Community groups in Monaghan
Monaghan runs on its voluntary groups more than most towns do. Some of that is the size of the place, and some of it is the border, which left the county doing a lot for itself for a long time. There is a group here for most things.
Where to start looking
The single most useful contact is the Monaghan Public Participation Network, which exists precisely to connect residents with community, voluntary and environmental groups across the county. Almost every organised group in the town is registered with it. If you have moved here and want to find something, start there rather than searching group by group.
Monaghan Integrated Development and the county’s Family Resource Centre network cover the social side, from employment supports to parent and toddler groups.
The main kinds of group in the town
Tidy Towns and residents’ associations. Monaghan Tidy Towns works on planting, painting and the general appearance of the squares and approach roads, and always wants hands. Most of the housing estates around the town have their own residents’ association.
Men’s Shed. Monaghan has an active shed, which is one of the easier ways for anyone new or recently retired to meet people without having to join anything formal.
Scouting and youth groups. Scouting Ireland and Foróige both operate in the town, alongside the youth clubs attached to the parishes and the schools.
Musical and drama societies. Monaghan has a long amateur drama and choral tradition, and the Garage Theatre gives them somewhere proper to perform. There is also a strong traditional music scene, with sessions in the town’s older pubs.
Historical and heritage groups. The county historical society and the local heritage groups run talks and outings through the winter, often based at the museum in the Peace Campus.
Sports clubs are covered separately on the sport and leisure page.
Support services
For anyone who needs practical help rather than a club, the town has a Citizens Information office, and the usual national services have a local presence: social welfare, MABS for money advice, and disability and carers’ supports through the county’s family resource centres.
The county library, now in the Peace Campus alongside the museum, is more useful than people expect. It runs classes, hosts groups, has meeting rooms and is where a lot of the smaller organisations meet.
Starting something
Small community grants come through Monaghan County Council and the Public Participation Network each year, and the county’s LEADER programme funds larger community projects. If you are trying to get something off the ground, the PPN is again the first call, because they know which fund suits and when it opens.
A caution about lists
Community groups change contact people every year or two, and a page of names and phone numbers goes stale faster than anything else on a site like this. That is why this page names the kinds of group and the two or three permanent bodies that keep current lists, rather than pretending to hold a directory itself. The council and the Public Participation Network maintain the real thing, and theirs is up to date.
Details on this page last checked . If something here is out of date, it probably is our fault rather than yours.