Holiday Home Cootehill, Cavan, Ireland

- july / august / sept. 400 euros per week plus heat and electricity extra.

Large bungalow on the outskirts of cootehill town overlooking a large green area with playing area for children at the back of house central for walking, touring, fishing, golfing, horse riding, walking distance of town, pubs, local hotel and restaurant.

Places of Interest
Cootehill gets its name from the 17th century marriage of Thomas Coote, a Cromwellian Colonel, to Frances Hill daughter of Moyses Hill from Hillsborough, County Down. Cootehill is set in the heart of Lakeland and is an ideal touring centre.

Bellamont House is an excellent example of a Palladian style mansion. In 1725 a charter was obtained by his nephew Thomas Coote to hold markets and fairs. Work began on Bellamont House in the same year. It was designed by designed by Sir Edward Lovett Pearce, the foremost architect of the day who was also his wife's nephew. He also designed the Bank Of Ireland building on College Green in Dublin. The house is private, but the grounds, Bellamont Forest Park, are accessible from the town. It is the ancestral home of Sir Charles Coote, a son of Thomas Coote, and an MP for Cavan from 1761 to 1766. He was the first Earl of Bellamont.

Bellamont Forest Park embraces part of Coote's Bellamont Estate and parts of the Dawson Estate at Dartry. Several of the Dawson family are buried on Black Island but the Dawson house has long since disappeared. The Park is on both banks of the Dromore River where it flows from Dromore Lake and constitutes a national sanctuary with 8km of forest walks. A stand of 170 year old oak, mixed with holly, alder, ash and willow is a feature of the park. Red squirrel, fallow deer and fox are among the many animals which live here. The rivers and lakes carry duck and wildfowl in great numbers. Facilities include fishing stands, a picnic site and play area. Dartry Estate is famous for its' deer herds and a wall constructed during the famine (labourers being paid 1p per week).

Visitors can take a stroll through beautiful Dartry Wood and enjoy lunch at the scenic Halton's Point Picnic area. A short drive in either direction will take visitors to Killykeen Forest Park or to Billy Fox Park. Both make ideal playgrounds for children or adults seeking the excitement of exploration or relaxation.

The countryside around Cootehill is one of the most striking and perfect examples of Drumlin landscape, a phenomenum created by the ice cap which left behind thousands of low round hills and many lakes dotted with wooded islands. These are the features which provide much of the picturesque scenery of the area.

Maudabawn Cultural Centre, outside Cootehill, is situated at the heart of rural drumlin countryside. This beautiful landscape of hills and lakes remains unexplored. An Culturlann, provides a range of heritage/tourist facilities for touring groups. This delightful Thatched,stone building set among appointed gardens with restful flower beds, restored flax mill, dolmen, riverside walks, picnic area, waterfall with coach parking, toilets,shop restaurant,bar and also beautiful landscape.

Cootehill Arts Festival, run every October, provides eleven days of classical music, church music, traditional music, pub entertainment, drama, literary competition (adult & youth), readings, lectures, workshops, childrens art competition, art exhibitions (invited) and local street theatre.

The thousands of low round hills, miles of forest, and many lakes are perfect for orienteering. Cootehill offers a challenging environment in which to enjoy this popular sport.

The town itself is well served by a large number of shops and pubs and live music can be enjoyed most evenings, especially during the summer. Other entertainment available includes bingo and for the teenager there is no shortage of disco's. So, whether you are a fisherman, a person looking for a quiet, relaxing break, or a family ready to explore the wonders of the neighbouring counties as well as Cavan, Cootehill is the ideal location, being only one and a half hours from Dublin or Belfast.

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