Things to do and to see in County Westmeath
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| County Westmeath |
Most of the tourists that come to Ireland are happy just to visit the main coastal towns such as: Dublin, Cork, Galway etc. and usually forget to visit the Midlands (also called the "Lakelands"). It's true that the landscapes are usually less dramatic than in the rest of the island (no mountains, no cliffs, lots of lakes and rivers) but I believe this is part of the "undiscovered" Ireland. County Westmeath is divided between two main towns: Athlone and Mullingar, and also has a lot of other towns and villages to discover. If you're looking for a peaceful, unspoiled area where to spend a few days, this county could be what you're looking for. If you plan to stay in Co. Westmeath for a few days, here's what you could see, do or visit. |
| 1. Take a walk in Belvedere Park... [   ] One of things to do when in the Mullingar Area is to visit the magnificent Belvedere Park, on the shores of Lough Ennell. You can visit a house, originally built as a hunting and fishing lodge, and have a stroll in the midst of 80 ha of parkland on the lake shore. You'll also be able to visit the restored walled gardens, which offer wonderful photo opportunities. |
| 2. Admire the quiet landscape by the River Shannon... [  ] On the right-hand side, there's a photo of a sunset, taken in January 2006, in Athlone, on the banks of the River Shannon. |
3. Perform water sports... |
| 4. Get your feet wet in Coosan Point... [  ] Located to the North of Athlone, Coosan Point is a popular spot for swimming, canoeing, kayaking, boating and picnicking. The fact that Athlone is so "far" from the sea, it attracts a lot of people from the area during summer time and is extremely popular with triathletes to train in open water prior to the triathlon season in Ireland. Every year, it is possible to attend (and to participate in) a local swimming competition, called the Coosan Point Charity Swim. It aims to collect money for different charities. Here's a photo taken at the 2011 event, took place in typical Irish summer weather  . |
| 5. Visit the Town of Athlone... [ ]
Athlone is the urban capital of the Midlands and is crossed by the River Shannon. Athlone comes from the Irish Baile Átha Luain, which means town of the ford of Luan. The ford here would have been one crossing the River Shannon, but the identity of the named man, Luan, is uncertain. |
| 6. Participate in an agricultural show... [ ] There are a large number of agricultural shows organised in the midlands and throughout Ireland. At the shows, you can usually watch horse jumping (see photo #5 taken in Moate in 2006), attend demonstrations, see prize winning agricultural animals etc. |
7. Attend local events... |
| 8. Meet the Taoiseach in Ballinahown... [ ] Here is Brian Cowen, the former Irish Prime Minister (also called "Taoiseach" in Irish). It's not every day you get to see a prime minister in the flesh! This photo was taken during the official opening of the craft village in Ballinahown in 2008, just after the Irish had voted "No" to the Lisbon Treaty. |
9. Visit Fore and its Christian remains... [ ] Fore village is situated to the north of Lough Lene in County Westmeath. There can be found: a) the ruins of a Christian monastery, which had been populated at one time by French Benedictine monks from Evreux, Normandy; b) an old Benedictine Abbey ruin (Fore Abbey). |
| 10. Visit Kilbeggan Village... [ ] Kilbeggan is located on the former N6 route, linking Dublin and Galway, at the border with Co. Offaly. The most famous tourist attraction there is Locke's distillery [], which has been transformed into a whiskey museum. It receives thousands of overseas visitors every year and provide tours in several languages. At the end of the tour, you will receive a complimentary sample of Award Winning Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey. Sláinte! |
| 11. Gamble at the Kilbeggan races.... [ ] For horse lovers, Kilbeggan organises horse racing from April to September every year. It's a good opportunity to experience a very popular local event and to catch the Irish at one of their best known sins: gambling on horses. Placing a bet of €2 on any race can spice up the evening, hoping that your chosen horse wins! Ladies, don't forget to wear your best outfit when it's Ladies' Day: it's your chance to be seen and maybe win a prize and appear in the local papers. |
 Photo 11. The Kilbeggan races. |
| 12. Visit Tullynally Castle and its gardens... [ ] Located in the North of Co. Westmeath, 4km west of Castlepollard, Tullynally Castle and its park can be an interesting stop-over. The Castle, dating from the 17th Century, is still inhabited so can't really be visited. However, you can walk freely in the park, which has strong Asian influences (Tibet, China) and as well as llamas from South America. |
 Photo 12. Tullynally Castle. |
| 13. Experience a "Viking" cruise on the River Shannon… [ ] Weather permitting, if you're in Athlone with your family, why not board the Viking Boat and cruise on the River Shannon? Her owner, Michael, will bring you either upstream to the Lough Ree or downstream to the monastic settlement and round tower of Clonmacnoise in Co. Offaly. This 1h15/1h30 cruise will give you a unique opportunity to see the surroundings of Athlone from the vantage point of the river. |
| 14. Experience a bit of Irish culture at a Dun na Sí Seisiun… [ ] Here's a good alternative to spending your rainy summer Sunday evenings with your family in front of the TV. Every Sunday in July and August, you can enjoy good quality traditional music, song, dance and story telling at the Dun na Sí Heritage Centre in Moate. If you're talented, you can also participate in the second part of the event (see video). Children are more than welcome even if it's after 9pm. These are family friendly events, with tea/coffee and cakes included in the admission rates. |
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15. Climb Cnoc Aiste/Knockastia... |
 Photo 15. Climbing Cnoc Aiste: the sheep may be your guides. |
| 16. Enjoy the view from Cnoc Aiste/Knockastia... [ ] Along with the hill of Uisneagh near Ballymore, Cnoc Aiste was one of the most important hills in the Midlands during pagan and Early Christian times. At its summit, you can make out an inconspicuous 60-foot Bronze Age cairn. It was excavated in 1932, revealing both human burial and cremation remains and other artefacts, dating to as early as 800BC. History also says that Queen Maebh of Connaught's warriors retreated to this sacred place to tend their wounds during the epic saga from the Irish mythical cycles, Táin Bó Cuailgne (also known as the Cattle Raid of Cooley). When you arrive on top of the hill, you'll also be able to enjoy a panoramic view of tens of kilometres of flat lands, making it is easy to imagine why such a site could have been of strategic importance in the history. |
County Westmeath in pictures |
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 Photo 2. Quiet view on the River Shannon. |
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 Photo 3. Diver in Athlone. |
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 Photo 4. Coosan Point. |
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 Photo 5. The Town of Athlone. |
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 Photo 6. Moate Agricultural Show. |
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 Photo 7. Parachutist in Moate. |
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 Photo 8. Brian Cowen in Ballinahown. |
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 Photo 9. Fore and its remains. |
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 Photo 10. Kilbeggan Distillery. |
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 Photo 12_b. Llama in Tullynally. |
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 Photo 13. Experience a "Viking" cruise on the River Shannon. |
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 Photo 14. Dun na Sí, Moate. |
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 Photo 16_a. Top of Cnoc Aiste: you can see the 60-foot cairn from here. |
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 Photo 16_b. Enjoy the view from Cnoc Aiste. |
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Legend:
Nice; Worth a visit; Well worth visiting
Please note that this grading system is only based on my interests and personal experience as a French expat in Ireland. Feel free to visit the same locations and share your experience .
Free or Not Applicable Entrance fee ≤€5 ; €5<Entrance fee≤€10 ; €10<Entrance fee≤€15 and so on...
These price ranges are indicative only to help you plan your holiday budget and are subject to change. Discounts generally apply for families, groups, children, students and seniors citizens.
While the admission to this site is free, a parking fee may apply.
Heritage Site managed by the Office of Public Works. Most OPW sites are free of charge on the first Wednesday of every month during 2011. A Good tip: the Heritage Card entitles you unlimited admission for one year to all OPW sites (around €21).