|
Holiday Home Ireland -
Westmeath Holiday Homes
back to sitemap home
page
| |
Westmeath Holiday Homes |
| |
|
find holiday homes in
Westmeath |
Westmeath is a county in the Irish
midlands located within the western part of the province of Leinster.
The county’s lands once formed part the ancient province of Meath,
and later county Meath, but the two modern counties have now been
separated for several centuries. Westmeath is about four-fifths the
size of Meath in area, but has less than half the population of its
neighbour. This is mainly due to Meath’s more rapid expansion as a
closer commuter county for Dublin workers, but Westmeath also has a
good share of commuters thanks to the extension of the M4 motorway
then a good dual carriageway out as far as Mullingar some 50 miles
from the capital city. Mullingar also has good rail links to both
the east and west coasts of Ireland. With a town population of just
under 10,000, Mullingar acts as the administrative centre for
Westmeath’s affairs
Westmeath Holiday Homes |
|
|
|
Westmeath is sometimes referred to as the Lakes County due to the
propensity of large expanses of water within its boundaries, such as
Lough Owel and Lough Ennel which are favourite destinations for
Irish anglers. Athlone is another important Westmeath town with an
urban population of around 7,000, although expanding suburbs make
the town seem much larger. Athlone is located on a crossing of the
River Shannon at the south of Lough Ree with some parts of the town
technically in County Roscommon, next door. The town attracts many
visitors due to its central location within the country; historians
can admire the castle and abbey, whilst others appreciate the modern
shopping centres, theatres or the marinas on the Shannon. |
Locke's Distillery
Locke's Distillery established in 1757 is believed to be the oldest
licensed distillery in the world. The three natural raw materials
required for distillation were readily available. A ready supply of
turf from the bogs, locally grown grain and the pure water from the
Brusna River. The water from the Brusna river is said to contain
minerals from the limestone catchment area and the bogs which added
a distinctive flavour to the whiskey. In addition a branch of the
Grand Canal extended into Kilbeggan with the proximity of railway
stations situated at Horseleap, Tullamore and Clara, provided ideal
supply and distribution points. Production in Kilbeggan at Locke's
distillery continued until 1954. In 1957 the distillery finally
closed down and began to fall into disrepair. Most of what remains
in Locke's Distillery Museum today is how the building looked and
operated during the 19th century. Locke's Distillery MuseumThe
museum is run today by a management committee of twelve people,
representing the community of Kilbeggan. The onerous task of
restoring the old buildings was commenced in 1982, 25 years after
the distillery had finally shut its doors.
Holiday Homes in Westmeath, Ireland |
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. (the time of the yellow
plague) there were 300 monks living in the community. Between 771
and 1169 A.D. Fore was burnt 12 times. An important aspect of Fore
is the “Fore Crosses” one of which is in the village of Fore. There
are 18 crosses; some crosses are plain whilst others are carved.
There are spread out over 10km on roadways and in fields and beared
witness to religious persecution during penal times. Over looking
Lough Lene is Slieveboy hill and “Gallagher’s Moteens” which are
Bronze Age graves. These are Cist graves, which succeeded the
Communal burial chambers of the New Stone Age. |
Tullynally Castle Gardens
Tullynally has been owned by the Pakenhams, later Earls of Longford,
since the 17th century. The original house was remodelled by the 2nd
Earl as a huge rambling gothic revival castle in the early 1800’s.
Terraced lawns around the castle overlook superb 18th century
parkland. The adjoining woodland gardens and walled gardens date
largely from the same period and encompass a grotto of eroded
limestone from nearby Lough Derravaragh and two ornamental lakes.
The present owners have added Chinese gardens, and a local sculptor
has made fantastic woodcarvings. The walled gardens have extensive
flower borders and a avenue of giant 200 year old Irish yews. A
woodland walk leads to the lower lake past plantings of giant
lilies, camellias and rhododendrons.
Westmeath Cottages |
Lough Owel
Lough Owel is located beside the N4, 4km North West of Mullingar.
Access is provided at several locations. It has a high pH, mainly
spring fed limestone lake with an area of approximately 1000
hectares. The water is very clear with visibility up to 7 meters.
The lake has a large resident stock of wild brown trout with an
average size of 2 lb. The wild fish in the lake are supplemented by
a yearly stocking programme. Trout up to 6lbs are taken every year
on the fly. Large hatches of Duck Fly occur from almost mid April to
the end of the month. Fish can be taken with Wet Cell 11 lines, Sink
Tip and intermediate lines that carry a team of size 12 flies. After
the Duck Fly in early April, the sooty Olive and Sooty Olive Bumble
fish best. Around the third week in May big hatches of buzzer occur
along the Portloman shore. Fish can be caught on such flies as the
OMBI (12), Fiery Brown (10) when the ribbed midges are on the water.
Small hatches of May Fly occur at the Cornfield to Brabazon Bay. All
patterns of May Fly work, but the Grey Gosling is exceptionally good
as a nymph pattern. With a large hatch of natural May Fly a Green
Drake is worthwhile. Lough Owel is famous for its large hatches of
sedges towards the end of July to the middle of August – much to the
delight of the fry fly enthusiast. There are several different
species of sedges ranging from flies to 35mm in length to
approximately 15mm all fished wet and fry including Green Peters,
Cinnamon Peter, Black Peter and the Murrough. Dapping grasshoppers
and daddy long legs in August/September can also yield good results. |
Athlone Castle Visitor Centre
This Norman Castle dominates the town centre and commands the
traditional gateway to the West of Ireland. Features exhibitions and
audio visual presentations on the siege of Athlone, John Count
McCormack, River Shannon wildlife and history with folk and military
museums. Tourist Information Office on location. |
The Westmeath Way
The starting point for the Westmeath way is at Locke’s Distillery
museum, Kilbeggan. From Locke’s distillery follow the road towards
the business estate. At the main gate turn right & follow the path
over to the canal. You will reach the River Brosna & will follow the
path upriver. You will get to a bridge called Coola bridge, which
has an Old mill building adjacent to it. Follow a farm road from
here. You will reach two gates and you will return to the path along
the River bank. Continue on to the quaint village of Ballinagore &
the on to the peaceful setting of Lough Ennell at Liliput. From here
you will be walking cross country towards Dysart village. On the bog
road you will reach a bend. Turn right along a muddy track. You will
reach the ruins of an old farmhouse. Keep to the right down through
the fields to reach a footbridge on the Dysart River. Continue
through Dysart village. Outside the village you will reach a stile,
cross this & descend through fields until you reach an old track
that leads down to another footbridge. Cross over into fields &
enter the Keoltown woods. Follow the route to Bellmount Bridge,
follow the right hand bank of the Royal Canal all the way to
Mullingar town. The Westmeath way finishes at the Harbour Bridge,
Mullingar.
Irish Holiday Cottages |
Dun na Sí Heritage Centre
In the heart of Ireland, Dun na Si is a microcosm of Irish culture.
Explore the Folk Park, a picture of bygone days with preserved farm
machinery. Trace your family roots with the assistance of qualified
researchers. Enjoy the music, song, dance and story telling at a
Folklore show, Seisiun or Ceili
|
The Hill of Uisneach
The Hill of Uisneach, situated between the villages of Ballymore and
Loughanavally, was the ancient seat of the Kings of Meath. Its roots
stretch back into ancient mythology with its history rooted in a La
Tene period of the Iron Age and it has been placed in the same
league as the Hill of Tara in neighbouring County Meath. Uisneach
has also been famous as a meeting place in pre history as a place of
cattle rituals and other ‘May Day’ assemblies, and in more recent
times as the meeting place for an important twelfth century synod.
St. Patrick and St. Brigid have important connections with the Hill,
it being claimed that it was here St. Brigid received the veil from
St. Patrick. The importance of Uisneach in early times is reflected
in the large number of monuments – almost twenty – mostly ring forts
and tumuli which are scattered around and upon it. it was said to be
linked to Tara by a chariot road and many of the town-lands which
impinge on the hill re named for the remaining features such as
Meawira meaning “the bald fort” or more likely “the dismantled
fort”, Rathnew or “the new fort” and Togherstown meaning “the town
of the causeway”. The most famous feature on Uisneach is the CAT
STONE, named so because it resembles a cat watching a mouse. It is a
huge limestone boulder almost six metres high which is estimated to
weigh over 30 ton and is said to mark the centre of Ireland or the
coming together of the provinces. |
Goldsmith Country
Goldsmith Country runs from Glasson in county Westmeath to north of
the 3 jolly pigeons and from Tubberclair to Kilkenny west, a land
forever immortalised by the writings of Oliver Goldsmith. Born at
Pallas, County Longford in 1728 but brought up from anearly age at
Lissoy Parsonage, County Westmeath, many of the beautiful images
evoked in his writings spring from this region. Goldsmith died in
1774 and was buried in the Poets' Corner of Westminster Abbey. A
memorial window to the poet's father, the Reverend Charles
Goldsmith, can still be seen at Forgney Church, near Pallas in
County Longford. A Goldsmith Seminar is held annually to celebrate
the life of one of the most prolific writers ever to have graced the
English language. |
Towns and Villages in County Westmeath
Other towns of distinction in Westmeath include Ballymore,
Ballynacarrigy, Castlepollard, Clonmellon, Collinstown, Delvin,
Glassan, Kilbeggan, Killucan-Rathwire, Kinnegad, Moate, Multyfarnham,
Raharney, Rochfortbridge and Tyrrellspass.
|
back to sitemap home
page
|
