County 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.
The Hill of Tara beautifully
bears witness to the epic adventures of Ireland's
royal past, to the battles and celebrations
of the High Kings. Fantastic tales of knights
and ladies, of honour and valour, become real
at the sight of monumental Anglo-Norman castles
rising out of the landscape at Trim.
A
stone circle,
the Book of Kells,
Newgrange,
Tara & Ring forts
The
mysterious imagination and sharp-witted humour
of medieval monks still resonate in
Meath's towns, where monastic ruins tell the
story of scholarly refuge in the face of Viking
raids. Ireland's ancients had something to
say. They said it so that we could hear their
message with our eyes.
Meath is also renowned for its many golf courses
as well as being the home of the Mulligan -
a Mulligan is the one free stroke allowed each
player per nine holes of play and to be played
at his or her discretion. Makes perfect sense
- who better to determine when they need to
repeat a shot that the players themselves.
The universally brilliant and pragmatic ruling
was the brainchild of Arthur Mulligan, a renowned
Meath golfing personality who once said, '
the coures here leave me little choice but
to count creatively
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Main Tourist Attractions Include :
Visit the
Irish
Culchie Festival
: 27-30 Oct 2005
King
John's
Castle
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.
Kells High Crosses
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.
The National
Ecology Centre Sonairte
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.
The Hill of
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.
The Loughcrew
Cairns
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.
Newgrange Open
Farm
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.
Heritage Sites
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.
Bru Na Boinne
Centre (Newgrange)
Located a t 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.
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.
Trim Castle
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'.
