- Henry Brooke (c. 1703-1783) Born in Mullagh, County Cavan, Brooke was a poet, playwright, and novelist. His novel The Fool of Quality and plays like Gustavus Vasa (banned in England for satirizing the Prime Minister) showcased his wit and linguistic versatility. A fluent Irish speaker, he translated works from ancient and modern languages, contributing to Cavan’s literary heritage.
- Mary Anne Sadlier (1820-1903) Born in Cootehill, County Cavan, Sadlier was an Irish-American author and publisher who wrote over 60 works, including novels like Confessions of an Apostate and The Blakes and the Flanaghans. Her writings, often published in The Tablet, supported Irish immigrants in North America, addressing themes like the Famine and Catholicism. She received a blessing from Pope Leo XIII for her contributions.
- Charlotte Brooke (c. 1740-1793) Born in Rantavan, near Mullagh, County Cavan, Brooke was a poet and translator. Her Reliques of Irish Poetry (1789) was a pioneering collection of Irish poetry translated into English, preserving Irish literary traditions and influencing the Celtic Revival. Her work highlighted Cavan’s cultural richness.
- Agnes O’Farrelly (1874-1951) Born in Raffony House, Virginia, County Cavan, O’Farrelly (pen name Úna Ní Fhaircheallaigh) was a poet, scholar, and advocate for the Irish language. Her works, including Grádhmhar Ghleanntáin and Smuainte, promoted Irish culture. She succeeded Douglas Hyde as Professor of Irish Poetry at UCD and was a founding member of Cumann na mBan.
- Tom MacIntyre (1931-2019) Born in Cavan town, MacIntyre was a poet, playwright, and novelist. His plays, such as The Great Hunger (based on Patrick Kavanagh’s poem) and Rise Up Lovely Sweeney, were performed internationally. His poetry collection Silenius na gCat won the Oireachtas Prize in 2000, reflecting Cavan’s rural and cultural identity.
- Anthony C. West (1910-1988) Born in County Down but raised partly in County Cavan, West was a novelist, short-story writer, and poet. His works, like The Ferret Fancier, explored rural Irish life with sensitivity. Sean O’Faolain praised his “tremblingly sensitive” imagination, tying his work to Cavan’s pastoral landscapes.
- Michael Harding (1953-present) Born in Cavan town, Harding is a novelist, short-story writer, and playwright. His novels, such as Priest and Bird in the Snow, and his memoir Staring at Lakes explore personal and Irish identity. A member of Aosdána, he was Writer in Association with the National Theatre in 1993, reflecting Cavan’s literary vitality.
- Shane Connaughton (1941-present) Born in Kingscourt, County Cavan, Connaughton is a novelist, playwright, and screenwriter. His novels A Border Station and The Run of the Country depict Cavan’s border life, while his screenplay for My Left Foot earned an Oscar nomination. His work captures the county’s social and historical nuances.
- Dermot Healy (1947-2014) Born in Finea, County Westmeath, but raised in Cavan town, Healy was a novelist, poet, and playwright. His works, including A Goat’s Song and Banished Misfortune, explore Irish rural life and identity. A member of Aosdána, his writing often reflects Cavan’s borderland ethos.
- Patrick Joseph Kavanagh (1903-1967) Born in Mucker, Inniskeen, County Monaghan, but with strong ties to Cavan through his poetic focus on the border region, Kavanagh was a poet and novelist. His works, like Tarry Flynn and The Great Hunger, evoke the rural life of Cavan and Monaghan, capturing the struggles and beauty of the area.
Writers
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County Cavan:
Ireland’s county Cavan is a haven of lakes and rolling hills, with the Shannon-Erne Waterway offering tranquil boating and fishing opportunities. The Cavan County Museum in Ballyjamesduff explores local history, while the Marble Arch Caves, part of a UNESCO Geopark, showcase stunning underground formations. Other attractions include the Killykeen Forest Park’s walking trails. Cavan is Ireland’s 19th largest county by size (1,891 sq km) and eighth smallest by population (81,704). Population peaked at 243,158 in 1841 and reached its lowest point, 52,618 in 1971. In terms of hospitality, Cavan is Ireland’s 20th most visited tourist county with around 111,000 international visitors per year.
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