Meath County, nicknamed the Royal, is the cradle of Irish statehood. This is where the Tara Hill is located, which was once the seat of the kings of Ireland. Important prehistoric and early Christian monuments are also located here.
The oldest monuments in Meath come from prehistoric times. Already then Bru na Boinne or the Boyne River Valley was inhabited. Today, the testimony of those times are the complexes of Neolithic tombs in Newgrange, Knowth and Downth inscribed on UNESCO list.
Prehistoric times also include the beginnings of the rulers' seat on the Tara Hill. It developed in antiquity as the place where the High Kings of Ireland were serving. Two strongholds with remains of buildings have survived here, but they are best seen from above. In the neighboring Heritage Center you can learn about the history of Tara.
In the 6th century, Columbus the Elder founded the monastery of Kells in today's Meath County. Over time, it became one of the island's leading cultural centers. The famous Gospel of Kells, richly decorated with illustrations, was created here and is now kept at Trinity College in Dublin. The abbey ruins can be visited on site.
Occupying a large part of the region, the Boyne River Valley is one of the symbols of the struggle for independence for the Irish. In 1690 a battle took place here between supporters of William of Orange and James II. The victory of William and his Protestant army resulted in the final subordination of the island of Great Britain.
