Irish Counties - Meath

County Meath (Contae An Mhí in Irish) is a county in the Republic of Ireland, often informally called The Royal County. The de facto capital is Navan ("An Uaimh" in Irish, meaning "The Cave"), where the county hall and government is located, although Trim has a historical significance, including the location of the circuit court, Norman castle and Anglo-Norman parliament. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Meath seat was located in Navan until a backlash occurred against the Bishop of Meath. It is now located in Mullingar, County Westmeath. Other major towns include Ashbourne and Kells with its round tower and monastic past. Slane is well known both for its castle, and the occasional rock concerts.

Meath (the "middle") was once a province of Ireland in its own right, but now forms part of Leinster, historically this province of Meath included all of the current county as well as all of Westmeath and parts of Cavan, Dublin, Kildare, Longford, Louth and Offaly. The High King of Ireland sat at Tara in Meath.

The confluence of the River Blackwater (flowing south east from Virginia Lake and the famous River Boyne) occurs in Navan. Situated in the famous Boyne Valley the town is close to Brú na Bóinne (Newgrange, Knowth & Dowth), the Hill of Tara, Skryne and Slane, as well as the heritage towns of Kells and Trim.

Navan is also known for being the birthplace of Pierce Brosnan, the fifth actor to play the celebrated role of James Bond. Other famous people include Sir Francis Beaufort, famous for his wind scale. His birthplace was removed by the local council in the 1990s to make way for a road junction of debatable usefulness.

Click here to view all our books on County Meath
Click here to view all our prints on County Meath

Writers associated with Co. Meath include:

Dunsany, Lord
Fallon, Peter poet & publisher
Lavin, Mary short story writer & novelist
Ludwidge, Francis

Towns and Villages:
Athboy, Ashbourne, Bettystown, Duleek, Dunboyne, Dunshaughlin, Kells, Laytown, Navan, Trim, Slane