CARRICKMACROSS a market and post-town, and a parish, in the barony of FARNEY, county of MONAGHAN, and province of ULSTER, 20 miles (S. E. by S.) from Monaghan town, and 40 (N. W. by N.) from Dublin city; containing 12,610 inhabitants, of which number, 2970 are in the town.

This place derives its name from its situation on a rock and from one of its early proprietors, and is the only town in the barony. The barony was granted by Queen Elizabeth to the Earl of Essex, who resided in the castle here, part of the walls of which are still standing in the garden of W. Daniel, Esq. It was leased by the Earl to Mr. Barton, whose wife and children were burnt, with the castle, by the insurgents of 1641, while he was attending his parliamentary duties in Dublin, as representative of the county of Monaghan.

An earlier description of Carrickmacross. South Monaghan Capital and probably the best town for its size in Ireland, eh hm. More Details to follow. 

Click Carrickmacross Twins to see some video from the Festival Weekend 2010 from Peter O Donoghue.