County Meath

County Meath
*Contae na Mí*
map

Basic data
Country:	Ireland
Administrative headquarters:	Navan
Province:	Leinster
Irish name:	To Mhí
Surface:	2335 km²
Residents:	194,942 (2016)
License Plate:	MH

Meath (debate [ miːθ ], Irish County Meath [ ən VI ]) is a county ( county ) in the Republic of Ireland . The Irish name means "middle".

geography

The county is located in the Central Irish Plain and consists almost entirely of pastureland.

history

Well-preserved megalithic structures of the Boyne culture can be found here from early history . The founding of the old royal seat of Tara goes back to the prehistoric era. In the early Middle Ages, Meath was one of the kingdoms of Ireland, encompassing what is now Meath and Westmeath and parts of Cavan and Longford . The mythical king Tuathal Techtmar is said to have founded the fifth province of Mide from parts of the four other provinces and he was the first to take the tribute Bóruma from Leinster . Between 100 and 565, Meath was associated with Connacht . In 1172 the county was given as a fief to Hugh de Lacy by King Henry II of England .

economy

In agriculture, cattle and sheep are predominant. There is also the clothing and furniture industries.

politics

The distribution of seats in the county council after the local elections on May 23, 2014:

Political party	Seats
Fine Gael	13
Fianna Fáil	10
Sinn Féin	8th
Non-party	9

Meath sends six MPs to the Irish Parliament ( Dáil Éireann ). The county is divided into two constituencies. In the 2016 election, Fine Gael won 3, Fianna Fáil 2, and Sinn Féin 1 seat. In the 2019 election, Sinn Féin 2, Fine Gael 2, Fianna Fáil 1 and Aontú won 1 seat.

Cities

Attractions

Hill of Tara

Brú na Bóinne ("Boyne Palace"): three megalithic barrows ( Newgrange , Knowth , Dowth )
Hill of Tara : remains of a barrow and ring fort - according to legend, Tara was the seat of the Irish High Kings .
Loughcrew or Sliabh na Caillighe: Megalithic Cemetery
Fourknocks Passage tomb
Athcarne Castle
Trim Castle

Personalities

Wallis Bird (* 1982), musician
Pierce Brosnan (* 1953), actor, grew up in Navan .
John Bruton (* 1947), former Taoiseach (Prime Minister) and currently Ambassador of the European Union to the United States
Siobhan Fahey (* 1958), singer ( Bananarama ; Shakespear's Sister ), was born in Dunshaughlin.
Shane Horgan (* 1978), national rugby union player, was born in Bellewstown.
William Johnson, 1st Baronet (1715–1774), Major-General and Superintendent of Indian Affairs of the British Empire in North America, was born around 1715 near Warrenstown.

literature

Peter Connell: The land and people of County Meath - 1750-1850 . Four Courts, 2004

Web links

Commons : County Meath - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

53.63 -6.73Coordinates: 53 ° 38 ′ N , 6 ° 44 ′ W