Ballybay - is located beside Lough Major and was founded on the linen industry but is now a prominent angling centre with several excellent waters. Carrickmacross - is a pretty market town which developed around a castle built by the Earl of Essex in 1630. The site of the castle is now occupied by the convent of the St Louis nuns. The sisters revived the famous Carrickmacross lace and this tradition is kept alive today by the Carrickmacross Lace Co - Op which is based in the Gallery. Buildings of note include the Roman catholic Church, with the ten beautiful stained - glass windows, designed by the renowned artist harry Clarke in 1925, St. Finbar's Protestant Church, the Courthouse and the historic Magheross Church. All these buildings and