Editing Carrickmacross (section)

===Foundation and development===
Carrickmacross is a market town which developed around a castle built by the [[Earl of Essex]] in 1630. The Convent of St Louis now stands on the original castle site, as the castle itself was destroyed in the late 17th century during the [[Williamite War in Ireland|Williamite Wars]].<ref name="history1">{{cite web|url = https://www.carrickmacross.ie/history | website = carrickmacross.ie| publisher = Carrickmacross-Castleblayney Municipal District| title = Carrickmacross History | access-date = 18 February 2020 }}</ref>

The town developed further as a market town during the 18th century,<ref name="history1"/> and a number of large municipal and religious buildings were built to serve the growing population during the 19th century.<ref name="history1"/> The town experienced population decline in mid- to late-19th century, during the [[Great Famine (Ireland)|Great Famine]],<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.aboutireland.ie/carrickmacross.htm | website = aboutireland.ie | title = Carrickmacross | access-date = 18 February 2020 }}</ref> with the population decreasing from 2,063 in 1861 to 1,779 inhabitants by 1891.<ref name="history1"/> The town's Poor Law Union Workhouse and Fever Hospital were built in this period - the latter later becoming the offices of the Urban District Council which was originally formed in 1899.<ref name="history1"/><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.monaghan.ie/carrickmacrosstc/carricktchistory.asp | publisher = Monaghan County Council | website = monaghan.ie | title = Carrick History | archive-url =  https://web.archive.org/web/20070328190142/http://www.monaghan.ie/carrickmacrosstc/carricktchistory.asp | archive-date = 28 March 2007 }}</ref>