- Mary Lavin (1912-1996) Born in East Walpole, Massachusetts, but raised in Bective, Meath, Lavin was a short story writer and novelist. Her collections, such as Tales from Bective Bridge (1942), which won the James Tait Black Memorial Prize, and novels like The House in Clewe Street (1945), explored Irish rural life and family dynamics. Her Meath upbringing deeply influenced her work, and Wilton Park in Dublin was renamed in her honor.
- John F. Deane (1943-) Born in Achill, Mayo, but raised in Navan, Meath, Deane is a poet and novelist who founded Poetry Ireland and the Dedalus Press. His poetry collections, like Toccata and Fugue (2000), and novels, such as In the Name of the Wolf (1999), blend spiritual and Irish themes. His work reflects Meath’s landscapes and cultural heritage.
- F. R. Higgins (1896-1941) Born in Foxford, Mayo, but with strong Meath ties through his residence in Kells, Higgins was a poet and theatre director. His collections, like The Gap of Brightness (1940), celebrated Irish rural life, and he contributed to the Abbey Theatre. His Meath connection shaped his lyrical depictions of the countryside.
- Adomnán (c. 624-704) Born in Raphoe, Donegal, but associated with Meath through his monastic work at Kells, Adomnán was a hagiographer and scholar. His Vita Columbae (c. 700), a biography of St. Columba, and De Locis Sanctis, a travelogue, are key early Irish texts. His work at Kells links him to Meath’s ecclesiastical history.
- Dallán Forgaill (c. 560-640) Born in Magh Slécht, Meath (per some sources), Forgaill was a poet and scholar credited with Amra Coluim Cille, an elegy for St. Columba. As a chief ollam (poet) of Ireland, his work preserved early Irish literary traditions, reflecting Meath’s cultural significance.
- Beccán mac Luigdech (fl. c. 650) Born in Meath (exact location uncertain), Beccán was an early Irish poet known for his devotional poems, such as Tiugraind Beccáin, praising St. Patrick. His work, preserved in monastic records, contributed to Ireland’s early Christian literary tradition, tied to Meath’s monastic centers like Kells.
- Blathmac mac Con Brettan (fl. c. 750) Born in Meath (possibly near Trim), Blathmac was a monk and poet whose Tenga Bithnua (The Evernew Tongue) is a significant early Irish religious poem. His work, blending Christian and Celtic elements, reflects Meath’s role as a center of early monastic scholarship.
- Senchán Torpéist (fl. c. 580-650) Born in Meath (location uncertain), Torpéist was a legendary poet and ollam, reputedly the author of early Irish sagas and poems like Táin Bó Cúailnge fragments. His work, though partly apocryphal, underscores Meath’s ancient literary heritage.
- Luccreth moccu Chiara (fl. c. 580) Born in Meath (possibly near Navan), Luccreth was an early Irish poet known for his elegies and genealogical verse, preserved in monastic annals. His work contributed to the oral and written traditions of Meath’s Irish culture.
- Oengus Celi De (fl. c. 800) Born in Meath (possibly near Clonmacnoise, on the Meath-Offaly border), Oengus was a monk and poet who wrote Félire Óengusso (The Martyrology of Oengus), a calendar of saints in verse. His work is a cornerstone of early Irish religious literature, tied to Meath’s monastic legacy.
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 Meath:
Ireland’s county Meath is steeped in Ireland’s ancient past, with the Hill of Tara offering a glimpse into royal history and panoramic views. The UNESCO-listed Brú na Bóinne complex, including Newgrange and Knowth, showcases intricate Neolithic tombs, while Trim Castle provides medieval grandeur. Other attractions include the Boyne River’s scenic walks and historic Slane Castle. Meath is Ireland’s 14th largest county by size (2,336 square km) and eighth largest by population (220,826). Population previously peaked at 183,828 in 1841 and reached its lowest point, 62,969 in 1926. In terms of hospitality, Meath is Ireland’s 19th most visited tourist county with around 122,000 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 –
