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Updated 05/24/2013

The Town of Ballybay

Ballybay (Irish: Béal Átha Beithe) is a town in County Monaghan in the Republic of Ireland. The name in English means "The Mouth of the Ford of the Birches".  The town is the meeting point for roads going to Monaghan, Castleblayney, Carrickmacross and Clones. The town grew up from the convergence of the roads. The town is built beside a large lake, Lough Major (In Irish "Lough Mór") and the smaller Lough Minor. The Dromore River also runs through the south of the town.

The town grew up in the 18th century, gaining its prosperity from the linen industry founded by the Jackson family. The Town council (Ballybay Development Committee) was established around 1870. Later, on 1 January 1921, an Irish Republican Army ambush led by Eoin O'Duffy killed one Royal Irish Constabulary man, one civilian and three Auxiliaries were wounded during the Irish War of Independence.