscripts.

Mullagh Roman Catholic Church

The Roman Catholic Church, located 400m from the village on the Virginia Road (R194), is named in memory of its patron Saint Kilian. Ruins of an earlier church "Teampeall Ceallaigh" remain in what is now part of the Church of Ireland grounds located further along the same road, approx 600m.

The village is situated approximately 2 kilometers from the border with County Meath and Leinster which is marked by the River Borora which flows into the Owenroe River at Mullagh bridge.

The environs of the village have witnessed substantial housing and industrial development in recent years. Mullagh's proximity to the new M3 motorway has had the effect of bringing Mullagh and south County Cavan within commuting distance from Dublin and larger towns in Leinster.

Amenities

Mullagh Lake seen from Mullagh Hill

Amenities locally include Mullagh Lake (2 kilometers outside the village on the Virginia Road), Tennis Court and People's Park on Mullagh Fair Green, the St. Kilian's Heritage Center as mentioned above and the Edwin Carolan Memorial Park located on the Moynalty Road which includes a full size GAA pitch (open to all sports) and a 440 metre track around its perimeter. In the winter, the track is lit each night from 7.30 to 10pm or so to facilitate walking and running.

Local community organisations include a vibrant men's and ladies GAA club, Cúchulainns GFC, soccer is played with Castle Villa, the club based in neighbouring Meath Village, Moynalty (5 kilometers away), Community Games (athletics club), a Drama Society and a Golf Society. Separate committees are currently working on the further development of the Edwin Carolan Community Park to provide a large indoor sports centre and also on the provision of housing for the elderly.

Lakeview Gardens overlooking the Mullagh lake, just off the Virginia road is open to the public, check website for details (http://wwww.lakeviewgardens.net).

Historic associations

Jonathan Swift wrote parts of Gulliver's Travels and The Tale Of The Tub whilst staying at the country home of his cleric friend Thomas Sheridan at Quilca House, which is close to the historic Mullagh village. Other notable descendants from the (Quilca) Sheridan family are the 18th century playwright Thomas Sheridan and notable writer Richard Brinsley Sheridan.

The original historic village of Mullagh was situated over a kilometer north-west of the present village close to Mullagh lake off the Virginia Road, but there no longer remain any distinguishing features.

People

Well known TV actor T. P. McKenna (All Creatures Great and Small, Inspector Morse) and film, TV and stage actor Brían F. O'Byrne (Frozen, Intermission, Brooklyn's Finest, Million Dollar Baby, FlashForward) both hail from Mullagh.

See also

• List of towns and villages in Ireland