County Meath

Ireland
County Meath
County Meath sits onthe border of County Louth, 28 miles north-west of Dublin, the capital city ofthe Republic of Ireland. The River Boyne flows through the county and the lushfertility of the land has ensured that this is a corner of the Republic ofIreland that has been settled and farmed since the end of the Ice Age.

The presence of a healthy population over such along period of time has led to County Meath earningthe title of Ireland’s heritage capital, with sites of historical importancebeing scattered across the whole of the county. One of the most important ofthese is perhaps the UNESCO World Heritage Site at Brúna Bóinne.

Travellingto County Meath

The county itself is located just 25 miles away fromDublin Airport. Since the airport takes flights from all over the world, thismeans that the natural, cultural and historical splendours of CountyMeath are just a few hours away for visitors travelling from allover the world.

The airport itself is open around the clock, everyday of the year except Christmas Day, and it takes flights to and from 175different cities across Europe and the rest of the world. Boasting all of thefacilities you’d expect from a modern transport hub (money changing, car hireand so on), it means that you can start exploring everything that CountyMeath has to offer just 45 minutes after your flight lands.

HeritageTrails in County Meath

The rich history on view throughout the county isunderlined by the fact that there are a number of specific heritage trails to choosefrom, all of which allow visitors to explore stunning remnants of the past inan ordered and accessible manner.

The Meath heritagetrail begins at the TaraHill, an atmospheric site of ancient earthworks located 15 minutesaway from Navan.Other highlights include the remains of BectiveAbbey, which was founded in 1147 and is situated 15 minutes off theR161, and TrimCastle, one of the locations used for the film Braveheart.

Unlike some other trails, which require a vehicleand several days to complete, the Athboy Heritage Trail takes place entirelyupon the streets of the town of Athboy,and is a historical trip that can easily be enjoyed on foot. Highlights includethe Church of Ireland grounds, The Bridge, which was built around 1400, and theruins of Athboy Castle. Athboy itself is located along the N51.

Hospitalityin County Meath

Visitors return to the Republic of Ireland time andtime again thanks to the sheer warmth of the welcome provided by the locals.Nowhere is this more in evidence than in the legendary traditional Irish pubs,of which County Meath has more than its fair share.

Farrellys Bar is a truly traditional family-runIrish pub in Oldcastle, famed for its excellent Guinness and offering livemusic every Thursday and Sunday night. Shanks Mare Pub and Restaurant, locatedin a tranquil rural setting between Moynalvey and Summerhill, provides a widerange of delicious food, all of which is hand-cooked on the premises.

Culturein County Meath

The SolsticeArts Centre is based in Navan, in the centre of the county. It hasbeen dubbed the entertainment hub of Meath, andoffers a selection of national and international artists displaying theirskills in music, art, drama and comedy, all staged within a strikingly modernist building.