- John Weldon (6 September 1890 – 4 February 1963; alternatively “A. E. Weldon”), known by his pen- and stage-name Brinsley MacNamara, born in Delvin, playwright, and the registrar of the National Gallery of Ireland. He is the author of several novels, the most well-known of which was his first, The Valley of the Squinting Windows (1918). His acting career with the Abbey Theatre began in September 1910 with a role in R. J. Ryan’s The Casting-out of Martin Whelan.
- John Broderick (1924-1989) Born in Athlone, Westmeath, Broderick was a novelist and critic known for his incisive portrayals of Irish provincial life. His debut novel The Pilgrimage (1961) was banned in Ireland for its frank themes. Other works, like The Waking of Willie Ryan (1965), explore social and sexual repression. He lived in Paris and England, engaging with literary circles.
- Leo Daly (1920-2010) Born in Mullingar, Westmeath, Daly was a writer, photographer, and historian. His books, such as James Joyce and the Mullingar Connection (1975) and The Rock: A History of St. Mary’s Hospital (1981), focus on Westmeath’s cultural and historical significance. He also contributed to local journalism and preserved oral histories.
- Wellington Guernsey (1817-1885) Born in Mullingar, Westmeath, Guernsey was a musician, songwriter, and poet. He published The Old Songs of Old Ireland (1840) and wrote popular songs like “There is a Tavern in the Town.” His poetry and music reflected Irish and romantic themes, and he later worked as a journalist and war correspondent.
- David M. Kiely (1949-) Born in Mullingar, Westmeath, Kiely is a novelist and short-story writer. His works, including The Angel Tapes (1995) and The Medusa Seed (1998), blend thriller and historical fiction, often with Irish settings. He has also written non-fiction, such as John Millington Synge: A Biography (1994).
- Mary Banim (c. 1825-1890) Born in Kilbeggan, Westmeath, Mary Banim was a novelist and sister of Michael Banim. She contributed to her brothers’ Tales by the O’Hara Family and wrote novels like The Mayor of Wind-Gap (1835), focusing on Irish rural life and social issues. Her work complemented the Banims’ realist tradition..
- John Keegan (1816-1849) Born in Killeigh, Westmeath, Keegan was a poet and short-story writer whose work appeared in The Nation. His stories, like “The Boccough Ruen,” and poems, such as “Caoch the Piper,” capture rural Irish life and folklore with humor and pathos, contributing to the Young Ireland movement.
Writers
Antrim – Armagh – Carlow – Cavan – Clare – Cork – Derry – Donegal – Down – Dublin – Fermanagh – Galway – Kerry – Kildare – Kilkenny – Laois – Leitrim – Limerick – Longford – Louth – Mayo – Meath – Monaghan – Offaly – Roscommon – Sligo – Tipperary – Tyrone – Waterford – Westmeath – Wexford – Wicklow
County Westmeath:
Ireland’s county Westmeath offers a blend of lakes and historic charm, with Athlone Castle providing insights into medieval Ireland along the Shannon River. The Belvedere House and Gardens showcase Georgian elegance, while Lough Ree offers boating and fishing opportunities. Other attractions include the ancient Fore Abbey and its monastic ruins and traditional seven wonders. Westmeath is Ireland’s tenth smallest county by size (1,763 square km) and 11th smallest by population (96,221). Population peaked at 141,300 in 1841 and reached its lowest point, 52,861 in 1961. In terms of hospitality, Westmeath is Ireland’s 22nd most visited tourist county with around 95,000 international visitors per year.
Introduction – Adventure – Anthem – Archaeology – Attractions – Awards – Birdwatching – Camping – Castles – Churches – Contact list – Cycling – Dining – Equestrian – Festivals – Fishing – Folklore – Gardens – Golf – Graveyards – Happening – Haunted – Highest – Hiking – History – Holy Wells – Hotels – Hotels top 8 – Hunting & shooting – Instagrammable – Itineraries – Largest town – Luxury – MICE – Movies – Music – Name – New – Novelists – Off the beaten track – Poets – Pubs – Quotes – Random Facts – Restaurant Awards – Sacred Places – Saints – Songs – Spas – Sports – Sunsets – Sustainable – Things to do – Towns – Video – Villages – Walking – Wanderlist – Weddings – Wild swimming – Writers – 1837 – 1846– 1852 – 1909 – 1955 – 1980 –
