Inniskeen (Inis Caoin)

The County Monaghan birthplace of the poet Patrick Kavanagh, one of Ireland's great voices.

Inniskeen (Inis Caoin, 'the pleasant island') is a village in County Monaghan, famous as the birthplace of Patrick Kavanagh (1904-1967), one of the most important Irish poets of the 20th century.

The drumlin fields and country lanes of Monaghan filled his poetry, from the tender 'On Raglan Road' to the epic 'The Great Hunger'. A centre in the village celebrates his life and work.

At a glance

• A village in Co. Monaghan on the River Fane.
• Birthplace of the poet Patrick Kavanagh (1904-1967).
• The Monaghan countryside inspired much of his poetry.

In County Monaghan

Inniskeen is in County Monaghan, Muineachán in Irish, which means “land of the little hills”.

More in Monaghan

• Sliabh Beagh (Sliabh Beagh): A wild upland of blanket bog and heather where three counties meet.
• Carrickmacross (Carraig Mhachaire Rois): A market town world-famous for its delicate handmade lace.

Other places of this kind

• The Cliffs of Moher (Aillte an Mhothair): Sea cliffs located at the southwestern edge of the Burren region.
• Newgrange (Sí an Bhrú): A prehistoric monument in County Meath, older than Stonehenge and the Pyramids.
• The Giant's Causeway (Clochán an Aifir): Around 40,000 interlocking basalt columns on the Antrim coast, a UNESCO site wrapped in the legend of Finn McCool.
• Glendalough (Gleann Dá Loch): A beautiful glacial valley of two lakes, home to one of Ireland's most important early monastic settlements.
• The Rock of Cashel (Carraig Phádraig): A dramatic outcrop crowned with medieval buildings, once the seat of the kings of Munster.
• Clonmacnoise (Cluain Mhic Nóis): A great early monastery on the banks of the Shannon, once a renowned centre of learning.

The Irish name

The Irish form of Inniskeen is Inis Caoin. You can hear it spoken, and take apart names like it, in the Placename Explorer. The authoritative record for any Irish place-name is logainm.ie.