Carrickmacross

united kingdom

Carrickmacross is a County Monaghan market town of 5,745 people sitting on the N2 between Dublin (92km south) and Belfast (105km northeast). The town serves as a handy stopping point for cross-country journeys, with the R179 connecting east to Dundalk in 23 kilometers. Built around a 1630 castle, Carrickmacross is world-famous for its delicate needle lace tradition, introduced by local nuns in the 1820s using Italian techniques. This intricate lacework was famously chosen for Princess Diana's wedding dress in 1981, putting the town firmly on the international map.