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Kells
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Kells is a
busy market town located in the north western part of Co Meath. This
ancient monastic town is in a wooded part of the River Blackwater
valley and is world renowned because of its association with the
Book of Kells. Kells is a designated Heritage Town.
Kells is steeped in history. It was known to be a royal residence
before St. Colmcille established a religious settlement in 550. This
settlement is considered by many historians to be one of the most
important monastic sites in Ireland. Today Kells is a pleasant and
attractive town with all the commercial and leisure facilities one
would expect to find in a town in modern Ireland.
Uniquely, Kells, a living town over a thousand years old, still has
many ancient and medieval remains in evidence throughout the town.
The Kells Heritage Trail provides visitors with a signed walking
tour of the town, with emphasis on the historical buildings and
remains including Kells Courthouse, St. John’s Cemetery , Kells Town
Hall, the Market Cross , St. Columba’s Church and Grounds , the
Spire of Loyd and Kells Round Tower.
The Kells Heritage Centre is a vibrant visitor attraction housed in
the beautifully restored Courthouse and features a multi-media
exhibition, a gift shop and tourist information centre. The
exhibition, entitled “The Splendour of Ireland” gives an insight
into the crafts and culture of monastic Ireland and entices the
visitor to explore the various sites of interest throughout Kells.
The Exhibition also comprises one of the foremost facsimile copies
of the Book of Kells.
There are a number of festivals held annually in Kells which draw
inspiration from its historic past. The Kells Heritage Festival is a
weeklong festival taking place during the 1st week in July. The
Kells Samhain Festival is a celebration of Halloween. Halloween
actually began nearby on the Hill of Tlachtga more than 2,000 years
ago. There is also a St Patricks Day Parade and a Market Day
Headfort Golf Course in Kells is home to two beautiful parkland
courses - Headfort Old Course and Headfort New Course. The Old
Course is one of the finest examples of a long established, mature
challenge with its large selection of trees gracing the fairways,
and first rate greens. The Headfort New Course is a superb modern
course which criss-crosses the River Blackwater and makes use of two
islands. Headfort House, built in 1780, and mature trees provide a
stunning backdrop to some of the holes. This 6,515m course was
designed by Ryder Cup hero Christy O'Connor Jnr.
The best of the brown trout angling on the Blackwater river is on
the waters controlled by Kells Angling Club. The Blackwater is the
largest tributary of the River Boyne and it is fed by Lough Ramor in
County Cavan. It flows in a south-easterly direction passing north
of Kells, to its confluence with the Boyne at Navan. This river has
all the usual fly hatches associated with a limestone river with
sedges and olives being important. |
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Kells Holiday Homes - County Meath, Ireland