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County Westmeath

Coordinates:53°30′N7°30′W/ 53.500°N 7.500°W/53.500; -7.500
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County Westmeath
Contae na hIarmhí
County
Coat of arms of County Westmeath
Coat of arms
Nickname:
The Lake County
Motto(s):
Irish:Triath ós Triathaibh
"Noble above nobility"
Location of County Westmeath
CountryIreland
ProvinceLeinster
RegionEastern and Midland
Established1542[1]
County townMullingar
Largest settlementAthlone
Government
•Local authorityWestmeath County Council
•Dáil constituencies
•EP constituencyMidlands–North-West
Area
• Total1,840 km2(710 sq mi)
• Rank21st
Highest elevation
(Mullaghmeen)
258 m (846 ft)
Population
(2022)[2]
• Total95,840
• Rank22nd
• Density52/km2(130/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC±0(WET)
• Summer (DST)UTC+1(IST)
Eircoderouting keys
N37, N91(primarily)
Telephone area codes044, 090(primarily)
ISO 3166 codeIE-WH
Vehicle index
mark code		WH
Map

County Westmeath(/wɛstˈmiːð/;Irish:Contae na hIarmhíor simplyAn Iarmhí) is acountyinIreland.It is in theprovinceofLeinsterand is part of theEastern and Midland Region.It formed part of the historicKingdom of Meath,which was named Mide because the kingdom was located in the geographical centre of Ireland (the word Mide meaning 'middle').[3]Westmeath County Councilis the administrative body for the county, and the county town is Mullingar. At the 2022 census, the population of the county was 95,840.[2]

History

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Following theNorman invasion of Ireland,the territory of the GaelicKingdom of Meathformed the basis for the Anglo-NormanLordship of Meathgranted by KingHenry II of EnglandtoHugh de Lacyin 1172. Following the failure of de Lacy's male heirs in 1241, the Lordship was split between two great-granddaughters. One moiety, a central eastern portion, was awarded toMaud(de Geneville) as thelibertyofTrim;the other moiety, comprising north-eastern and western portions, went to Maud's sister Margery (de Verdun) and in 1297 became theroyal county of Meath.The liberty and royal county were merged in 1461. While the east of the county was in theEnglish Pale,the west wasGaelicisedin the fourteenth century and outside the control of thesheriff of Meath.[4]

As a part of the better administration of the newly establishedKingdom of Ireland,theParliament of Irelandpassed theCounties of Meath and Westmeath Act 1543,the eastern portion retaining the name Meath and the western portion called Westmeath.[5]

Geography and subdivisions

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Westmeath is the 20th largest of Ireland's 32 counties by area and the 22nd largest in terms of population.[6]It is the sixth largest of Leinster's 12 counties in size and eighth largest in terms of population. TheHill of Uisneachin the barony of Moycashel is sometimes regarded as the notional geographical centre of Ireland although the actualgeographic centre of Irelandlies in neighbouringCounty Roscommon.The summit ofMullaghmeenis the highest point in County Westmeath. At just 258 metres this makes it the lowest county top in Ireland.[7]

Local government and politics

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The head office of Westmeath County Council is located inMullingar.There are currently 20 councillors. The threelocal electoral areasof Westmeath are Athlone (7 seats), Mullingar–Coole (7 seats) and Mullingar–Kilbeggan (6 seats).[8]TheLocal Government (Ireland) Act 1898provided the framework for the establishment of County Councils throughout Ireland. The first meeting of Westmeath County Council was held on 22 April 1899.[9]

Westmeath's population growth has been stronger than the national average.[10]After theGreat Famine,the population of Westmeath declined dramatically. It stabilised in the middle of the 20th century, and has continued to grow. Westmeath's proximity toDublin,with good motorway facilities and frequent rail service, has made commuting popular.

County Westmeath's population fell in the century following the Great Famine, with many leaving for better opportunities in America.[11] The largest town in the county isAthlone,followed by the County townMullingar.Westmeath is the largest county by population in theIrish Midlands.Important commercial and marketing centres includeMoate,Kilbeggan,Kinnegad,Ballinahown,Delvin,Rochfortbridge,KillucanandCastlepollard.According to the 2011 census, 51.9% of Westmeath households have at least one member reporting an ability in Irish.[12]

Westmeath is one of the few counties in Ireland where some census records from 1841 are still available. Some of the records of that census have been digitised and maintained by the National Archives of Ireland.[13]

As of the 2022 census, Westmeath had a population of 95,840, consisting of 47,522 males and 48,318 females.[2]TheCentral Statistics Officealso said that despite the overall increase in population, the rural population had still fallen (2016 census).[14]

Economy

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Canal at Mullingar
Barbavilla Stud Horses

Initially, development occurred around the major market centres of Mullingar, Moate, and Kinnegad. Athlone developed due to its military significance, and its strategic location on the main Dublin–Galway route across theRiver Shannon.Mullingar gained considerable advantage from the development of theRoyal Canal.The canal facilitated cheap transport of produce to Dublin, Britain and Europe. Athlone and Mullingar expanded further with the coming of theMidland Great Western Railwaynetwork in the nineteenth century.

Tourism in Westmeath is generally based on its many water amenities. The county lakes includeLough Derravaragh,Lough Ennell,Lough Owel,Lough Lene,Lough SheelinandLough Ree.TheRiver Shannon(Ireland's key tourism waterway) has a modern inland harbour in Athlone.

In 2017 the largest employment sectors within Westmeath were:[22]

Sector Percentage of
total employment
Wholesale & retail trade 15%
Health & social work 13%
Education 11%
Manufacturing industries 9%
Agriculture 8%
Real estate, renting & business activities 7%
Hotels & restaurants 7%

Two major "Greenway" projects are intended to improve cycling facilities. The Athone—Mullingar section of the Dublin—Galway Greenway, along the old railway corridor between Athlone and Mullingar, was constructed in 2015.[23] The Royal Canal Greenway takes tourists from the county boundary to Mullingar, and then on towards Longford. Those wishing to use the Dublin-Galway Greenway can transfer from the Royal Canal route to the old rail corridor onwards towards Athlone.

The development of industry in Westmeath has been mainly based on food processing and consumer products. Whiskey is distilled in Kilbeggan and tobacco is processed in Mullingar. The county has an extensive beef and dairy trade. In recent times, the manufacturerAlkermeshas located in Athlone. The eastern part of the county is home to commuters, many of whom work at the technology parks on the western side ofDublin.

Mullingar is renowned for the high quality of its beef and veal. Weaned cattle from the west of theShannonare fattened for market on the lushgrasslandsof Meath and Westmeath. The cattle are also used to maintain grassland to help sustain wildlife in the areas fringing theBog of Allen.

Westmeath is home to many stud farms. The plains of Westmeath, covered in calcium-richmarl,contribute significantly to calcification of foal bones during their formative years. Westmeath mares are usually put into foal in spring to facilitate summer growth. Pregnancy lasts for approximately 335–340 days and usually results in one foal. Horses mature when they are around four years old.

Railways

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Westmeath also has railway infrastructure with a number of trains passing through towns in the county. TheDublin–Westport/Galway railway lineruns through the county, with services fromDublin HeustontoGalway/Westport/Ballinainter-city train service stops atAthlone,while theDublin-Sligo railway lineservice stops atMullingar.The line fromAthloneviaMoate railway stationtoMullingarcould be reopened for trains fromGalwaytoDublin Connolly.Other major infrastructural projects and plans for the county includeTransport 21.

Road transport

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Roads are of good quality in the county. As part of theTransport 21infrastructure programme undertaken by the government, both theN4andN6roads have been upgraded tomotorwayordual carriagewaystandard. All towns that these roads passed through are now bypassed, such asMullingar,Athlone,MoateandKinnegad.BothDublinandGalwayare within commuting distance from Westmeath following the completion of theM6 motorwayin December 2009.

Sport

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TheAthlone ITInternational Arena inAthlone

Westmeath is an active sporting county. TheWestmeath GAAseniorfootballteam won theLeinster Senior Football Championship,the Delaney Cup, in 2004. They also won the National Football LeagueDivision 2in 2001, 2003 and 2008. The Westmeath seniorhurlingteam has enjoyed much recent success winning theChristy Ring Cupin 2005, 2007 and 2010.

Athlone Town F.C.have won the League of Ireland Championship on two occasions, in 1980 and 1982, and theFAI Cupin 1924.

Westmeath Ladies won the 2011 All-Ireland Intermediate Football Championship.

Athlone Institute of Technologyboasts a €10 million international athletics arena, which opened in early 2013. The International Arena has a footprint of 6,818m2 and an overall building floor area of 9,715m2. Some 850 tonnes of structural steel and fifty thousand concrete blocks went into the construction of the facility, which can house two thousand spectators.[24]

Westmeath Snooker Ranking Tournaments officially recognised by The Republic of Ireland Billiards & Snooker Association are organised and run by St Mary's Snooker Club Bishopgate Street Mullingar. The Ranking events in Junior, Intermediate and Senior events are:

  1. Mullingar Open Snooker Championship
  2. Westmeath Open Snooker Championship
  3. St.Mary's Open Classic Snooker Championship
  4. The Midland Open Snooker Championship

People

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Christ the King Cathedral, Mullingar
See also:Category:People from County Westmeath

Notable Westmeath natives include:

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Towns/villages

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See also

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References

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  1. ^"'Geographical loyalty'? Counties, palatinates, boroughs and ridings ".6 March 2013.Archivedfrom the original on 23 June 2019.Retrieved23 June2019.
  2. ^abcd"Census of Population 2022 – Preliminary Results".Central Statistics Office (Ireland).23 June 2022.Retrieved26 May2023.
  3. ^"Kingdom of Mide".Archivedfrom the original on 5 October 2012.Retrieved16 June2011.
  4. ^Ellis, Steven G. (7 May 2015).Defending English Ground: War and Peace in Meath and Northumberland, 1460–1542.Oxford University Press. pp. 62–64.ISBN9780199696291.Archivedfrom the original on 16 April 2021.Retrieved24 June2015.
  5. ^"1543 (34 Hen. 8) c. 1 An Act for the Division of Methe in two Shires".The Statutes at Large passed at the Parliaments held in Ireland.Vol. 1: 1310 to 1612. B. Grierson. 1765. pp. 232–235.Archivedfrom the original on 16 April 2021.Retrieved14 December2017.;short title"Counties of Meath and Westmeath Act 1543" assigned by"Statute Law Revision Act 2007, Schedule 1, Part 1".Irish Statute Book.Archivedfrom the original on 25 October 2017.Retrieved26 May2017.
  6. ^Corry, Eoghan (2005).The GAA Book of Lists.Hodder Headline Ireland. pp. 186–191.
  7. ^"Mullaghmeen Hill".MountainViews.ie.Archivedfrom the original on 29 March 2012.Retrieved1 June2016.
  8. ^"Electoral Area Boundaries"(PDF).Archived(PDF)from the original on 25 May 2014.Retrieved25 May2014.
  9. ^"About Us".Westmeath County Council.Archived fromthe originalon 7 May 2008.Retrieved28 June2008.
  10. ^"Demographic context"(PDF).Offaly County Council Development Plan 2009 – 2015.Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 30 October 2008.Retrieved28 June2008.
  11. ^"Population decline in County".Archivedfrom the original on 26 November 2016.Retrieved25 November2016.
  12. ^"Demographics of Westmeath".Archivedfrom the original on 10 July 2017.Retrieved7 December2012.
  13. ^"Westmeath Archives".Archivedfrom the original on 25 April 2016.Retrieved19 August2016.
  14. ^"Population rises but rural areas in decline".Westmeath Examiner.22 July 2016. Archived fromthe originalon 13 January 2019.Retrieved12 January2019.
  15. ^"Census 2016 Sapmap Area: County Westmeath".CSO.Archivedfrom the original on 12 January 2019.Retrieved12 January2019.
  16. ^For 1653 and 1659 figures from Civil Survey Census of those years, Paper of Mr Hardinge to Royal Irish Academy 14 March 1865.
  17. ^"Server Error 404 – CSO – Central Statistics Office".cso.ie.Archivedfrom the original on 20 September 2010.Retrieved16 March2018.
  18. ^"Census".Archived fromthe originalon 7 May 2016.
  19. ^"County Westmeath Census".Archived fromthe originalon 4 April 2010.Retrieved12 August2010.
  20. ^Lee, J. J.(1981). "On the accuracy of thePre-famineIrish censuses ". In Goldstrom, J. M.; Clarkson, L. A. (eds.).Irish Population, Economy, and Society: Essays in Honour of the Late K. H. Connell.Oxford, England: Clarendon Press.
  21. ^Mokyr, Joel;Ó Gráda, Cormac(November 1984)."New Developments in Irish Population History, 1700–1850".The Economic History Review.37(4): 473–488.doi:10.1111/j.1468-0289.1984.tb00344.x.hdl:10197/1406.[dead link]
  22. ^"Eibic highlights"(PDF).ibec.ie.2017.Archived(PDF)from the original on 6 April 2017.Retrieved30 May2017.
  23. ^"Westmeath County Council – Westmeath Royal Canal Greenway".westmeathcoco.ie.Archivedfrom the original on 16 March 2016.Retrieved16 March2018.
  24. ^"AIT International Arena".ait.ie.Archived fromthe originalon 18 January 2016.Retrieved14 November2015.
[edit]
Wikivoyage has a travel guide forCounty Westmeath.
Wikimedia Commons has media related toCounty Westmeath.

53°30′N7°30′W/ 53.500°N 7.500°W/53.500; -7.500

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