About County Westmeath
County Westmeath sits at the centre of Ireland, its landscape defined by the great lakes of Lough Ree and Lough Derravaragh and the gentle hills of the midlands. The county's position at a crossroads of ancient routes made it strategically important, and its lakeland landscape conceals a remarkable concentration of early Christian and medieval monuments.
History
Westmeath was the territory of the O'Melaghlin dynasty, ancient kings of Meath, before the Norman conquest disrupted the old order. The county was the scene of significant land confiscations throughout the plantation era, and its mixed Catholic and Protestant communities developed the particular social dynamics of the midland counties.
How Westmeath families left Ireland
Westmeath families emigrated through Dublin and Drogheda. The county's relatively diverse economy and proximity to the capital meant emigration rates were somewhat lower than in the west, but the Famine still caused significant displacement and loss.
Places worth visiting in County Westmeath
- Athlone Castle, the medieval fortress at the crossing of the Shannon, the strategic heart of Ireland
- Lough Derravaragh, the beautiful lake associated with the legend of the Children of Lir
- Belvedere House and Gardens, the remarkable 18th century villa on the shores of Lough Ennell
- Fore Abbey, the Benedictine monastery in its beautiful valley, with the seven wonders of Fore nearby
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