Positioned at the very geographic centre of Ireland, County Westmeath is a landscape defined by its remarkably serene lakes and quiet but profound historical significance. Just a short, effortless journey from the bustle of Dublin, it offers a deeply tranquil and authentic escape into Ireland’s lush historic heartland. Known as the “Lake County,” Westmeath is a place where the shimmering waters of the midlands meet a storied past of ancient kingdoms and mediaeval strongholds.
The county’s identity is inextricably linked to its spectacular network of lakes, which serve as both natural havens and sites of legendary resonance. Lough Ennell and Lough Owel are renowned for their crystal-clear waters and tranquil shores, while the mysterious Lough Derravaragh is famously steeped in the myth of the Children of Lir. To the west, the mighty River Shannon widens into the island-dotted expanse of Lough Ree, a haven for boating and wildlife that has provided a vital corridor for travel and trade since the time of the Vikings.
Westmeath’s rich heritage is equally evident in its historic market towns and grand estates. The 12th-century Athlone Castle, standing defiantly on the banks of the Shannon, remains a formidable sentinel of the midlands, while the elegant Belvedere House and Gardens near Mullingar offer a fascinating glimpse into the aristocratic world of the Georgian era. For those seeking fresh air and adventure, the Old Rail Trail Greenway provides a spectacular, traffic-free path through the heart of the county, following an old railway line from Athlone to Mullingar. Whether you are exploring the formal gardens of Tullynally Castle or following the quirky sculpture trails of its countryside, County Westmeath rewards every traveller with its unique blend of peaceful nature and remarkably enduring spirit.
Multyfarnham, westmeath
Unbelievably, the entire Abbey Blooms Botanical Gardens sprang to life in August 2021 on a previously under‑used plot behind a 13th‑century Franciscan Friary. Curated beds of native and exotic plants now bloom beside a tranquil pond, while the on‑site café serves as a quiet hub for mental‑well‑being projects championed by Nua Healthcare Services.
Castle St, westmeath
July 1690 saw a 7,500‑strong Williamite force under General James Douglas repelled by Colonel Richard Grace’s 2,000 defenders at Athlone Castle. Today the restored stone keep houses immersive galleries that bring the siege’s drama to life.
Midlands, westmeath
Ever wondered how a single river crossing shaped Ireland’s heartland? Athlone’s strategic ford gave rise to a 12th‑century stone donjon that still dominates the Shannon’s banks, while today the revitalised castle hosts interactive exhibits and riverside promenades that pulse with cafés and live music.
County Westmeath, westmeath
How does a village of just 75 residents become Ireland’s 2024 tidiest village and a contender in the Entente Florale Europe competition? Ballinahown’s rain‑water gardens, solar‑lit walkways and the historic St Colmcille’s church showcase a community that blends heritage with cutting‑edge sustainability.
Westmeath, westmeath
Fresh waterways of the Royal Canal contrast with the modern tarmac of the R390, offering both historic charm and easy family access. Ballinea Bridge provides a gateway to the popular Royal Canal Way and the Athlone‑to‑Mullingar cycle route, with a riverside playground nearby.
Belvedere House, westmeath
Set on the shores of Lough Ennell, Belvedere House blends elegant Georgian architecture with dramatic 18th‑century follies, including the towering Jealous Wall. Families can wander woodland trails, zip‑line across the lake, and discover playful gardens amid historic grandeur.
North County Westmeath, westmeath
Castlepollard thrives around a historic green, with Tullynally’s splendid gardens, tranquil Lough Derravaragh and Lough Lene, and the striking 18th‑century Kinturk House overlooking its demesne.
Castletown Geoghegan, westmeath
Who left a lasting imprint on County Westmeath’s landscape while tracing their lineage to the legendary Niall of the Nine Hostages? The Geoghegan family, whose medieval castle motte still marks the village, produced scholars such as Franciscan friar Conall Geoghegan and historian Abbé James Mac Geoghegan, while today the Old Rail Trail winds past Lough Ennell’s sparkling waters.
Mullingar, westmeath
Majestic twin towers dominate Mullingar’s skyline, yet the interior shelters intimate mosaics and quiet contemplation. Opened in 1936 as the world’s first cathedral dedicated to Christ the King, it fuses neo‑Romanesque grandeur with a modest capacity for 5 000 worshippers.
Collinstown, westmeath
First glimpses of Collinstown reveal a tranquil village perched above the crystal‑blue waters of Lough Lene, their reflections dancing against a backdrop of rolling fields and distant islands. The scene instantly hints at layers of monastic legend, Viking forts and a 7th‑century bell replica that together promise a rich blend of history and lakeside recreation.
Mullingar, westmeath
Remarkably, the former Wellington Barracks still houses a complete 19th‑century drill hall despite being vacant since 2012. Built between 1814 and 1819 to quell post‑1798 unrest, the red‑brick complex later bore the name of Adjutant Patrick Columb, who fell in the 1921 civil war. Today community groups rally around the site, envisioning a sustainable hub that would blend heritage walls with green‑energy facilities.
Grace Road, westmeath
Why does Athlone’s military hub claim the title of Europe’s oldest continuously occupied barracks? Custume Barracks, named after Sergeant Custume who fell defending the 1690 bridge, has evolved from a wooden cavalry encampment into a limestone‑clad complex that once housed a secret Cold‑War nuclear command centre.
Westmeath, westmeath
Back in 1181, Hugh de Lacy ordered the building of a motte‑and‑bailey at Delvin, laying the foundation for the later stone castle. Although the ruined towers are on private land, their five‑storey silhouettes dominate the village skyline and hint at the Nugent family’s medieval power.
Dublin, dublin
Leo Varadkar unveiled the Dublin‑Galway Greenway concept in 2012, envisioning a coast‑to‑coast trail that would join historic towns and scenic countryside. Today, a patchwork of canal towpaths, repurposed rail corridors and new traffic‑free sections already lets cyclists and walkers experience that vision from Dublin’s Spencer Dock toward Galway.
Moate, westmeath
Wild folklore about fairy forts collides with the neatly landscaped pathways of Dun na Sí Amenity & Heritage Park, where ancient stone circles sit beside modern playgrounds. The 27‑acre site weaves reconstructed farmsteads, a petting zoo and a Teach Ceoil into a day‑long adventure that honors both mythic past and contemporary community life.
County Westmeath, westmeath
Gentle hush falls over the R391 as the village of Dysart comes into view, its stone chapel and red‑brick school standing as quiet witnesses to centuries of rural life. Two welcoming pubs spill local stories onto the streets, while the nearby waters of Lough Ennell shimmer on the horizon, completing the postcard‑perfect scene.
Ireland (spanning Dublin to Galway), meath
The Esker Riada stretches east‑west across Ireland, a 10,000‑year‑old glacial ridge that once formed the island’s Great Highway. Today it cradles the Esker Hills Golf Club, where the natural eskers create a dramatic links‑style course loved by champions and visitors alike.
Fore, westmeath
Fore sits in a quiet green valley, where the ruins of Ireland’s largest Benedictine abbey rise from a peat bog. Legends whisper around the Seven Wonders – a mill without a race, a water that never boils and a lintel lifted by prayer. A gentle 3 km loop lets visitors walk the footsteps of saints and pilgrims.
Killinure Lough, westmeath
Remarkably, a stone oratory erected by St Molua in the 9th century once stood on an island that now lies beneath the permanent waters of Killinure Lough. A commemorative plaque on the riverbank marks the submerged holy site, offering a quiet reminder of early monastic devotion.
Gaulstown, westmeath
Tree‑lined avenues whisper of bygone grandeur as the Palladian silhouette of Gaulstown House glows in the Westmeath dusk. The early‑18th‑century villa, once home to the Rochforts and Barons Kilmaine, now stands as a private residence framed by its historic grounds.
Glasson, westmeath
Nestled on the shores of Lough Ree, Glasson blends rose‑filled village charm with a world‑class golf course and award‑winning lakeside accommodation. Visitors can tee off on spectacular water‑bordered fairways, savour fine dining, and unwind in luxury resorts just a short drive from Dublin.
Dublin, dublin
The Grand Canal Greenway stretches 117 km from Lucan Road Bridge near Dublin to Shannon Harbour in Offaly, weaving through historic locks, charming villages and pristine wetlands. Ideal for walkers, cyclists and families, the trail offers easy, mostly flat surfaces and spectacular heritage sights.
Pearse Street, westmeath
How does a 19th‑century hotel become a literary pilgrimage site? The Greville Arms Hotel, rebuilt in the late 1860s, features a Ulysses‑themed pub and a wax figure of James Joyce, celebrating the author’s early 1900s stays in Mullingar. Its on‑site museum also displays a Stone Age axe and artifacts from explorer Charles Howard‑Bury, blending history with modern hospitality.
County Westmeath, westmeath
Regarded as Ireland’s symbolic ‘navel’, the Hill of Uisneach sits at the very heart of the midlands, where ancient provinces once converged. Guided tours reveal a 5,000‑year tapestry of Neolithic tombs, Bronze‑Age mounds and the legendary perpetual fire of Rathnew, while the annual Bealtaine Fire Festival reignites its ancient summer rites.
Kilbeggan, westmeath
Community‑funded replacement of a steam boiler in 1866 rescued Kilbeggan Distillery from collapse. Now the riverside site blends a living museum with a working spirit, where the original waterwheel still turns beside modern copper stills.
Kilbeggan, westmeath
March 1840 recorded the first official meeting on the undulating one‑mile circuit that would become Kilbeggan Racecourse. Since then the right‑handed track has hosted the €100,000 Midlands National Handicap Chase, a key trial for the Galway Plate, drawing crowds to its dramatic uphill finish.
Kilbeggan, westmeath
Oldest continuously licensed whiskey distillery in Ireland, Kilbeggan Distillery still pours spirit from its 1757 copper pot stills. The town’s historic market square and the only all‑National Hunt racecourse add a lively commercial pulse to the River Brosna valley.
County Westmeath, westmeath
Nestled where Killinure Lough meets the River Shannon, the bay and its surrounding peninsula offer sparkling waters, Georgian charm and award‑winning marina facilities. Walk among ancient woodlands, tee off with lake views, or cast for brown trout in a setting that has attracted anglers and sailors for centuries.
Killucan, westmeath
Ever wondered how a modest market village became a cycling haven? Killucan’s proximity to the restored Royal Canal Greenway, just two kilometres away, offers a flat, traffic‑free path that winds past the eight‑lock Killucan Flight, while the 1802 St Etchén’s Church showcases a 13th‑century chalice and medieval tomb.
Kinnegad, westmeath
Rapid population expansion has turned Kinnegad into one of Ireland’s fastest‑growing towns, leaping from 517 inhabitants in 1996 to 2,745 by 2016. Set on the historic Kinnegad River ford, the town still preserves bullet‑scarred St Mary’s church, the 16th‑century Rattin Castle ruins, and a network of walking loops that weave through bogland and heritage sites.
Southeastern shore of Lough Derravaragh, westmeath
Eoin, the saint linked to the ruined chapel halfway up Knockeyon, gave the hill its Irish name Cnoc Eoin, or “Eoin’s Hill.” Pilgrims once gathered here each 1 August for a devotional pattern, and today the historic woodland and panoramic lake views preserve that lingering spiritual atmosphere.
Jonathan Swift Park, westmeath
Set in the leafy Jonathan Swift Park on the shores of Lough Ennell, Lilliput Adventure Centre blends 18th‑century charm with modern outdoor thrills. From canoeing and rock climbing to wheelchair‑friendly camps, the site offers adventure for families, scouts and corporate groups alike.
County Westmeath, westmeath
Misty mornings lift over Lough Derravaragh, revealing its broad, alkaline surface dotted with swans that echo the Children of Lír legend. The surrounding hills, crannóg islands and the ruined chapel on Knockeyon invite anglers, paddlers and myth‑seekers alike.
Mullingar, westmeath
Lough Ennett stretches beneath a sky of reeds, offering award‑winning trout fishing and peaceful paddling, while the southern shore’s Jonathan Swift Park invites families to splash, stroll and soak up literary lore. From Georgian mansions to the Westmeath Way’s rolling trails, the lakeside is a playground for nature lovers and history buffs alike.
River Inny, westmeath
Silent reeds fringe the narrow, four‑kilometre stretch of Lough Iron, a habitat that buzzes with internationally important wintering waterbirds. Yet the lake’s name, born from a 1680s tale of a farmer’s lost plow‑irons, recalls a colourful folklore that sits beside its modern designation as a Ramsar and Special Protection Area.
North County Westmeath, westmeath
Lough Lene dazzles with its gin‑clear water, medieval islands and a landscape dotted with ancient ringforts. From swimming on a Blue Flag beach to climbing the Viking hill‑fort of Randoon, the lake and its surroundings offer a vivid mix of nature and history.
Mullingar, westmeath
Lough Owel dazzles with its deep, spring‑fed blue waters, thriving trout fishery and world‑class birdwatching, while the nearby village of Multyfarnham offers a centuries‑old Franciscan friary, botanical gardens and warm Irish hospitality.
Athlone, westmeath
Keith Williams’ sleek glass wing crowns the historic Father Mathew Temperance Hall, creating Luan Gallery’s award‑winning riverside silhouette. The contemporary art space now hosts rotating exhibitions such as Affective Forms, inviting Athlone’s visitors to engage with tactile sculptures, performative portraits and experimental film.
Laois, laois
What lies at the very centre of Ireland’s mythic landscape? The Midlands cradle the sacred Hill of Uisneach, ancient bog road Corlea Trackway and historic Athlone Castle, weaving together druidic ceremonies, Norman fortifications and scientific marvels like Birr’s Great Telescope.
County Westmeath, westmeath
During the early 1800s the village installed a turbine‑driven mill that not only ground grain but also supplied electricity to every home, predating the national Rural Electrification Scheme. Today the award‑winning Bog & Woodland Trail follows the former mill pond’s edge, offering a flat, sculpture‑lined walk through protected peatland.
The Bridewell, westmeath
Moate Historical Society transformed the 19th‑century Bridewell jail into a vivid museum, preserving the stark prison cells alongside bustling farm‑kitchen recreations. Over a thousand artefacts—from blacksmith’s tools to school‑room desks—tell the story of the town’s agricultural roots and its evolution through the ages.
Moate, westmeath
Ancient stone features such as a medieval Bull Ring sit beside the sleek Par 3 Restaurant balcony that opened in April, marrying centuries‑old heritage with contemporary hospitality. The 5,936‑metre parkland course offers a friendly challenge for all skill levels, while the surrounding rolling Midlands keep the club easily reachable from Dublin and Galway.
Moate, westmeath
First‑light bathes the 27‑acre Dún na Sí park in a soft amber glow, instantly revealing winding heritage trails and a seasonal turlough that mirrors the sky. Beyond the green, the Bargain sculpture and a 43 km greenway invite cyclists and history lovers alike to explore a town where Norman mottes whisper beside modern cafés.
North Westmeath, westmeath
Contrasting its modest 258 m height with a vast arboretum, Mullaghmeen is Westmeath’s highest point and Europe’s largest planted beech forest. Colour‑coded trails wind past famine relics, a Booley Hut and a summit cairn that frames sweeping vistas over Lough Sheelin.
Mullingar, westmeath
Following the 1543 Counties of Meath and Westmeath Act that designated Mullingar as the new shire town, the settlement grew around the Brosna ford. Today its riverside parks, the Royal Canal Greenway and the towering Cathedral of Christ the King invite explorers to trace the town’s layered medieval and market‑town heritage.
Multyfarnham, westmeath
Quiet arrival in Multyfarnham reveals a gentle lakeside village where Lough Owel mirrors the sky beside a centuries‑old Franciscan friary. The still‑standing cloister, 15th‑century stonework and life‑size Stations of the Cross create a contemplative atmosphere that complements the nearby Abbey Blooms Botanical Gardens.
County Westmeath and County Offaly, westmeath
From the crystal‑clear headwaters of Lough Owel to the historic banks of Kilbeggan and the quiet charm of Streamstown, the River Brosna and its tributary weave a tapestry of water, industry and countryside. Anglers, walkers and cyclists alike can savour trout‑filled streams, 19th‑century rail‑trail scenery and a warm café beside the water.
Rochfortbridge, westmeath
Curious why a modest stone crossing carries the name of a parliamentarian? Robert Rochfort, the 18th‑century MP for Westmeath, commissioned the new bridge over the River Derry, giving the village its present name, and the surviving 1815 Castlelost Parish Church still marks the era’s architectural imprint.
Rosemount, westmeath
Nestled on the rolling hills north‑east of Moate, Rosemount blends ancient ritual sites, a thriving village community and the cutting‑edge UCD Rosemount Environmental Research Station. Visitors can wander Bronze Age cairns, sip a pint in the local pub, and glimpse modern science in a restored 18th‑century courtyard.
Dublin, dublin
The Royal Canal stretches 130 km of level towpath from Maynooth to Cloondara, winding through five counties, 90 stone bridges and 33 working locks. Cyclists, walkers and runners can soak up wildlife, historic sites such as Maynooth Castle and the Hill of Uisneach, and the award‑winning scenery of Ireland’s longest greenway.
Athlone, westmeath
Surprisingly, workers uncovered a section of 9th‑century wattle wall and a stash of medieval coins while renovating the bar in 1970. These finds, now displayed in Dublin’s National Museum, underscore Sean’s claim as Ireland’s oldest continuously operating public house.
Streamstown, westmeath
Approaching the Streamstown River, the gentle mirror of water reflects the sleepy village’s historic railway house. A stroll alongside its banks leads onto the Old Rail Trail, a 43‑kilometre greenway that traces the former Midland Great Western line.
Pakenham Hall Road, westmeath
1665 saw Henry Pakenham receive the Tullynally lands as payment for arrears, laying the foundation for the estate that would become Ireland’s largest castellated private house. Later the 2nd Earl of Longford transformed the core into a Gothic‑revival castle, adding towers, a moat and a Chinese pagoda that still dominate the Westmeath horizon.
Kilbeggan to Mullingar, westmeath
2010 saw a national review label the Westmeath Way as under‑used, spurring upgrades that now highlight its gentle riverbanks and historic canal tow‑paths. Walkers can trace the route from Kilbeggan’s whiskey distillery to Mullingar, pausing at Lilliput on Lough Ennell where Jonathan Swift’s literary legacy lingers.
