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Prehistory: Once part of the ancient
fifth province of Ireland, Meath has
been inhabited for more than 8,000
years. The county was the centre of
prehistoric Ireland and the place
from which the ancient roads of
Ireland radiated. In the Boyne
Valley lie the celebrated megalithic
burial grounds at Newgrange, Knowth
and Dowth, some of the oldest
neolithic structures in Europe,
predating the Egyptian Pyramids and
Stonehenge.
Newgrange (c. 3200BC) could lay
claim to being possibly the oldest
astronomically aligned Stone Age
structure in the world. It was
discovered during the 17th century,
along with heavily decorated curb
stones. An active solstice site,
there is a waiting list of several
years to get in to Newgrange to see
the sun's rays penetrate the tomb at
dawn on the day of winter solstice.
New evidence has been found
indicating that Knowth - a Neolithic
cemetery of up to 20 passage tombs,
once the royal residence of the
kings of Breaga - like Newgrange,
could also have an astronomical
function. Other important
archaeological finds in the county
include the Tara Brooch, found in
Bettystown.
Early Christian: The county is
referred to as Royal Meath, as it
was once home to the kings of pagan
and early Christian Ireland at Tara.
Arguably the most important early
Christian artifact - The Book of
Kells - came from Kells in Meath.
English: The Boyne Valley has been
significant in most eras in Irish
history from prehistory to the
Battle of the Boyne in 1690, when
King James II was vanquished by King
William III for the crown of
England.
The British army defeated Irish
rebels during the 1798 rebellion at
Tara, and Daniel O'Connell held a
'monster' rally here in 1843,
leading an estimated one million
people to protest against the Act of
Union Areas of historical interest:
Brú na Bóinne Visitors' Centre
(starting point for the visits to
the megalithic tombs at Newgrange &
Knowth), Hill of Tara (seat of the
ancient high kings of Ireland), St.
John's/Trim Castle (contains the
largest castle fortifications in
Ireland and was the location of the
film Braveheart), Loughcrew (a
series of hills with passage
graves),
St. Mary's Abbey (where the Duke of
Wellington was educated), Kells High
Crosses, St. Colmcille's Hut in
Kells.
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