County Meath encompasses an historic part of the Boyne River Valley to the north of Dublin, and bears the nickname of the “Royal County”. Once the home of the High Kings, who ruled from the Hill at Tara, County Meath…
Bective Abbey
Dedicated to the Blessed Virgin, this Cistercian Abbey was founded by the King of Meath, Murchadh O’ Nelaghin, in 1150. Before removal to Dublin, Hugh de Lacy’s remains were interred here in 1195. Bective Abbey was important because the…
Slane Castle
The tiny Georgian village of Slane is located along the River Boyne. Slane Castle is its largest attraction, built during the 18th century in the vicinity of a large natural amphitheater. The estate has been the scene of numerous…
The Motte of Navan
This large mound of earth just outside the town of Navan has origins steeped in legend. It is said that the mound was originally created as the tomb of a woman named Odhbha, who died of a broken heart when…
St. Mary’s Church, Navan
One of the two main churches of the parish, St. Mary’s is an 1839 structure that houses a unique wood sculpture of the Crucifixion created by Edward Smyth, a famous Irish sculptor from the period with roots in Navan.…
Navan
The town of Navan is the current administrative centre of County Meath, although traditionally that honor was held by Trim. Navan is strategically located where the Rivers Blackwater and Boyne meet, and has a long history of mining and…
Loughcrew Cairns
This cluster of ancient tombs survives from 3000 B.C. The cairns are called passage tombs, a type commonly erected in the Neolithic Era. They cover three adjacent hilltops, sometimes called the “Hills of the Witch”.
Tomb T is…
St. Mary’s Abbey
The diocese of Trim was comparatively small, and the Bishop of Trim often also served as the Abbott of St. Mary’s. The abbey itself was built in 1368 and operated by the Augustinians. During medieval times, pilgrims traveled here…
Royal Mint
The ruins of this medieval structure facing the Boyne River serve to illustrate the importance of the town of Trim during the Medieval Period. Coins were made at the Mint until the 15th century, when Trim was the capital of…
Trim Castle
More than merely noticeable upon entering the town, Trim Castle truly dominates the surrounding landscape. Perched atop a hill on a 2½-acre site, it overlooks the River Boyne. Erected by Hugh de Lacy in 1173, it is the largest…