Discover Ballybay: Lough Major, nature and Town Park

Ballybay brings together a range of themes to consider when planning a trip: fishing at Lough Major, nature at the Wetlands Centre, paths in Town Park and cultural and historical sites in the town. This can help you weigh up which aspects matter most when choosing your destination.

Lough Major: fishing and wetlands

Lough Major in Ballybay hosts international coarse angling competitions and is popular with visiting anglers. On the eastern edge of Ballybay, the lake has numerous access points. Facilities include a paved lakeside road with passing bays, angling paths, fishing stands and cleared fishing spots. As access points and facilities may change, check local conditions before your visit.

The lake’s landscape designations are another part of the picture: Lough Major is designated a Proposed Natural Heritage Area and an Area of Secondary Amenity Value. The fishing opportunities and the two designations offer different points of interest if you are considering a visit: the lake’s use for coarse angling and the significance of the wetland.

Paths and facilities in Town Park

Town Park is on the shore of Lough Major. One listed walking option is a 0.5-kilometre oval path around a grassy area; there are also extended paths along the lakeshore. The difference between the short loop and the longer lakeside paths may be useful when planning your visit. Check path conditions locally.

The park has a football and basketball court, an outdoor fitness area, fishing stands and a bowling green. There are also designated picnic areas, accessible toilets, including facilities for visitors with disabilities, and an inclusive playground accessible to children with a range of abilities. Park facilities may change, so check their current condition before your visit.

Nature, walking route and local history

The 65-acre Derryvalley Farm and Wetlands Centre in Ballybay provide a year-round refuge for a wide variety of waterbirds. The Wetlands Centre is recognised as a wetland of regional importance for wintering migratory birds, including Whooper Swan and Siberian Widgeon. Derryvalley Farm and Wetlands Centre also offer a place to engage with nature and wildlife.

Those interested in a hilly loop can take the Corbrack Lane Walk, which offers views over Ballybay. EZxploring offers a self-guided tour of Ballybay. Both provide alternatives to the paths in Town Park for exploring the area. St. Patrick’s Catholic Church on Monaghan Road in Ballybay is a protected structure.

More places to explore in County Monaghan

The wider destination of County Monaghan offers further cultural attractions. Monaghan County Museum in the Peace Campus in Monaghan Town explores the county’s history through a varied programme of exhibitions and events. In Inniskeen, the Patrick Kavanagh Experience explores the poet’s life through artefacts, multimedia, texts and films. The tour includes the main exhibition, a visit to Patrick Kavanagh’s grave, a short walk around Inniskeen and the Poetry Jukebox at the River Fane. As booking conditions may change, check them before making a reservation.

Carrickmacross also offers cultural attractions: Carrickmacross Workhouse has been restored as a visitor and community centre. Tours there explain life, death and emigration during the Great Famine of the 1840s. At the Carrickmacross Lace Gallery, you can view and buy Carrickmacross lace; demonstrations are available on request.

Discover more destinations: Monaghan, Carrickmacross, Clones, Glaslough, Corkeeran, Doohamlat, Tedavnet, Mullinacross

For the wider travel overview: County Monaghan.