County Meath , known
as the Royal County, covers and area of 905 square miles
just north of Dublin. Home to the ancient seat of the High
Kings at Tara and the renowned Boyne Valley, Meath has
some of the most important archeological sites yet unearthed,
at Newgrange, Knowth, and Dowth. Predating the pyramids,
these Neolithic passage graves have been expertly excavated
and restored and are one of Ireland's most popular and
busiest visitor attractions. Access to the sites are via
the Bru na Boinne ("Quarters of the Boyne") Visitors
Centre.
Meath is a county rich in heritage,
history, and remains of its celebrated
past. The beautifully scribed early
Christian Book of Kells originated
from the town of Kells in County
Meath and is now on display at Trinity
University in Dublin. The Heritage
town of Trim was once home to one
of the oldest religious settlements
in Ireland. The magnificent Norman
Castle at Trim still stands. The
seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese
of Meath, is located in Mullingar,
County Westmeath - outside the county
but within the diocese of Meath.
Meath was once
a province of Ireland in its own
right, but now forms part of Leinster.
Historically this province of Meath
included all of the current county
as well as all of Westmeath and parts
of Cavan, Dublin, Kildare, Longford,
Louth, and Offaly. The High King
of Ireland sat at Tara in Meath.
The archaeological complex of Brú na
Bóinne, including the 5,000-year-old
burial site Newgrange, in the northeast
of the county, is a UNESCO designated
World Heritage Site.
