Cavan is located in the southern part of the province of Ulster and is part of the Republic of Ireland. It adjoins Monaghan to the east, Leitrim to the west and Tyrone ( Northern Ireland) to the north. The land in Cavan is made up of a series of small hills called drumlins and the county is famous for its many lakes. These provide a huge fishing tourism spin-off for the county as visitors come from all over Europe for the wonderful inland fishing which forms the centerpieces of many festivals throughout the year. The Shannon/Erne Waterway canal project which links Lough Erne to the Shannon was opened in 1993. The county runs from Blacklion in the north, where it joins Donegal and Tyrone, onto the south where it borders County Meath. The source of the River Shannon is located in County Cavan at a place called the Shannon Pot. The people of Cavan have a reputation for industry and thrift and this is reflected in a wide span of industrial enterprise throughout the county. Because of the drumlin countryside, large scale farming is difficult. In north county Cavan, as the county joins Leitrim,the mix of mountain and lake is absolutely stunning.
Cavan town is the capital, a modern market town that was for generations congested with traffic but is now bypassed and able to breathe again. Good shopping and leisure and accommodation facilities abound both in the town and outside. The Slieve Russell Hotel and Golf Resort in Ballyconnell is renowned. Cavan has many country towns the next largest being Cootehill followed by Kingscourt, Ballyjamesduff, Belturbet, Ballyconnell, Arvagh and Killeshandra.
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