Overview
Most travellers know Kinnegad only as the place where the M4 and M6 split, 60 km west of Dublin – a fuel-and-coffee stop on the way to somewhere else. Pull off, though, and there’s more than the plaza: a 5 km walking loop through bog and old burial ground, a restored raised bog under conservation, and a parish church whose stations of the cross still carry bullet holes from the War of Independence. The town (Irish: Cionn Átha Gad, ‘the head of the ford of withes’) sits on the eastern edge of County Westmeath, right on the old boundary with County Meath, and has grown fast – from 517 people in 1996 to 3,064 in 2022, as Dublin’s commuter belt pushed west.
History and heritage
The River Kinnegad has marked the county border since 1543, and the crossing point shaped the settlement’s early growth. Queen Elizabeth I granted the village to Luke Fitzgerald in 1559, and he passed the estate to his son George. The most striking survival is at St Mary’s Church of the Assumption, the Catholic parish church, where the stations of the cross still bear bullet holes said to date from a Black and Tans raid during the War of Independence. On the edge of town, the ruined 16th-century tower of Rattin Castle stands on lands once held by the Norman lord Hugh de Lacy. The small Kinnegad Heritage Centre, open on Saturday mornings (10am–1pm), gathers up the local story.
Walking and nature trails
The trails here are free, well-marked and easy underfoot. If you’ve only an hour off the motorway, the Boreen Bradach loop is the one to do.
- An Boreen Bradach – a 5 km loop starting at the town-centre church, winding through the Bog of Kinnegad, past an ancient burial ground and along quiet back lanes. The name recalls the pre-Norman tribe of An Bredach who once lived here.
- Mount Hevey Bog – about 4 km north-east, a raised bog and designated Special Area of Conservation. Turf cutting has stopped and restoration is returning it to its natural hydrology, with eco-tourism access being developed.
- Milltownpass Woodland and Bog Trail – a short 1.5 km walk about 10 km out, crossing bog and native woodland, with four wooden sculptures by local artist Richie Clarke: a hare, an owl, a curlew and a snipe.
- Royal Canal Greenway – Thomastown Harbour, 5 km away, joins the 130 km traffic-free towpath that runs from Maynooth to Longford; the single-arched Kilpatrick Bridge, built in 1806, is a landmark along it.
Historic sites
- Rattin Castle – the ruined tower lies south-west of the town near the M6. Only partial walls survive, but they give a clear sense of 16th-century military design.
- St Mary’s Church of the Assumption – an active parish that marked its centenary in 2009. The bullet marks on its interior stations of the cross are a direct physical link to the 1920s conflict.
Food and drink
On Main Street, Scanlons Pub is a long-standing local favourite for traditional Irish food, hearty breakfasts and a family-friendly room. For a quick motorway stop, Kinnegad Plaza is a 24-hour service station with Supermac’s, Papa John’s and SuperSubs. For a wider choice of restaurants and shops, Mullingar is about ten minutes away.
Getting there and practical information
- Road – Kinnegad sits at the junction of the M4 and M6, two of the main east–west routes out of Dublin, with clear signage to the town centre and trailheads.
- Bus – regular commuter services run to Dublin via Citylink, Bus Éireann and the private operator Kearns, typically every 30–45 minutes on weekdays, with hourly options towards Athlone.
- Rail – there’s no active station. The former Hill of Down station (originally named Kinnegad) closed in 1947, and the nearest working station is Mullingar, about 15 km away.
- Parking – there’s on-street and off-street parking in the town centre.
- Accommodation – hotel capacity in the town itself is limited; the wider Midlands, particularly Mullingar and the Royal Canal, has B&Bs, guesthouses and self-catering.
Nearby attractions
A short drive opens up some of Westmeath’s best:
- Belvedere House and Gardens – an 18th-century estate on Lough Ennell with formal gardens, a Gothic folly, woodland walks and a visitor centre.
- Lough Ennell – a lakeside spot for fishing, sailing and shore walks, best in spring and summer.
- Hill of Uisneach – the mythological centre of Ireland, a hilltop of early medieval monuments with long views.
If you’re stopping for the walks rather than the services, come early on a weekday to get parking near the town-centre trailhead, and check the Citylink or Kearns timetable in advance if you plan to leave the car and ride into Dublin.