Welcome to Meath!
The visionary spirit of past cultures is richly alive in Meath today.
Forget schoolbook history - Meath's past is full of mystery and excitement, tragedy and humour. There are High Kings and scholarly monks, Vikings and Normans, castles and crosses, wise fish and singing stones, magical sagas and fabulous fairytales
- 09/02/2010 Daily meetings to resolve parades disputes in North
- 09/02/2010 Decommissioning team closes offices in the North
- 09/02/2010 Key buildings 'greened' for St Patrick's Day
- 09/02/2010 Cork gardaà seize firearms and drugs in dissident raids
- 09/02/2010 Dublin gardaà seize €85k of heroin
- 09/02/2010 Drumm: Less treatments does not mean cutbacks
Top Hotels
Residents Hotel Ashbourne
Directly across the road from a bus stop, The Residents Hotel offers d ...
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Brogans Hotel Trim
Built nearly 2 centuries ago, using much of the original stone from Tr ...
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The Hamlet Court Enfield
The Hamlet Court Hotel is situated in the village of Johnstown bridge, ...
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Information Meath Ireland
County Meath is famed for any number of what could be regarded as historical footnotes, not least the Book of Kells. The book is a “rare illuminated manuscript”, as the experts call it, now housed in Trinity College Dublin, but created in a County Meath monastery in the early ninth century. However, the book’s purported origins are apocryphal, and it may well have originated on the Scottish isle of Iona.
The people of Kells certainly have every reason to believe that the book was manufactured in the area, however, rich in early Christian architecture as it is.
South of Kells on the famous River Boyne lies Trim, another town rich in medieval architecture. It boasts two cathedrals, two castles, and more besides.
Tara was Ireland’s ancient capital and the Hill of Tara is a site of contentious debate, with lobbyists for years appealing against planning decisions to build a motorway nearby. To say that international bodies recognise Tara as a site of historical interest would be an understatement. High Kings of Ireland retained Tara as their seat for a thousand years. There are various features to check out at the site itself. A visitor centre will set you straight as regards the features on the plain, which look a little like crop circles from a height. There is little by way of physical architecture left at the hill, but a booklet from the visitor’s centre will fill in the gaps and provide you with some idea of the buildings’ shapes when you’re looking at the hill itself.
Bru na Boinne is an ancient site spread over a large area of Meath, containing many pre-Christian monuments. The palace by the Boyne contains fifty ancient monuments. However, many of them are on private land and are therefore not open to the public. Newgrange is the most famous of the ancient sites, with its passage graves and connection to the winter solstice.
Attractions Meath Ireland
Meath Tourist Attractions
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Kells High Crosses - Kells
The Kells High Crosses are decorated with biblical scenes and are regarded as the country's most important crosses. The Market Cross is located at the junction of John Street and Castle Street. Its original location was probably at the entrance to the ancient monastery. The other four crosses are situated in the grounds of Saint Columba's Church. The ninth century South Cross is the oldest, the twelfth century East Cross is also referred to as 'the unfinished' because its decoration is incomplete. The North Cross has been reduced to its base and the 10th century West Cross is the most decorated of the five.
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King John's Castle - Trim
Located in Trim, the "Power and the Glory" exhibition brings to reality the lifestyle of Norman times. King John's Castle, built in 1220, is the largest and best preserved Norman Castle in Ireland and was used as a location for the award winning film Braveheart
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Newgrange Open Farm - Clane
Located close to Clane, a traditional working farm where you can enjoy a unique hands on experience. Visitors can hold and feed farm animals, view demonstration displays of crops, vintage farm machinery, tractor and trailer rides. There's also a Coffee shop, picnic area and car park.
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The Hill of Slane - Slane
The Hill of Slane is one of the most historic sites in Meath, and is associated with Saint Patrick. It is believed that he lit the first Paschal Fire here in the year A.D. 433. The first monastery there was founded by Saint. Erc, the first bishop of Slane. Various parts of this building were erected at different times and the oldest parts probably at some time in the fifth century. Saint Patrick is supposed to have consecrated the little church and for a while he lived there. There are great views from the top of the hill of the river Boyne winding its course to the sea and all around the rich green pastures of Meath, Louth and the Boyne Valley. Directly south is the Hill of Tara, seat of the High Kings of Ireland.
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The Loughcrew Cairns - Dunore
Located at Dunore, The Loughcrew Cairns (Slieve na Calliagh) are a group of Passage Tombs dating from the Neolithic period (c.3,000BC). Cairn T, one of the largest in the complex, has impressive examples of prehistoric art, and is also the site of the famous "Hag's Chair". There is a panoramic view of the rich lands of Meath and the lakelands of Cavan among the 14 counties that can be seen from Carnbane East. Loughcrew is the birthplace of Saint Oliver Plunkett and the Plunkett family church is still standing.
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The National Ecology Centre Sonairte - Laytown
Located at The Ninch, Laytown, Sonairte is Irelands premier environmental visitor centre. The centre contains an organic garden, riverside nature trail, renewable energy interactive park, wind, rain and solar exhibits. It is also Ireland's only ecology centre providing education towards a environmentally friendly lifestyle.
Heritage Sites
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Bru Na Boinne Centre (Newgrange) - Donore
Located at Donore, this centre is designed to present the archaeological heritage of the Boyne Valley, which includes the megalithic passage tombs of Newgrange and Knowth. Visitors to Newgrange and Knowth must begin their visits at the Visitor Centre. There is no direct access to either of these monuments and access is by guided tour only.
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Loughcrew Corstown - Oldcastle
The Loughcrew Cairns, also known as the Hills of the Witch, are a group of Neolithic passage tombs dating to 3000BC. The tombs are located on three different hills and Cairn T, one of the largest tombs in the complex, is situated on Carnbane East. This tomb has inside a cruciform chamber, a corbelled roof and some of the most beautiful examples of Neolithic art in Ireland. During the Vernal and Autumnal Equinox, people gather at dawn in Cairn T to watch sunlight enter the chamber and illuminate the inside of the tomb.
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The Hill of Tara - Trim
Embraced as the spiritual capital of Ireland, the roots of Irish legend and folklore are entrenched in mystical domain of Tara. It was on the Hill of Tara that the Ard Rí, or high king was crowned, hence its title as the Seat of the High Kings of Ireland. The Tuatha de Dannan are said to have been the first race to settle in Tara. This tribe of fierce warriors and sorcerers were believed to have brought the Lia Fail, or Destiny Stone with them. Legend has it that this mythical stone could determine the identity of the true high king. It would let out three loud roars once touched by the man fated to be ruler.
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Trim Castle - Trim
Trim Castle is the largest Anglo-Norman castle in Ireland. Hugh de Lacy began construction of the castle in about 1172 but the central tower - the keep - was not completed until the 1220's. This twenty sided tower is three storeys high and was protected by a ditch, a curtain wall and a moat. Inside the tower were living quarters, a great hall and a small chapel. The curtain wall was defended by five D-shaped towers and entry to the castle was only through either of the two gates. The Towngate had a portcullis to protect it as well as a 'murder hole'.
The Golf Courses Meath Ireland
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Navan Golf Club
Navan, Co. Meath
18 Holes with 15 Driving Bays. Green Fees 2002 Mid week €22. Weekend &Bank Holiday €27. Special reductions for groups of 25 or over. Green Fees / Societies Welcome. Great Bar Menu.
- Tel: +353 (0)46 72888
- Email: golf@navangolfandracecourse.com
Ashbourne Golf Club
Black Bush Golf Club
County Meath Golf Club
Headfort Golf Club
Laytown & Bettystown Golf Club
Moor Park Golf Club
South Meath Golf Club
Summerhill Golf Club
Trim Golf Course
