County Meath

County Meath is a county in northeastern Leinster, Ireland, covering broad plains, low hills and several river valleys. Farmland and pastures occupy most of the landscape, resting on glacial deposits and dotted with small towns.

The area served as the seat of the High Kings of Ireland, who ruled from the Hill of Tara, where earthworks and burial sites from pre-Christian times remain visible today. The county was formed during the medieval period as part of Anglo-Norman administration and remained a key center for centuries.

Two small communities in the northwest were established through resettlement in the 1930s and continue using Irish in everyday life, with dedicated primary schools. Visitors passing through may hear children playing and speaking in the language on the streets.

The county town of Navan sits centrally and offers regular bus links to Dublin Airport as well as access to major sites across the area. Visitors traveling by car will find a network of well-maintained roads connecting smaller towns and archaeological locations.

Once a year, Laytown hosts a horse race directly on the beach, held since 1868 on firm sand at low tide. It remains the only official beach race of its kind in Europe and draws visitors from many countries.

Location: Leinster

Inception: 1297

Capital city: Navan

Shares border with: County Louth, County Cavan, County Westmeath, County Offaly, County Kildare, County Dublin

Website: http://meathcoco.ie

GPS coordinates: 53.66667,-6.66667

Latest update: December 15, 2025 02:21