Ireland.com

County Meath

Meath isn't all about history though. At Laytown you'll find Europe's only official horse race on a beach and tiny Rathcairn contains Ireland’s smallest Gaeltacht, founded in the 1935 when 27 Connemara families were resettled here as part of a social experiment. Each were given a house and a plot of land by the Land Commission and the community has since flourished into a full-blown Irish-speaking village.

Today, the county is firmly on Dublin’s commuter belt and Dunboyne, Dunshaughlin, Ratoath and Ashbourne have seen unprecedented growth in recent years. Some wonderfully unspoilt villages still remain however, such as Summerhill, Kilmessan and Moynalty.

Meath is also the birthplace of the bard Turlough O'Carolan; Francis Beaufort, inventor of the Beaufort wind scale; and our very own Bond, Pierce Brosnan.

Points of Interest

Newgrange
The most famous of all Irish monuments, this old burial ground is the best preserved passage grave in Europe where the first rays of sun on the winter solstice flood the tomb, illuminating the central burial chamber. Tours of the passage grave and its neighbours available all year round.

Knowth
Two massive passage graves featuring a wealth of complex megalithic art.

Drogheda's Martello Tower
Sitting on top of an artificial hill, it is thought to have been an ancient burial site. It was from here that Sir Arthur Ashton made his last stand against Cromwell in 1649.

Loughcrew Cairns
A Meath secret, this is the largest group of passage graves in the world and yet is rarely visited. Undeveloped and strewn across the hilltops, it’s a mystical place with plenty of intricate engravings and wonderful views. Make a wish from the massive ‘Hag’s Chair’ before leaving.

Hill of Tara
Home to the Lia Fail or stone of destiny, this is where Ireland's kings were crowned – if the stone were heard to roar its approval. It was here too that St Patrick used the shamrock to explain the holy trinity to pagan King Laoighaire and his druids. On a clear day you can see half the counties in Ireland and in 1843 Daniel O’Connell, a leading opponent of Ireland's union with Great Britain, held a giant rally here to protest against the treatment of Catholics, attracting 750,000 spectators.

Loughcrew Gardens
Painstakingly restored 17th century landscaped gardens once home to the Blessed Oliver Plunkett.