Meath - 35 Attractions You Must Visit

e319ccad-bb50-414e-abbf-3008232701dd

About Meath

Meath is the 14th-largest of Ireland's 32 counties by area, and the eighth-largest in terms of population. In terms of natural attractions, the county has a relatively tame landscape compared to other parts of Ireland, with no mountains, a short coastline and generally little forest cover. There are however a number of National Parks and Wildlife Service protected sites within county.

Types of Attractions in Meath

Activities Around

List of Attractions in Meath

Athcarne Castle

Athcarne Castle

Iconic Buildings

Old Ruins

This is an Elizabethan castle now in ruins, located near Duleek in County Meath. It was constructed by William Bathe in 1590 and was then rebuilt in 1830. The castle was abandoned in the 1950s and is now in a sorry state of repair. It is claimed that King James II once owned the castle and that he stayed there in 1690 when en route to the Battle of the Boyne. Some say that his ghost returns to the castle on occasions and appears dumbfounded.

Athlumney Castle

Athlumney Castle

Iconic Buildings

Old Ruins

Athlumney Castle is a tower house and fortified house and a National Monument in Navan, Ireland. The motte at Athlumney was built in the years after 1172 when Hugh de Lacy, Lord of Meath granted the title of Baron Skryne to his ally Adam de Feypo; he in turn granted Athlumney to a relative Amauri de Feipo, who built the motte. The older part of Athlumney Castle is a tower house built in the 15th century.

Bective Abbey

Bective Abbey

Churches

Old Ruins

Bective Abbey was founded in 1147 for the Cistercian Order by Murchad O'Maeil- Sheachlainn, King of Meath. It was Ireland's second Cistercian Abbey. The remains now visible at the Abbey date mainly from the 13th to 15th centuries. They include the church, chapter house and cloister. It is a protected structure and recorded on the register of National monuments of Ireland.

Bettystown Beach

Bettystown Beach is a sandy beach in a popular seaside resort. The beach is a long beach stretching from the River Boyne on the border of County Meath and County Louth in the north down to the River Nanny at Laytown to the South. This southern stretch is Laytown beach.

BRÚ Brewery

BRÚ Brewery

Man-made Structures- Other

BRÚ Brewery was founded in Meath in 2013 with the intention of creating brews for all tastes. It is named after Brú Na Boinne (Newgrange), which is a Stone Age monument located in the Boyne Valley in County Meath. The brewery was established in 2013 by local lads Dave O’Hare and Daire Harlin with the aim to make tasty craft beers.

Causey Farm

Causey Farm

Outdoors- Other

Causey Farm is a working farm which is home to cattle, sheep, ponies, pigs (and often piglets), hens, geese and a noisy gaggle of giggling geese.The Murtagh family breeds and trains sheepdogs and visitors can see them working in the fields during their visit. The small herd of Connemara ponies, natives of the west of Ireland calmly welcome a friendly pat or a handful of grass as they pass along the farm trails through fertile grassland.

Dangan Castle

Dangan Castle

Iconic Buildings

Old Ruins

Dangan Castle is a former stately home in County Meath, Ireland, which is now in a state of ruin. It was the childhood home of Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington. The modern house was originally built in the early 1700s as Dangan House by Richard Colley, who demolished the old castle. Colley had inherited the estate from the childless Gerald Wesley, on condition that he changed his surname.

Donaghmore Round Tower

Donaghmore Round Tower

Iconic Buildings

Old Ruins

The Donaghmore Round Tower is a well-preserved 10th-century construction situated just northeast of Navan in County Meath. The architectural style of the church indicates it was built in the 15th Century. Most likely, it replaced an older church built in the Romanesque style; a carved Romanesque head is incorporated in the south wall of the bell tower. At the site, visitors can view the remains of a church and the round tower, which has interesting carvings and sculptures.

Donore Castle Ruins

Donore Castle Ruins

Iconic Buildings

Old Ruins

Donore Castle is a tower house and National Monument in County Meath, Ireland. The castle has three storeys, and measures 7.3 × 6.3 m at the base, and is 12 m (39 ft) tall with rounded corners a projecting round tower at the corner housing a newel stairway. One of the Castle's defenses is a murder hole situated at roof level above the entrance door. There are also carved heads of a king and bishop above the doorway.

Dunmoe Castle

Dunmoe Castle

Iconic Buildings

Old Ruins

Dunmoe Castle is a castle and National Monument located near Navan, Ireland. The Castle was built in the 15th Century and was home to the D'arcy family. The Castle, originally a four turreted structure, is now, through years of ruin, reduced to just two. It remained intact until it was destroyed by fire during the 1798 rebellion and today visitors can see what remains of the four-storey castle. It can be found between Navan and Slane.

Dunsany Castle

Dunsany Castle

Iconic Buildings

Old Ruins

Dunsany Castle is situated on an estate that comprises of marsh, wood and farmland with the River Boyne running along the back of the land. It is located in the village of Dunshaughlin, 6 miles from Trim. It is a grey stone castle built over 4 floors with four crenellated main towers. The castle is surrounded by a protective wall and has three entrances one with a gatehouse lodge and stewards house.

Four Knocks Tomb

Four Knocks Tomb

Tombs

Old Ruins

Four Knocks is a Passage Chamber Tomb built about 5000 years ago. It is located 10 miles southeast of Newgrange between Ardcath in County Meath and the Naul in County Dublin. It has a short passage leading into a wide pear shaped chamber with three smaller offset chambers. The original roof was probably a wooden structure supported by a central pole. The name Fourknocks may be from the Irish Fuair Cnocs meaning Cold Hills.

Hill of Tara

Hill of Tara

Monuments

Old Ruins

This was once the ancient seat of power in Ireland – 142 kings are said to have reigned there in prehistoric and historic times. As Christianity achieved dominance over the following centuries, Tara’s importance became symbolic. Its halls and palaces have now disappeared and only earthworks remain. Tara forms part of a larger ancient landscape and Tara itself is a protected national monument under the care of the Office of Public Works, an agency of the Irish Government.

Hill of Ward

Hill of Ward

1 Day Treks

Mountain Peaks

The Hill of Ward is a hill in County Meath, Ireland. During medieval times it was the site of great festivals, including one at which winter fires or bone fires were lit at Samhain, the forerunner of the modern Halloween. It is associated with the figure Tlachtga, a druidess in Irish mythology who is said to have given birth to triplets on the hill.

Kells Round Tower

Kells Round Tower

Iconic Buildings

Old Ruins

Kells Round Tower is a round tower in Kells, County Meath in Ireland. The tower, and the high crosses nearby, are National Monuments.This 26 metre high round tower draws you toward the site of a monastery founded in the early part of the 9th century by Irish monks from Iona in Scotland.

Killeen Castle

Killeen Castle

Iconic Buildings

Old Ruins

Killeen Castle is one of only two Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Courses in Ireland. The course measures over 7,700 yards from the back tees. The substantial investment in the drainage at the time of construction has given a course that is payable 365 days a year. Killeen Castle Golf Club offers the ultimate championship golfing experience.

Lia Fáil (Stone of Destiny)

The Lia Fáil is a stone at the Inauguration Mound on the Hill of Tara in County Meath, Ireland, which served as the coronation stone for the High Kings of Ireland. It is also known as the Coronation Stone of Tara. According to legend, all of the kings of Ireland were crowned on the stone up to Muirchertach mac Ercae, c. AD 500.

Lough Bane

Lough Bane

Lake/ River/ Ponds

This is a beautiful lake located in the border of County Meath and County Westmeath in Ireland. The lake is the largest of three lakes in the SAC, the others being Lough Glass and Lough Glass North. It supplies water to the towns of Kells and Oldcastle. It also has so many fish and algae species too.

Lough Sheelin

Lough Sheelin

Lake/ River/ Ponds

This is a beautiful limestone freshwater lough in central Ireland. The lake is a part of the River Inny course, and ultimately of the Shannon system. The lake lies on the early course of the River Inny, a major tributary of the Shannon,: p.4  a little upstream of Lough Kinale. The lake is 7 km long, and has a surface area of between 1,855 and 1,900 hectares.

Loughcrew Cairn T

Loughcrew Cairn T

Mountain Peaks

Old Ruins

The Loughcrew cairns, also known as the Hills of the Witch, are a group of Neolithic passage tombs near Oldcastle in County Meath. Spread over four undulating peaks, the tombs are of great antiquity, dating to 3000 BC. It is one of the four main passage tomb cemeteries in Ireland and is a protected National Monument. The area is also home to the Loughcrew Estate, from which it is named.

Map of attractions in Meath

Comments

For more information about Meath, visit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/County_Meath