- The word clones is also used as the plural of clone.
Clones (Irish:Cluain Eois) is a small town in County Monaghan, in the border area of Ireland. The area is part of the BMW region (Border, Midlands and Western) earmarked for economic development by the Irish government, due to its currently below average economic situation.
The author Patrick McCabe is from the town, noted particularly for his novel The Butcher Boy .
Although not as prominent nowadays, it was a well-known place from the late 19th century until the mid-20th century. The town was a major railway junction where routes from Enniskillen, Armagh, Cavan and Dundalk converged. This formed the focal point of the railway network in what is now the border area between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The railways were finally closed after unilateral closure of the Northern Ireland route sections by the Northern Authorities and the Ulster Transport Authority (see History of rail transport in Ireland).
- See also: List of towns in the Republic of Ireland
- External link: www.clones.ie - Official Website
