Blacklion is a small village situated in the extreme north-west of County Cavan, beside Lough Mac Nean and on the main Sligo-Enniskillen road. The village takes its name from the Black Lion Inn, a hostelry on the old 18th century coach road. Located at the northern end of the Cavan Way, it connects to both the Ulster Way and the Kingfisher Cycle Trail.

South of Blacklion the land rises sharply towards the Cuilcagh Mountains. Here in a karst landscape centred around the Burren Forest (through which the Cavan Way passes) is preserved one of the most complete prehistoric landscapes to be found anywhere in Ireland. A variety of tombs, together with ancient habitation sites and relict field walls dot this landscape, which extends eastwards into the Marble Arch Caves area of County Fermanagh.

The Blacklion area was also the birthplace of the early 18th century Gaelic folk poet Cathal Buí Mac Giolla Ghunna. A summer school is held here annually in early July. (For further information on Blacklion or the Cathal Buí Summer School, email : cathalbui@hotmail.com or visit the website :http://www.cathalbui.com )

There is a variety of accommodation is to be found in Blacklion and the village also boasts one of the finest gourmet restaurants in Ireland, the 'Mac Nean Bistro'.

Clan Name

Blacklion is part of the ancestral home of the McGovern and forms a stage of the Beara-Breifne Greenway which is based on the historic march of O'Sullivan Beara in 1603.

Greenways Festival 2003

Blacklion is talking part in the Greenways Festival in summer 2003 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the legendary 1603 march of O’Sullivan Beara from the Beara Peninsula to the Breifne area. Click here for info on the events