County Monaghan's first domestic violence refuge is on track to open in Clones in the New Year. Minister of State Niamh Smyth visited the interim refuge on Tuesday 20 October and said works have also begun on a larger, purpose-built refuge at Coolshannagh, Monaghan, which is expected to provide between 10 and 12 units once finished.
The Clones facility will have five units of accommodation. Northern Sound reports that it will give women and children a safe place to go at a time of crisis, and that it will strengthen supports across the whole Cavan-Monaghan constituency.
Why it matters
Monaghan has never had a refuge of its own. In a Dáil written answer on 29 September, the Minister for Justice listed it among nine counties with no domestic violence refuge, alongside Cavan, Carlow, Laois, Leitrim, Longford, Offaly, Roscommon and Sligo.
When Minister Smyth welcomed the plans in September, she said it was important for women to know they do not have to leave their own constituency to get the right care, support, protection and safety.
Who met at the Clones refuge
During Tuesday's visit, the Minister met Christina Lodge of Safe Ireland and Elizabeth Peña of Cuan, the State agency for domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, to hear about the work under way. Safe Ireland is the approved housing body leading the Monaghan refuge project.
Northern Sound reported in mid-September that a recruitment drive was under way for staff to work in the Clones refuge. At the time, Siobhan McKenna of Safe Ireland Cavan/Monaghan said the service had been working with Monaghan County Council, Cuan, the Housing Agency and other partners to get it up and running.
A timeline that has slipped
The interim refuge has taken longer than first hoped. Speaking to the Anglo-Celt in April, Safe Ireland's interim chief executive said Monaghan County Council had offered two possible locations, and she hoped the chosen one would be open by the end of the summer. A Dáil answer in late July said it would open "this year", and September's answer pointed to the final quarter of 2026. It is now due in the New Year.
The permanent refuge is a longer project. The Department of Housing approved the first-stage funding application for a site in Monaghan in October 2025, under the Capital Assistance Scheme. In April, Safe Ireland told the Celt that 2028 was the "realistic timeline" for opening it, while warning it can take up to three years. The July Dáil answer said it will include 12 independent refuge units plus support services, and the Celt reported that each unit can cater for one woman and three or four children.
Safe homes and Cavan
Alongside the refuges, Monaghan and Cavan county councils are each giving three houses from their social housing stock to be run by Safe Ireland as "safe homes". These are ordinary houses with extra security and a support worker, and their locations are not made public. Cavan County Council and Safe Ireland are still looking for a suitable site for a refuge in that county.
Earlier this week we reported on Hopeful Handbags, a 6 November event at Monaghan Library organised by local businesswomen to support domestic abuse survivors.
Where to get help
Safe Ireland Cavan-Monaghan supports women and children experiencing domestic violence in both counties. You can phone the service on 047 72311. In an emergency, always ring 112 or 999.
