Castles and Historic Sites in Co. Meath
6 places
1.Loughcrew Cairns
A 5,000-year-old tomb aligned to the equinox
A 5,000-year-old Neolithic passage-tomb cemetery spread over the hills above Oldcastle, crowned by the richly carved Cairn T — the highest point in County Meath.
- Highlights
- Cairn T, with its cruciform chamber and corbelled roof
- Some of the finest Neolithic art in Ireland
- Aligned to sunrise at the spring and autumn equinoxes
2.Brú na Bóinne
5,000-year-old tombs older than the pyramids
A UNESCO World Heritage landscape in a bend of the River Boyne, Brú na Bóinne holds the great Neolithic passage tombs of Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth, built around 3200 BC. All visits start at the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre, the only gateway to the monuments.
- Highlights
- Newgrange passage tomb and chamber, aligned to the winter solstice sunrise
- Knowth, with the largest collection of megalithic art in Western Europe
- Full-scale replica of the Newgrange chamber in the Visitor Centre
- Facilities
- Good for kids · Wheelchair access
3.Loughcrew Megalithic Centre
5,000-year-old tombs older than Newgrange
A traditional Irish courtyard, café and campsite sitting directly beneath Loughcrew's 5,000-year-old passage tombs — older than Newgrange and set on Meath's highest point.
- Highlights
- Cairns over 5,000 years old — older than Newgrange
- Cairn T, lit down the passage at the equinoxes
- Legend of the witch and her throne
- Facilities
- Good for kids · Restrooms · Wheelchair access
4.Newgrange
5,200-year-old tomb aligned to the winter solstice
A vast Stone Age passage tomb older than the Egyptian pyramids, set in the bend of the Boyne and reached only by shuttle bus from the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre.
- Highlights
- Newgrange passage tomb, built c.3200 BC
- Winter-solstice sunrise light in the chamber
- Triple-spiral entrance stone and megalithic art
- Facilities
- Good for kids · Wheelchair access
5.Trim Castle
Ireland's largest Anglo-Norman castle
The largest Anglo-Norman castle in Ireland, Trim Castle is a monumental 20-sided keep begun by Hugh de Lacy and 30 years in the building, looming over the heritage town of Trim beside the River Boyne.
- Highlights
- Ireland's largest Anglo-Norman fortification
- Monumental 20-sided, cruciform keep
- Guided roof tour with interior walkways
- Facilities
- Good for kids · Wheelchair access
6.Slane Castle
Home of legendary rock concerts since 1981
A 1785 Gothic-revival castle on a 1,500-acre Boyne Valley estate, still the Conyngham family home and the site of Ireland's most famous rock concerts. The castle and grounds are open by appointment only.
- Highlights
- Guided tour of the 1785 castle by Wyatt, Gandon and Johnston
- Afternoon Tea in the Gothic Revival King George IV Ballroom
- Slane Irish Whiskey Distillery on site
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access