Westmeath – Ireland.com County Guides
County Westmeath - the lake county
Belvedere House and gardens - the 'ruined' wall is the largest folly in Ireland
Westmeath is the most western in Leinster and is on the main route from Dublin to the west.
It boasts two substantial cathedral towns, Mullingar and Athlone, both commercial powerhouses of the midlands and both at least double their size in pre-Celtic Tiger days.
The waterways - lakes and rivers and the Royal Canal - make it a haven for inland watersports enthusiasts with sailing, cruising and canoeing all available.
The half dozen lakes on the outskirts of Mullingar make it a fisherman's paradise and the rolling pastures house many old country houses - some converted into guest houses - including one Georgian pile occupied by The Ginger Bread author JP Donleavy
Belvedere House on the banks of lake is worthy of a visit, not particular for the house, but for the stunningly stocked walled gardens - one of the best in the country and beautiful parkland walks. During the summer it also has a falconry display, popular with families.
Athlone straddles the Shannon and is referred to as the gateway to the west and the centre of Shannon cruising to places like Clonmacnoise 36km down river in Offaly.
The 13th century castle on the western side of the Shannon is an ancient rampart and was central to the 1690 siege of Athlone, which took place after the Battle of the Boyne, and pitted supporters of William of Orange against James II, who has lost the throne of England in a bloodless coup. Williamites captured Athlone in 1690 but surrendered within a week in one of the first sieges immortalised in song by native Count John McCormack.
Points of Interest
Belvedere House
Visit the park, rather than the house for its lakeside walks and magnificent walled gardens, which are one of the finest in Ireland with a superb collection of special and rare flowers. Best visit in early summer when the herbaceous borders are in early bloom. The parkland also includes The Jealous Wall, the largest folly in Ireland - a pretend ruin of a castle wall reputedly built to hide the house from the view of the neighbour, who was the occupants brother.
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Westmeath – places to stay, things to do and see
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Don't Miss...
Viking Tours Limited
Relax and cruise the River Shannon on a replica Viking boat while the children dress up and become Vikings. Experience some of the 300 years of Viking history on a voyage into Lough Ree or down river to the monastic settlement and round tower of Clonmacnoise. Hear of the escapades on these waters through live commentary on Viking battles and tales of buried treasure. There are a variety of helmets, ...
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Fore Abbey
The village of Fore is in a valley between two hills. Here you will see the ancient ruins of a Christian monastery. Fore is “the town of the springs” and was named after St. Fechin’s spring, which is beside the old church. It was St. Fechin who founded the ancient Fore Abbey around 630 A.D. By 665 A.D.
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