- Westmeath’s Fore Abbey, founded in the 7th century, has seven wonders, including a spring that flows uphill and a tree that won’t burn.
- The county’s Hill of Uisneach, an ancient ceremonial site, contains a 5,000-year-old megalithic tomb and is said to be Ireland’s geographical centre.
- Athlone Castle, built in 1129, houses a cannon from the 1691 Siege of Athlone, still embedded in its outer wall.
- Westmeath’s Lough Ree, Ireland’s second-largest lake, has an island with a 6th-century monastery founded by Saint Ciarán.
- The village of Moate has a Quaker meeting house from 1770, one of Ireland’s oldest, with original wooden benches intact.
- Westmeath’s Belvedere House, built in 1740, features a jealous wall, a 30-metre folly built to block a rival’s house from view.
- The county’s Tullynally Castle, dating to 1655, has Ireland’s largest private woodland, covering 120 acres with rare tree species.
- Mullingar’s Cathedral of Christ the King, completed in 1936, contains a mosaic of Saint Patrick made from 200,000 glass pieces.
- Westmeath’s Dún na Sí Amenity Park includes a reconstructed ringfort and a Viking longboat replica based on 9th-century designs.
- The town of Kilbeggan is home to Ireland’s oldest licensed whiskey distillery, established in 1757, still producing small-batch whiskey.
Random facts
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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.
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