Directly adjacent the centre of Monaghan town are the grounds of the Street Louis Convent and school. Much of the site is closed to visitors and this has helped the convent lake to develop into the valuable wildlife area that it is today. This lake has a well-developed fringe of reeds as well as many lake-side trees. These make for very good nesting and shelter sites for species such as coot, moor-hen and ducks. There is an ancient man-made island in the lake - a crannóg - which also allows excellent habitat to remain untouched. The site is also excellent for songbirds, there being many mature trees on the grounds. A stretch of the Ulster Canal is easily visible here, although it’s usually dry, and the canal stores is a prominent heritage building of Monaghan Town.