Westmeath Hotels & Information

Westmeath is located in the centre of Ireland and bordered by Cavan to the north, Meath to the east, Offaly to the south and Roscommon and Longford to the west.

Westmeath is a county of great beauty with rich pastureland and spectacular lakes. Lakes Ennell, Owel and Derravaragh are great for trout fishing and coarse angling. Cruising and water sports are readily available throughout. Lough Derravaragh is associated with the legend of the Children of Lir, where the children were changed into swans by their jealous stepmother spending 300 years of their 900-year exile on this lake before being returned to human form by a holy man after St. Patrick brought Christianity to Ireland.

Athlone, on the majestic River Shannon, is known as the 'gateway to the west'. 'Goldsmith Country' to the northeast of the town, a scenic spot perfect for walking tours, is associated with the 18th century writer Oliver Goldsmith. His poem 'The Deserted Village' was inspired by Glasson village. Athlone in the west and Mullingar in the mid-east are the main towns in the county.

Athlone is the largest town on the River Shannon. Athlone Castle is an impressive Norman fortress dating back to 1210. Athlone has some of the best coarse fishing in the country and is a centre for cruising the River Shannon. This is home to one of the oldest yacht clubs in the world. There are three golf clubs nearby, including the Mount Temple championship course. The town has some of the best shops in the Midlands, with a fine selection of handcrafted goods, from Irish linen to pottery.

Mullingar, the county town of Westmeath is a busy market town set among beautiful lakes perfect for fishing. Two of Ireland's best craft studios, which create fine Bronze and Pewter work, are located here. The Cathedral of Christ the King, dating from the 1930's, houses the Ecclesiastical Museum, which contains vestments worn by St Oliver Plunkett.

Kilbeggan is a pleasant little village, known for its distillery. Locke's Distillery is one of the oldest pot-still distilleries in the world and includes a museum for education and tasting! Kilbeggan Racecourse is another draw for visitors to the town.

Moate is a thriving market town in the centre of a rich castle raising area with a large cattle mart and milk pasteurising plant. The town gets its name from the very fine motte-and-bailey nearby. The town owes its origins to Quakers who settled and started industries in the area towards the end of the 17th century. The oldest building is "The Castle", an early 16th century, three-storey rectangular building which is still inhabited. On the outskirts of the town is Dun na Si Cultural and Heritage Centre, the designated genealogical centre for the county.

Multyfarnham lies about 5km north of Lough Owel and was once a tidy Towns winner. The modern Franciscan college is on the site of an early monastic foundation, and the tower of the adjoining church, recently restored, probably dates from the sixteenth century. On the lawns around the church and college are elaborate life size Stations of the Cross, one of the finest outdoor shrines in Ireland. There are horse-riding facilities available.

Tyrrellspass, a National Tidy Town winner, gets its name from Captain Richard Tyrrell, who, at the head of a small Irish force, defeated a large Elizabethan army at a pass north of the village in 1597. A Tyrrell Castle still stands at the west end of the village. The village was formally laid out in the 18th century by the Countess of Belvedere.

Castlepollard just east of Lough Derravaragh, is a good angling centre for the Westmeath lakelands and a base for exploring this part of the country. One mile from the village is the gothic Tullynally Castle, dating from the 17th century and open to visitors during the summer months.

Other towns and villages include Crookedwood, Coole, Ballykeeran, Ballymore, Collinstown, Delvin, Finea, Horseleap, Kinnegad, Milltown, Milltown Pass, Moyvore and Rochfortbridge.

Other Local Attractions/Activities
Glendeer Open Farm, Drum, Athlone is transformed into Ireland's Lapland in December with Santa and his live deer and other animals. During the summer, visitors can feed the animals and birds and enjoy the play areas.

Rockfield House and Gardens, Rathowen, Mullingar. The house is a classical Georgian residence with delicate and ornate plaster work. It stands secluded among mature trees, shared with wandering wildlife and farm animals on an organic farm.

Kilbeggan Racecourse, Kilbeggan is the only Turf Club approved racecourse in Westmeath.

Mullingar Greyhound Racing Ballinderry - Racing takes place twice weekly.

Dun Na Si Cultural and Heritage Park, Moate, is a genealogical centre and folk park where visitors can enjoy music, song, dance and story-telling.

Uisneagh Hill about 16 km from Mullingar contains the Catstone or 'Ail na Mearainn', said to be the meeting point of the five ancient provinces of Ireland. This is the hill on which King Tuathal Teachmar erected his royal palace in the second century. 180 metres high, Uisneagh provides a magnificent view of the midlands. It was the seat of the High Kings of Ireland for 200 years prior to the coming of St. Patrick and the great pagan festival of Bealtaine was held here during that time.

An Dun Transport and Heritage Centre, Doon, Ballinahown, houses a unique and rare collection of vintage cars, trucks, sidecars and bicycles as well as carefully refurbished farm implements and tractors.

Clonmacnoise and West Offaly Railway, Bord na mona, Shannonbridge, Athlone consists of 5 1/2 miles of narrow gauge railway with a luxury rail coach for a tour, with on-board commentary, of the Blackwater bog.

Belvedere House and Gardens - The house was built around 1742 probably as a fishing pavilion, for Robert Rochfort, Lord Belfield, whose seat at Gaulston lay five miles away. It is probably the earliest bow-ended house in the country. The small park that Lord Belvedere created around his villa is just as fine as the house itself. The view south is blocked by the remarkable Jealous Wall, the largest Gothic folly in Ireland. The rectangular seven-acre Walled Garden to the east of the house was built by Lieutenant Colonel Charles Howard-Bury who inherited the demesne in 1912.

Lough Ennell provides a good stock of brown trout while Lough Derravarragh affords good fishing for pike, trout and perch.

The Lough Derg Way is a signposted walking route around the lake. The woods by Lough Key also provide good walking territory.

Whether it is cruising on the Shannon or sailing on Lough Owel or powerboat racing on Lough Ree, the boating enthusiast is well catered for in Westmeath.

Golf clubs are located in Mullingar, Milltown, Delvin, Athlone and two in Moate. Horse riding, swimming, squash and pitch and putt are also available.

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