Three County Hollow

The Three-County Hollow (Tyrone–Fermanagh–Monaghan) is a rural area in Sleabh Beagh and the point where the three counties meet, is referred to as the “Three County Hollow”. Sliabh Beagh is a mountainous area straddling the border between County Monaghan in the Republic of Ireland and County Fermanagh and County Tyrone in Northern Ireland. 

Part of the Ancient Pilgrim Route Clogher – Clones

The original Irish name for the area is Sliabh Beatha, which has been anglicised to Slieve Beagh, but sometimes the two languages are combined to form Sliabh Beagh.

According to Irish mythology, the name refers to the mythological figure Bith, who was buried in a cairn on top of the mountain. Although the summit is in fact marked by a cairn, called Doocarn, it is likely that the name’s original meaning is “mountain of birch”.[5] In County Monaghan, the locals typically refer to the Slieve Beagh as the “Bragan Mountains”, taking the name from a townland within the Slieve Beagh.

The counties were formally established during the Plantation of Ulster in the early 17th century. Historically, the meeting point marked an administrative boundary rather than a major settlement. After the partition of Ireland in 1921, the hollow became part of the international border area between Northern Ireland and the Irish Free State (now Ireland).