Cavan was founded by the Irish clan chief and Lord of East Breifne, Giolla Íosa Ruadh O’Reilly, between 1300 and his death in 1330.

Clan O'Reilly later built a new castle in the late fourteenth century on Tullymongan Hill, overlooking the town centre.

In the 15th century, the local ruler, Bearded Owen O'Reilly, expanded the town marketplace which attracted merchants from Dublin and Drogheda.

The phrase "life of Reilly" is believed to derive from the great wealth and power of the Chief of Clan O'Reilly, some of which came from the market.

During the battle much of the town was burned by Colonel Wolseley's soldiers and Jacobite general William Nugent was killed.

A new Kilmore Cathedral church was built in 1860 and dedicated to the memory of Bishop William Bedell who died and was buried here in 1642.

On 23 February 1943, a fire at St Joseph's Orphanage in the town claimed the lives of 35 children and an elderly woman.

A public inquiry found no culpability on the part of the nuns who ran the orphanage, but the circumstances surrounding the high death toll in the fire remain controversial to this day.

The entrance is dominated by an aquarium, with commissioned bog oak sculptures by local artist Joey Burns that portray Cavan history.

It is one of the main economic hubs of the north central part of Ireland and has an extensive range of financial services, legal, medical, industrial and retail enterprises.

The National Development Plan provides for a major upgrading of the route with an M3 motorway from Kells to Dublin (completed and officially opened on 4 June 2010) and type 2 dual carriageway from Whitegate on the Meath border to Cavan, which will eventually bypass Virginia too.

The (GNR) Virginia Road Station, from 1863 to 1958 serviced the Drogheda and Navan extension route to Kells and Oldcastle.

Cooperation between the Cavan and Westmeath county councils is striving to integrate this into the national and regional development plan.

The station is served by the Donegal Town – Enniskillen – Dublin Airport – Busáras Expressway route 30 which generally operates every two hours in each direction.

Graduates are entitled to exemptions within most third level colleges and usually transfer to study a degree further completing their course by in their chosen field.

The Fleadh is the premier annual Irish traditional music, song and dance festival and series of competitions, which is run by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (CCÉ).

Located in Ireland's lakelands, the wildlife and wetlands environment of County Cavan's loughs reputedly offers opportunities for sustainable tourism development.