Lady Farnham, widow of the 4th Lord Farnham, donated land to be set down as Farnham Gardens extending from St. Mary’s Abbey to the bottom of Wesley Street (Thomas Ashes Street). Flower beds, walks and tree lined avenues encouraged the gentry of Cavan to relax there. It was extremely popular for childrens’ picnics.
The building of the Magnet Cinema in 1935, marked the beginning of the end for Farnham Gardens and they were totally dismantled in the 1960s to make way for the current housing. All that now remains is a small rose garden at the corner of Town Hall Street.
Did you know?
The expression ‘the life of Reilly’ is said to have originated in Cavan!
