MONAGHAN, an inland co. of the province of Ulster, Ireland, situated between Tyrone on the n., Armagh and Louth on the e., Meath and Cavan on the s., and Fer managh on the west. Its greatest length from n. to s. is 37 m.; its greatest breadth e. and w. is 23; the total area being 500 sq.m., or 319,757 acres, of which 285.885 are arable. The population, which in 1861 was 126,340, had fallen in 1871 to 114,970. The general surface is undulatory, the hills, except in the n.w. and e., being of small eleva tion, although often abrupt; the highest point does not exceed 1254 ft. above the sea. It is interspersed with lakes of small extent, and for the most part of little depth, and, although the streams are numerous, there is no navigable river within its boundaries. In its geological structure the level country belongs to the great central limestone district; the rest is of the same transition fo•niation which is met with in the northern tract of Leinster. No minerals are found in a remunerative quantity; there is a small coal-field in the southern border, lint it has not been found profitable to work. The soil is very varied in its cnaracter, and for the most part is wet and imperfectly drained, although commonly capable of much improvement; but in general it is found suitable for the pro duction of cereal crops (with the exception of wheat, which is little cultivated), and of flax. The total area under crops in 1876 was 139,739 acres. There were 60,569 acres under oats, and 12,204 acres under flax. The cattle in the same year numbered 85,569;
sheep, 15,999; pigs, 32,056. The annual valuation of property in 1874 was £262,432. Monaghan is well supplied with good roads, and is connected by railway with Dublin, Belfast, and Galway, and directly with the coast at Dundalk. The Ulster canal passes through the county. The principal towns of this county are Monaghan (q.v.), Ca•rick macross, Clones, and Castle-Blayney. It returns two members to parliament. the con stituency being, at the enumeration of 1873, 5,603. Monaghan, at the invasion, formed part of the grant of Henry II. to De Coureey, and was partially occupied by him; but it speedily fell back into the hands of the native chiefs of the Sept MacMahon, by whom (with some alternations of re-conquest) it was held till the reign of Elizabeth,when it was erected into a shire. Even still, however. the authority of the English was in ninny places little more than nominal, especially in the north; and in the rising of 1641 the Mae Mahons again resumed the territorial sovereignty. The historical antiquities of the county are of little interest or importance. It possesses two round towers, one very com plete, at Clones, the other at Inniskeen; and there are many remains of the ancient earth-works commonly referred to the ante-English period. The total number of chil dren attending the superior and primary schools in the county of Monaghan during 1871 was 12,749, of whom 8,586 were Roman Catholics.