County Meath
County Meath (Irish: Contae na Mí or an Mhí) lies in the gently rolling hills of Ireland's East Coast and Midlands. County Meath (from the Irish meaning, "the middle") is relatively flat country (by Irish standards) drained by the River Boyne, and is very agriculturally fertile.
Despite having no cites, Meath is one of the more densely populated areas of Ireland, with a total population of 195,044 (as of 2016).
Towns
Other destinations
- 1 Brú Na Bóinne Archaeological Park (Newgrange) is a remarkable complex of Neolithic chamber tombs, standing stones and henges. It's most easily reached from Drogheda.
Understand
Given the gentile and fertile terrain, Meath has been an important region in Ireland since prehistory. The archaeological complex of Brú na Bóinne is 5,000 years old and includes the burial sites of Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth, in the northeast of the county. It is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site.
As a county Meath was formed by the Tudor (English) administration in 1543 from the eastern part of the former kingdom of Meath. Historically the kingdom included all of the current county as well as all of Westmeath and parts of Cavan, Longford, Louth, Offaly, Dublin and Kildare. The High King of Ireland sat at Tara in Meath.
Historically, Meath was extensively forested, but experienced a near total deforestation between the 16th and 18th centuries. Now the landscape is predominately agricultural.
Meath is also on the northern approaches to Dublin, making it a frequent site of conflict. The English leader Oliver Cromwell marched though here in 1649, and the influential Battle of the Boyne was fought here in 1690 between rival claimants to the British and Irish crowns.
Get in
By bus
There is an hourly bus service from Dublin - The 109 bus from Bus Aras.
By car
Navan is beside the M3 motorway. To get onto the M3, take exit 6 on the M50 ring road of Dublin.
By plane
Meath is less than an hour away from Dublin Airport (DUB IATA). The N2 or M3 main roads will get you into Meath.
Get around
Car is the easiest way.
By bus
Bus Éireann operate a frequent town bus service in Navan, consisting of three routes :
- Route 110A operates a loop from the Shopping Centre via Blackcastle Estate and Clonmagadden Fort back to the Shopping Centre, 8 times per day Monday to Friday.
- Route 110B operates a loop from the Shopping Centre via the Hospital and Commons Road back to the Shopping Centre, 4 times per day Monday to Friday.
- Route 110C operates a loop from the Shopping Centre via Johnstown Wood and Bailis Downs back to the Shopping Centre, 9 times per day Monday to Friday.
None of the three routes operate on Saturdays or Sundays. The cash fare on the town bus service is €2 adult and €1.20 child. If paying with a TFI Leap Card, the fare is €1.40 adult and 84c child.
See
- Brú Na Bóinne or Newgrange Archaeological Park is a must-see, but the tomb interiors can fit very few visitors.
- 1 Hill of Tara. The Hill of Tara (Irish Cnoc na Teamhrach; Irish Temair na Rí, "Hill of the Kings"), located near the River Boyne, is an archaeological complex that runs between Navan and Dunshaughlin in County Meath, Leinster, Ireland. It contains a number of ancient monuments, and, according to tradition, was the seat of Árd Rí na hÉireann, or the High King of Ireland.
- Castles at Trim and Dunsany. Killeen has become a hotel and Slane is private.
- Religious ruins at Trim, Bective, Slane, Dunsany and Skryne.
- Ancient mounds 2500 years old at Telltown, and megalithic tombs at Loughcrew near Oldcastle.
- High Crosses in Kells - but the famous book is now in Dublin.
- The Battle of the Boyne, fought on 1 July 1690, spelled the end of James II's campaign to keep his throne. Henceforth Britain and Ireland were ruled by the Protestant Hanoverian dynasty of King William III. The visitor centre is on the road to Slane, though it's more easily reached from Drogheda.
Do
- Go to Fairyhouse Races near Ashbourne.
- Tayto Park near Ashbourne is a theme park and zoo.
Eat
The Forge Restaurant near Ballinlough is a top class rural restaurant with quality meals. Chef Pauric White has won regional awards. Excellent food and friendly staff in a convivial atmosphere. To get to the Forge take N3 from Kells to Whitegate and take first left after Dervor roundabout.
Drink
Popular bars in the town are Beggy's, The Central and Ryans. The Palace Nightclub, Navan, is the current hotspot of the county. Other nightclubs in the county include Solar, Xangos, Glow and Live. Popular nearby clubs include Vanity in Carrickmacross and Imperial in Cavan.