Meath Heritage Trail 12/23/04 12:04 PM Page 1

r aBin ateo h on 5km = Boyne the of Battle - Bóinne na Brú

ln r aBin 9km = Bóinne na Brú - Slane

aa ln 14km = Slane -

lcsl aa 38km = Navan - Oldcastle

el lcsl 22km = Oldcastle - Kells

tby-Kls=12km = Kells -

rm-Aho 11km = Athboy - Trim

etv rm 7km = Trim - Bective

aa-Bcie 5km = Bective - Tara

Heritage Trail Distances in km in Distances Trail Heritage

own itinerary. own

any point and plan your route to suit your suit to route your plan and point any

Battle of the Boyne Site Boyne the of Battle 10

starting in Tara, you may start your trail at trail your start may you Tara, in starting

While this trail follows a defined route defined a follows trail this While

Brú na Bóinne na Brú 9

Kinnegad and continue on through Trim. through on continue and Kinnegad

Slane

8

, take the N4 or the N6 to N6 the or N4 the take , From the West the From

Navan

7

Cavan, Kells and Navan. and Kells Cavan,

, take the N3 through N3 the take , From the North West North the From

Oldcastle and Loughcrew and Oldcastle 6

or the N2 to Slane and on to Navan. to on and Slane to N2 the or

Kells Heritage Town Heritage Kells 5

aeteM/1t to M1/N1 the take , From the North the From

Athboy 4

Slane and Navan. and Slane

Mornington to Drogheda and on through on and Drogheda to Mornington Trim Heritage Town and Environs and Town Heritage Trim 3

to Laytown and Bettystown, on through on Bettystown, and Laytown to

2 Bective Abbey Bective to Meath. Divert to the R150 the to Divert Meath. to Coastal Route Coastal

If you have time at your disposal, take the N1 the take disposal, your at time have you If

1 of Hill

R159 to Trim and continue through Kilmessan. through continue and Trim to R159

to Tara, or take the N4 to Enfield, on to the to on Enfield, to N4 the take or Tara, to Heritage Site Locations Site Heritage

to Slane, on to the N51 to Navan and the N3 the and Navan to N51 the to on Slane, to

Alternate routes from Dublin include the N2 the include Dublin from routes Alternate

signposted to the left off this road. this off left the to signposted

towards Navan, past Dunshaughlin. Tara is Tara Dunshaughlin. past Navan, towards

Travelling from Dublin City, take the N3 the take City, Dublin from Travelling Visit: www.buseireann.ie Visit:

throughout from Dublin, from Meath County throughout

in the towns on route. route. on towns the in

Cork

or Laytown. There are regular bus services bus regular are There Laytown. or

night stops to savour the delights of Meath of delights the savour to stops night

Rosslare from Dublin and Belfast stop in Drogheda in stop Belfast and Dublin from

continuous journey or with planned over planned with or journey continuous

Shannon

also convenient. Regular train services train Regular convenient. also

the option of completing the trail on one on trail the completing of option the

Dublin Galway in Dublin, Dun Laoghaire and Belfast are Belfast and Laoghaire Dun Dublin, in

sites in the county. The route allows visitors allows route The county. the in sites

drive) from Dublin Airport. The ferry ports ferry The Airport. Dublin from drive) lo ayacs osm ftebs heritage best the of some to access easy allow

Meath is 41 km/26 miles (30 minutes (30 miles km/26 41 is Meath the Boyne Site, this trail has been devised to devised been has trail this Site, Boyne the

Navan, situated in the centre of County of centre the in situated Navan, Starting at Tara and finishing at the Battle of Battle the at finishing and Tara at Starting

Belfast

Meath Heritage Trail Heritage Meath Travelling to Meath to Travelling

Meath’s royal past has never been so alive

Maybe it’s got to do with the lushness of the The visionary spirit of past cultures is richly alive area’s rolling landscape, the way the river winds in Meath today. Forget schoolbook history - its way through the verdant green of the hills, A Tour of Living History Meath’s past is full of mystery and excitement, forests and fields. Whatever the reason, there Archaelogical Treasures, Ancient Legends tragedy and humour. There are high kings and must be something special about this stretch of scholarly monks, Vikings and Normans, castles the Boyne Valley - for it is here that Ireland’s Our Tourist Information Centres and crosses, wise fish and singing stones, history has been written. On the Hill of Slane, can also provide customised magical sages and fabulous fairytales. St. Patrick ceremoniously ignited the flame of itineraries of County Meath to suit Christianity in Ireland, which has been burning your interests, provide information The Hill of Tara beautifully bears witness to the for almost fifteen hundred years. On the banks on entertainment and leisure activities and reserve epic adventures of Ireland’s royal past, to the of the Boyne, William of Orange and James II accommodation at approved battles and celebrations of the High Kings. met in the famous . facilities throughout Ireland. Fantastic tales of knights and ladies, of humour and valour, become real at the sight of The historical significance of this small section Trim Tourist Information Centre monumental Anglo-Norman castles rising out of the Boyne Valley is unrivalled. Like the Irish Castle Street, Trim of the landscape at Trim. themselves, it is complex, fascinating and +353 (0) 46 943 7227 forever changing. The mysterious imagination and sharp-witted Kells humour of medieval monks still resonate in Tourist Information Centre towns like Kells, where monastic ruins tell the Your tour through Meath is an experience in Headfort Place, Kells story of scholarly refuge in the face of Viking +353 46 924 9336 living history in a special place where special raids. The fanciful illuminated pages of the Book things happen. Enjoy the experience. Brú na Bóinne, of Kells speak volumes about the mindset of Tourist Information Centre monks from Iona and Kells where complex Brú na Bóinne, Donore +353 (0) 41 988 0305 compositions of geometric patterns and organic shapes hide insider jokes and wry observations on life. Ireland’s ancients had something to say. They said it so that we could hear their message with Callsave (from Ireland) our eyes. The art and architecture of Meath’s 1850 300 789 sites at Loughcrew and Brú na Bóinne Call + 353 1 835 8022 elegantly attest to an eternally modern vision of www.meathtourism.ie the world. When seen with the eyes of the [email protected] ancients, the abstract beauty of the stone carvings in these passage graves pose another question - are they maps of the heavens, tracking the soul’s lost loved ones?

This Heritage Trail is published by Meath Tourism Ltd., Ashbourne, Co. Meath. Quite possibly. It is an application of the Meath Brand Identity, financed by Meath LEADER, Boyne Drive Route the NRDP and EU Initiative for Rural Development 2000-2006.

Photographic images © Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Eoin Clarke Meath Heritage Trail 12/23/04 12:05 PM Page 2

1 4 6 9

The Hill of Tara Rathcairn Loughcrew Cairns Brú na Bóinne The spectacular passage The past is visibly The village of Loughcrew, tells of grave at Newgrange is Meath’s Royal Past The Medieval Town of the Ireland’s neolithic Life, Death and the Hereafter Neolithic Vision engraved in the Rathcairn is home to a the jewel in the crown undulating landscape at At the Hill of Tara, Irish myth, legend and lively Gaelic speaking Yellow Ford cultures, shrouded in Not all inhabitants of Loughcrew rest of Brú na Bóinne. The The visual artistry of Ireland’s ancient Tara, where the hillside history are one - this magical site has been community, where myth and mystery. One peacefully in the ancient soil of the area. site houses over 90 civilisations remains to this day strikingly is marked by ancient visitors interested in Athboy (Town of the Yellow Ford) is a legend has it that the monuments and home to gods and goddesses, to druids and St Oliver Plunkett, a heroic 17th century fresh and modern. Knowth’s burial earthworks, mound , music medieval town with some of its original wall burial mounds were earthworks. Newgrange formations and the ruins warriors, and to Ireland’s High Kings. Tara created by a witch archbishop who was born in the area, was and Knowth are open chambers and satelite tombs boast the and song will find still intact. The Church of Ireland boasts an of royal enclosures. much enjoyment. jumping from one hill to to the public. Visitors is imbued with a magical, mythical convicted of treason and hanged, drawn can view from richest and largest collection of megalithic interesting medieval table tomb. Two miles the next dropping Location atmosphere. It is the stuff of legends, the Other Attractions and quartered in the Tower of London the outside. art in Europe. Whorls and diamonds, lines 15 mins south of from Athboy is the Hill of Ward - an Iron Age stones from her apron home of gods and heroes, not mere mortals. Hill of Ward after refusing to submit to the fiercely and dots are gathered together into Navan off the N3 Fort which was once seat of the High Kings to form the cairns. Location 2 miles outside Athboy The Hill of Tara has a strange effect on Location anti-Catholic laws of his time. 2km west of Donore compositions of startling sophistication. Open and a meeting place for the Celtic Festival of Contact East of Oldcastle off Village on the L21 Access all year people. From up here on the heights one Looking at these images with modern +353 (0) 46 943 2381 ‘’ held on 1st November, heralding the the R163 The Loughcrew Cairns are a group of passage Guided tours mid May- sees not only into the distance, but into eyes one is struck by their surprisingly or start of Winter. The last recorded celebration Open Open mid September www.meathtourism.ie tombs dating around 3000BC. They may Tara’s past. Tara has more than its share of Access all year Newgrange - All year abstract decorative beauty. And when Admission Charge was 1168. have been a focal point for the community, a heady stories to tell - tales of intoxicating Knowth - Easter to seen with the eyes of the ancients in the Contact Contact place to honour the dead, a symbol of the October Admission +353 (0) 46 902 5903 drinks, chariot-driving High Kings and old +353 (0) 46 924 7840 charge world of the passage tomb? Are they maps community’s wealth and a territorial marker. + 353 (0) 41 988 0300 hags who transformed themselves into www.meathtourism.ie Access to Newgrange of the heavens, tracking the soul’s lost or www.meathtourism.ie beautiful women. Listen out for the Lia Fáil - and Knowth from Brú loved ones? na Bóinne Visitor Other Attractions singing stones which announce the presence Centre only. Quite possibly. Hill of Tara Visitor of future kings. The Monastic World of Saints Pre-booking for tour Centre Kells, Heritage Town groups (note that this Newgrange, Brú na Bóinne, has been “Tara - Meeting Place of and Scholars site is extremely busy The High Crosses, with Heros” -Audio visual during summer designated by UNESCO as a World biblical scenes and Celtic Kells or Ceanannas Mór, meaning Great Fort, presentation months). Individuals Heritage Site. patterns, represent a designated Irish Heritage Town, is one of are advised to go early decorative artifacts of the finest examples of a monastic settlement. in the day. Celtic Christianity. Five premier examples can Retracing the footsteps of the monks, one is Contact be found in Kells drawn into a story of survival, of pluck and + 353 (0) 41 988 0300 including the famous wit pitted against brawn and belligerence. www.meathtourism.ie Market Cross. Medieval monks were certainly pious, some Kells Heritage Centre reclusive, but most led colourful and 2 “Golden Age” - AV presentation. imaginative lives. It was a question of survival Exhibition of stone and in troubled times, of escaping the raids of metal work plus a plundering Vikings and keeping the flame of 7 facsimile of the Book of knowledge and culture alive in an age of Kells. darkness. Location Kells Courthouse Bective Abbey Columcille’s name became associated with Open The substantial All year Kells after the brethren of the Iona remains of Ireland’s Beacons in the Dark Admission charge monastery moved there to seek refuge from second Cistercian The medieval world of monks and abbeys Contact the hit-and-run attacks of the Vikings. monastery founded, in brings to mind an ascetic life of isolation, 10 1147. +353 (0) 46 924 7840 Dunmoe Castle prayer and scholarly study. This tells only part Two facades of this Location www.meathtourism.ie stone giant survive to Draughty Old Castles 15min from Trim off of the story. Irish monasteries were often Other Attractions stand guard over the Symbolically etched in the ruins of Meath’s the R161(Navan Road) thriving and highly sought out enclaves of passing Boyne. St. Columba’s Church castles are stories of lords and ladies, of Open cultural creativity, quite literally beacons in St. Columcille’s House Location All year battles and struggles, of power and glory. the dark, responsible for preserving and 10 mins east of Navan, Admission free Round Tower The draughty walls of these stony fortresses Battle of the Boyne passing on precious texts and for the creation off the N51 Contact provided their Norman Lords with an Site +353 (0) 46 943 7227 of some of the world’s most imaginative and Open Where William of Emotional Memories important stronghold in a then hostile land. or www.meathtourism.ie fanciful Christian art. All year Orange defeated Looking at the site one wouldn’t expect that Admission free They were a place of refuge in times of James II in 1690. the Battle of the Boyne, in 1690, could have Other Attractions danger and a strategic base from which to 5 Location such a lasting and central impact on people’s Athlumney Castle attack, conquer and rule. Today, these On the south bank of the Boyne, 3km north lives. 300 years after the battle, passions in Built near the site of an draughty old symbols of Norman military and earlier motte and of Donore Village off Ireland still run high when the subject of the L21. The site is The Power and The Glory bailey structure. 5 mins political strength lend the Meath countryside signposted from off James II’s defeat by William of Orange an air of romantic fantasy. This is the stuff movies are made of. It’s no from Navan. Access by N51 (Slane-Drogheda Built by Hugh de Lacy in comes up. It’s not so much the battle as permission only. Road, access for cars 1173, this is the largest wonder that the makers of the movie only this route is not what it stands for - continuing differences Anglo-Norman castle in ‘Braveheart’ chose Trim in County Meath as Europe. suitable for coaches), between Catholics and Protestants - and off M1 (Dublin- Location the shooting location for their epic thriller. the difficulty of overcoming memories of Belfast), off N1 Trim Town One look at Trim Castle’s stony outline (Drogheda and off N2 the past in search of a common future. Open against a dramatic Irish sky and storybook (Slane-Ashbourne). Easter-End October images of knights and warriors spring to life. Open Weekends in Winter May-September Admission Charge In Medieval times, Trim Castle stood like an Guided tours and self Access to Keep/castle guiding walks. Group building by guided imposing stone sentinel and powerful symbol Tours can be arranged. tour only of Norman strength at the edge of the Pale, Contact Contact the small area of Anglo-Norman influence on St Columcille’s House 046 943 8619 +353 (0) 41 988 4343 Ireland’s eastern coast. To go beyond the This 10th century Other Attractions 8 www.meathtourism.ie Pale was to enter the hostile world of the oratory building in Trim Visitor Centre Kells is believed to “The Power and the Gaelic Irish. Here at the edge, the two sides have housed the Glory”- AV presentation +353 (0) 46 943 7227 would have met - in conflict and in battle. much-loved saint’s relics. or www.meathtourism.ie The Newtown Monuments Hill of Slane Cathedral of SS Peter & Paul Home to 15th century Slane Abbey. St. Patrick The Pagan vs. Patrick Friary of St. John the Baptist lit his Pascal Fire on the St. Patrick has become synonymous with Hill of Slane, in direct Talbot Castle things Irish; from shamrocks to the shortage of opposition to the (St. Mary’s Abbey) and snakes on this Isle, but there was a time when the Yellow Steeple pagan beliefs of the High King. he was viewed as a foreign Christian missionary come to convert Ireland’s Celtic Location 3 Just north of Slane pagans. This he did with great symbolic flare. off the N2 As the Druids celebrated their feast day on the Open Hill of Tara, Patrick prepared the Easter feast All year Admission free on the Hill of Slane. He lit his paschal fire at Slane, before the Druids could kindle their Other Attractions St Oliver’s Church Slane Castle sacred fire at Tara. Seeing the flames at Slane, This quiet graveyard is Open from May to the Druids, warned Laegaire, the High King, on the grounds of the August, Sunday to that if Patrick’s fire was not put out Plunkett Family in Thursday. Access by Loughcrew. immediately, it would burn forever in Ireland. guided tour only. The rest is history.