The Monaghan Way
The Monaghan Way is a long-distance linear walking trail linking Annadrumman on the southern shore of Lough Muckno (outside Castleblayney) to the Patrick Kavanagh Centre in Inniskeen village. It is a National Waymarked Way and the only trail in Co. Monaghan currently registered on the national Walks Scheme.
Much of the trail route crosses private farmland with the generous consent of local landowners. It dips in and out of drumlins and crosses a variety of pastoral land and natural habitat. Some of the trail hugs the bank of the river Fane, while other sections follow the path of the former Great Northern Railway.
Route Details
Grading: Moderate
The trail may have some climbs and rough and uneven surfaces. There may be some obstacles such as protruding roots, rocks, etc. Suitable for people with a moderate level of fitness and some walking experience. Specific outdoor walking footwear and clothing is recommended.
Distance: 18.5km
Height gain: 212 metres
Estimated time to complete: 2 days
Terrain: Farm tracks, disused railway, fields and quiet roads through gently undulating countryside with some short and steeper sections. Much of the route is unpaved and can be wet underfoot at times.
Double-click anywhere on the map or use the +/- buttons to zoom.
Loop Walks
Loop Walks
There are three shorter loop walks that overlap the Monaghan Way.
The Toome Loop is about 4.9km in length and is graded “easy”, meaning that it is generally flat with occasional gradual slopes. It follows quiet country roads through farmland, wetlands and lakeshore habitat on the eastern side of Lough Muckno outside Castleblayney.
The Inniskeen Loop is a 4.5km loop walk that starts and ends at the Patrick Kavanagh Centre in Inniskeen. It follows the river Fane through the grounds of the local Pitch n’Putt before going off-road into picturesque farmland and emerging again onto country lanes.
The Magoney Loop combines the Inniskeen Loop with a further 5.5km of walking through a mix of farmland and country roads. It follows the bank of the River Fane towards Blackstaff. Features along the route include elements of the former Great Northern Railway, including a stone railway bridge next to the trail at Mullaghunshinagh and a secluded stretch of former railway embankment in the townland of Tattyboy.
Maps To Download
Maps
Download a digital map (.kml ) for your GPS device:
The Monaghan Way
Download a digital map (.kml or .gpx) of The Monaghan Way from Hiiker: https://hiiker.app/trails/ireland/county-monaghan/the-monaghan-way
Brochure Side 1: The Monaghan Way
Brochure Side 2: Additional Loop Walks - Inniskeen Loop, Magoney Loop, Toome Loop
Links
Links
The Monaghan Way trail is a National Waymarked Way registered with Sport Ireland. https://www.sportireland.ie/outdoors/walking/trails/monaghan-way
Placenames
Placenames On The Monaghan Way
| Townland/Area | Irish Name | Origin | Translation | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muckno | Mucnú | muc snámh | swimming pig | Legend has it that St. Maeldoid tried to have a church built on an island in the lake, only to find that a black boar emerged from the water every night, knocked down the stones and carried them away. St. Maeldoid took it as divine intervention. He had the pig followed to the north shore and built the church where it dropped the stones, on the site now known as Mullandoy or Church Hill. |
| Annadrumman | Eanach Dromainne | eanach ("marsh"), droim ("ridge") | marsh of the ridge | |
| Drumgoose | Droim Guaise | droim ("ridge"), cuas ("cave") | hill of caves | |
| Corragarry | Corr an Gharraí | corr ("round hill" or "pointed hill"), giorria ("hare") | hill of the hare | |
| Drumgristin | Droim Dhristin | droim ("ridge") | Gristin's Hill | |
| Maghernakill | Machaire na Cille | machaire ("plain"), cill ("church" or "wood") | plain of the church | Folk tradition has it that the area was formerly known as Tobereendowney, after a holy well, Tobairín Domhnaigh ("little well of the church/Sunday"). A nearby megalithic burial site is marked as "Druid's Altar" on a 1907 ordnance survey map. |
| Ardkirk | Ard Circe | ard ("height"), cearc ("hen"), or possibly coirce ("oats") | hill of the hen (?) | |
| Keeneraboy | Chaoinaire Buí | caoin ("smooth surface" or "lament"); possibly doire ("oakwood") or ceannaire ("leader"); buí ("yellow") | yellow mossy land or yellow wood | |
| Corcullioncrew | Corr Chuilinn Chraobha | corr ("round hill" or "pointed hill"), cuileann ("holly"), craobh ("branch, tree") | hill of the holly | |
| Corrinshigagh | Corr Uinseogach | corr ("round hill" or "pointed hill"), uinse/fuinseog ("ash tree") | hill of the ash tree | |
| Corcullionglish | Corr Chuilinn Ghlaise | corr ("round hill" or "pointed hill"), cuileann ("holly"), glas ("green" or "grey") | hill of the green holly | |
| Drumdreeny | Droim Dhraighnigh | droim ("ridge"), draighean ("blackthorn") | ridge of blackthorn | |
| Kilmurry | Cill Mhuire | cill ("church" or "wood"), Máire ("Mary") | Mary's Church | Ruin of church marked on 1834 OS 6-inch map, just off the R179 |
| Colgagh | An Chalgach | colgagh ("beareded" or "bristling"), colgaí ("prickliness") | briary, thorny land | |
| Aughrim Beg | Eachroim Beg | eachra ("horse" or "stable"), droim ("ridge"), beag ("small") | little hill of the horse | |
| Tattyboy | An Táite Buí | tathe, buí("yellow") | yellow tathe | A tathe was a measure of land/unit of area equivalent to 60 Irish acres, primarily used in counties Fermanagh and Monaghan |
| Mullaghunshinagh | An Mullach Uinseannach | mullach ("hilltop"), uinse/fuinseog ("ash tree") | hilltop of the ash tree | |
| Moyles | An Mhaoil | maoil ("bare/bald top") | bare top | Site of former corn mill known as Moyles Mill |
| Killyboley | Coillidh Bhuaile | coill ("wood"); buaile ("booley") | wood of the booley | A booley was a milking place in summer pasture. In the summer months, cattle would be moved to graze the uplands and young people would live in rough shelters to milk and guard them. It also was a chance to socialise. |
| Lannat | Leathnocht | leath ("half"); or linn ("pool") and áth ("ford") | pool of the ford (?) | |
| Seeola | Suí Eola | suí ("seat" or possibly sídh ("fairy mound"); ula ("tomb" or "monument" or "place of resort"); or Uladh ("Ulster") | residence | "Ula" can also mean an object marking either a place of penitence or a place where alcohol is consumed |
| Inniskeen | Inis Caoin Deagh | inis ("island"), caoin ("pleasant" or "fair") | the lovely island of St. Daigh | St. Daigh Mac Cairill was a metalworking monk who founded a monastery in the 6th century AD where the village of Inniskeen now stands. |
Walking Groups & Organisations
Local walking clubs occasionally hold walk events on the Monaghan Way, so keep an eye out on social media for upcoming walks, or get in touch if you’d like to join in!
Visitor Safety
Updates July 2026
- The bridge over the river Fane at Lannat (near Inniskeen) has been damaged by storms & flooding. It is considered unsafe for vehicles; walkers proceed at their own risk. An alternate route is under development, linking to the
- A pylon is currently in the process of being replaced on a hilltop in Inniskeen Glebe. Walkers should avoid all structures and watch out for workers and machinery.
Safety Tips
- Walkers should wear suitable footwear and dress appropriately for the outdoors.
- The Monaghan Way trail is rated as "moderate" - it is best suited for people with a moderate level of fitness and some walking experience. There are occasional steep slopes and sections of uneven surface where the going is rough underfoot with some obstacles such as protruding roots, rocks, etc.
- No dogs are allowed on the Monaghan Way. The trail crosses private farmland, please respect the wishes of the landowners.
- There may be livestock on the trail, particularly during the spring and summer months. Animals can be dangerous, so approach with caution.
- If you encounter difficulties, call: 999 or 112 and ask for Ambulance Service or Gardaí. In the event of fire, ask for the Fire Services.
- The trail is managed by Monaghan County Council. Tel: 047 30500 or email info@monaghancoco.ie
Leave No Trace
The seven principles of Leave No Trace are:
- Plan Ahead and Prepare
- Be Considerate of Others
- Respect Farm Animals and Wildlife
- Travel and Camp Responsibly
- Leave What You Find
- Dispose of Waste Properly
- Protect Nature From Fire
Visit www.leavenotraceireland.org to learn ways to minimise the enivronmental and social impact of outdoor recreation.
Get in Touch
Monaghan County Council is the Trail Management Organisation for the Monaghan Way . If you want to report a problem with the trail (e.g. damaged stile, fallen tree, missing signage), you can contact the Rural Recreation Officer at Monaghan Integrated Development and we will co-ordinate with Monaghan County Council to resolve the issue.
Email the RRO rro@midl.ie or call 087 1952424 or 042 9749500
Photo Gallery
