By Madeleine Casteel, High School Abroad Ireland Fall Semester 2024
If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to shop in a charming Irish town, let me take you to Monaghan Town, where I spent part of my high school study abroad experience. Shopping in Monaghan isn’t just about finding things to buy—it’s an experience wrapped in the warmth of local charm, friendly faces, and a little Irish quirkiness.
Monaghan town is one of the main places to go for shopping in Co. Monaghan, to my knowledge. It’s a fairly large town with a lot of people in it but BEWARE of the traffic. Trying to find a place to park or even just get into town takes so long; I highly recommend getting a local link in and then walking through the shops.
Let’s start with the hub of it all: the Monaghan Shopping Centre. Think of it as a compact mall with all the essentials. It became my go-to spot to meet up with friends, and we once saw a dinosaur roaming around inside. One of my favorite stores there was Euro Giant, where I could get anything my heart desired for extremely cheap. If the shopping frenzy got too intense, there was always Insomnia Café for a hot chocolate and a chat with friends. The vibe was so relaxed and it felt like EVERYONE in the town passed through at some point during the day. Great people-watching post!
And, of course, there’s Dunnes Stores. If you’re not familiar, it’s a quintessential Irish department store. The one in Monaghan is a bit of an all-rounder, with everything from groceries to fashion and it’s just across the road from the shopping centre. Sometimes, I would go back and forth between Dunnes and Tesco to see if the item I was trying to purchase was cheaper in one of the stores (Tesco was pretty much always cheaper).
A quick tip: If you’re shopping in Monaghan, keep an eye out for the Shop Local vouchers. They’re these handy little things you can use in over 200 businesses around the town. It’s a great way to support local shops and also makes you feel like a little VIP when you’re paying with them.
Fro & Co is the best place to stop if you want a quick treat that doesn’t make you feel as guilty as a huge bag of candy from Dealz but comes at the same price. While I always get myself a frozen yogurt, Fro & Co offers other things as well like coffee and cookies. What I really like about the place is how cute it is! The decoration makes it feel very social and cozy at the same time, so I would always stop there with my friends after a half-day of school.
After a day of shopping, I’d usually end up in one of Monaghan’s cozy cafés with friends, comparing what we’d found. It wasn’t just about the stuff we bought, often we wouldn’t go home with anything but food, it was more about just doing something together; like the time I forced my friend to buy a Santa hat from Tesco and wear it at school the next day.
Shopping in Monaghan isn’t flashy or over-the-top, and the traffic can be unbearable at times, but that’s what makes it so special. If you ever find yourself in this little Irish town, make sure to leave room in your suitcase; you’ll go home with something!
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