An inland county of the province of Leinster, is bounded, on the north, by Cavan and Longford; on the east, by Meath; on the south, by Offaly and Offaly (Laois); and on the west, by Roscommon, Longford, and Offaly. Its greatest length, from north to south, is about 40 miles; its greatest breadth, from east to west, is about 30 miles; and its area is 503,531 statute acres, or about 787 square miles, of which about 380,000 acres are arable or under cultivation, 80,000 bog and waste (including portions of the great Bog of Allen and other extensive bogs), 15,000 woodland, and the rest towns, villages, roads, and water (including numerous lakes and river expansions).
POPULATION, In 1831, 146,030; in 1841, 155,297, showing an increase of 9,267, or about 6.3 per cent. Houses in 1841, 25,614. Families chiefly employed in agriculture, 20,614; in manufactures and trade, 3,000; in other pursuits, 2,000. Families dependent chiefly on property and professions, 1,000; on the direction of labour, 8,614; on their own manual labour, 18,614; on means not specified, small number.
The county is divided into 12 baronies: Athlone (part), Brawny, Clonlonan, Corkaree, Delvin, Fore, Fartullagh, Kilbeggan, Moyashel and Magheradernon, Moygoish, Rathconrath, and Shrule. It contains 64 civil parishes, and parts of others; about 1,200 townlands. Poor Law Unions: Athlone (part), Castlepollard, Granard (part), Mullingar, Trim (part). The Poor-Law valuation is about £250,000 to £300,000.
SURFACE AND TOPOGRAPHY, The surface is chiefly level or gently undulating champaign, part of the great central limestone plain of Ireland; diversified with low hills, ridges, isolated eminences, and numerous lakes; mean elevation about 200-300 feet above sea-level. The principal elevations are low ridges in the north and west (such as the hills near Fore and Multyfarnham); extensive bogs cover large tracts, especially in the north and centre (part of the Bog of Allen extends into it, with other bogs reclaimable). Limestone prevails generally, affording excellent manure; freestone, sandstone in parts; scenery flat but relieved by lakes, rivers, and demesnes with woods.
RIVERS AND LAKES, The chief river is the Inny (rises in Lough Kinale, traverses centre eastward to Lough Ree/Shannon; navigable in parts). Principal others: Brosna (flows through south to Shannon), Yellow River, Glore, Stonyford, etc. Lakes: Lough Ree (portion in west, large expansion of Shannon); Lough Ennell (beautiful, about 7 miles long), Lough Owel (about 4 miles), Lough Lene, Lough Derravaragh (legendary), Lough Sheelin (part), Lough Kinale, Lough Iron, and numerous smaller loughs. Fisheries valuable (trout, pike, eel in lakes; salmon in Shannon).
SOIL AND AGRICULTURE, The soil is generally fertile: rich limestone loam in centre and east (good for oats, barley, potatoes, wheat); strong clayey in parts; lighter gravelly near hills; boggy in low tracts (improvable). Limestone abundant for manure. Crops: oats (principal), barley, potatoes extensive, wheat increasing, flax. Pasture supports dairy cattle (butter noted), sheep. Tillage improving with liming, rotation; farms medium; husbandry advanced near Mullingar and Athlone.
CLIMATE, Mild, moist, equable; rainfall moderate for inland; salubrious.
MINERALS, Limestone chief; freestone, sandstone; iron ore traces; peat extensive in bogs.
TRADE AND MANUFACTURES, Chiefly agricultural; trade at Mullingar, Athlone (grain, butter, cattle, malt to Dublin via canals/railway prospects). Manufactures limited: brewing, distilling, milling.
TOWNS, Mullingar (county town, market and assize, pop. about 5,000); Athlone (part in Westmeath, military and market, pop. about 8,000 total); Castlepollard (pop. about 2,000); Kinnegad, Kilbeggan, Moate, Multyfarnham, Tyrrellspass, etc.
ECCLESIASTICAL, Diocese of Meath (province of Armagh; extensive); parts in Ardagh, Tuam. Roman Catholic diocese of Meath; numerous chapels. Protestant churches in towns. Tithes commuted.
ANTIQUITIES, Numerous: Fore Abbey (ruins, Benedictine); Clonmacnoise influences nearby; castles (Athlone, Delvin, Tyrrellspass); round towers (none prominent but ancient sites); raths, forts, high crosses; Lough Derravaragh legends (Children of Lir); ancient churches and monastic remains abundant.
Ireland in 1846
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 –
