List of national monuments in County Meath facts for kids

The Irish state has a special list of important old places and buildings in County Meath. These places are called "national monuments" because they are super important to Ireland's history. When a place is a national monument, the government helps protect it so it can last for many more years. Sometimes, even the land around the monument is protected to keep it safe.

Discovering Meath's Ancient Wonders

County Meath is full of amazing historical sites! From ancient burial mounds to grand castles, these places tell us stories about people who lived here long, long ago. Let's explore some of these incredible national monuments.

Ancient Burial Sites and Mounds

These sites are often very old, sometimes thousands of years old, and were used for burials or special ceremonies.

• Alexander Reid mound
  • This is a barrow mound, which is a type of ancient burial mound. You can find it in Alexander Reid.

• Ardmulchan Passage Tomb
  • Located in Ardmulchan, this is a passage tomb. These are ancient stone structures with a long passage leading to a burial chamber.

• Loughcrew
  • In Oldcastle, Loughcrew is a huge cemetery of passage tombs and other ancient monuments. It also has cairns (piles of stones) and standing stones.

Cairn T at Loughcrew, an ancient burial site.

• Dowth Mound
  • This site in Dowth includes a large mound and a standing stone, showing signs of ancient human activity.

• Dowth Passage Tomb
  • Also in Dowth, this is another impressive passage tomb, similar to those found in other ancient burial grounds.

The entrance to the South Passage at Dowth Megalithic Tomb.

• Fourknocks Passage Tomb
  • Found in Fourknocks, this is a well-known passage tomb with unique ancient art inside.

Inside the Fourknocks Passage Tomb.

• Gaulstown Barrow
  • This is a round barrow, another type of ancient burial mound, located in Gaulstown.

• Knowth Passage Tomb
  • In Knowth, this site is a large cemetery with many passage tombs, similar to Newgrange, and is part of a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The main mound at Knowth, a famous passage tomb site.

• Knowth Mound
  • Also in Knowth, this site includes an enclosure and a large mound, showing how important this area was long ago.

• Newgrange
  • One of the most famous sites in Ireland, Newgrange in Newgrange is an incredible passage tomb built around 3200 BC. It's famous for how the sun lights up its passage during the winter solstice.

The iconic entrance to Newgrange, a prehistoric monument.

• Ninch
  • This site in Ninch is a barrow, an ancient burial mound.

A view of the Ninch barrow.

Historic Castles and Forts

These strongholds were built for defense and to show power, often dating back to medieval times.

• Ardmulchan Fort
  • This is a ringfort in Ardmulchan, which was a circular fortified settlement from early medieval times.

• Athcarne Castle
  • Located in Athcarne, this is a historic castle.

An old drawing of Athcarne Castle.

• Athlumney Castle
  • In Athlumney, this is another significant castle, now in ruins but still impressive.

A drawing of Athlumney Castle.

• The Yellow Steeple & Nangle Castle
  • Found in Trim, these are the remains of an Augustinian priory (a type of monastery) and a castle.

The tall Yellow Steeple in Trim.

• Danestown Fort
  • This site in Danestown is a ringfort or ringwork, another type of early medieval defensive earthwork.

The Danestown Ringfort, seen from above.

• Donore Castle
  • This castle is located in Donore.

Donore Castle in County Meath.

• Dunmoe Castle
  • In Dunmoe, this is a castle that stands as a reminder of past times.

The ruins of Dunmoe Castle.

• Loughbracken Fort
  • This site in Loughbrackan is a mound and bailey, a type of castle where a mound (motte) was topped by a tower, and a courtyard (bailey) was enclosed.

• Trim Castle
  • One of the largest and most famous castles in Ireland, Trim Castle in Trim is a huge Norman castle.

The impressive Trim Castle.

• Mountfortescue Hillfort
  • In Mountfortescue, this site includes a ringditch, a tumulus (another type of mound), and a hillfort, showing ancient defensive structures.

• Realtogue Fort
  • This is a ringfort in Realtogue (also known as Realtoge).

• Robertstown Castle
  • A 17th-century castle located in Robertstown.

Robertstown Castle.

• Robertstown Fort
  • Also in Robertstown, this is a bivallate ringfort, meaning it has two defensive banks or ditches.

Churches, Abbeys, and Religious Sites

These monuments highlight the religious history of County Meath, from early Christian times to later medieval periods.

• Cannistown Church
  • This historic church is located in Ardsallagh.

Cannistown Church.

• Bective Abbey
  • In Bective, this is a Cistercian abbey, a type of monastery, with beautiful ruins.

The ruins of Bective Abbey.

• Calliaghstown Well (St. Columcille's Well)
  • This is a holy well in Calliaghstown, a place believed to have special healing powers.

• St. Patrick's Church
  • A church located in Duleek.

• Duleek Church
  • In Commons, this site includes a church and crosses.

The tower of St. Mary's Church in Duleek.

• Donaghmore Church
  • This site in Donaghmore features a church and a round tower, which were common in early Irish monasteries.

Donaghmore Church and its round tower.

• Church of St. Nicholas
  • A church located in Dunsany.

The Church of St. Nicholas in Dunsany.

• St. Seachnail's Church
  • This church is found in Dunshaughlin.

St. Seachnail's Church.

• Killeen Church
  • A church located in Killeen.

• Newtown Abbey
  • In Newtown (Trim), this site was once a cathedral, a very important church.

The ruins of Newtown Abbey in Trim.

• Rathmore Church
  • This site in Rathmore includes a church, a cross, and its base.

The ruined church at Rathmore.

• Newtown Trim
  • Located in Saint Johns, this is the site of St. John's Priory.

St. John's Priory.

• Skryne Church
  • This site in Skryne includes a church and crosses.

Skryne Church.

• Slane Church/ St. Patrick's Church
  • On the Hill of Slane, this is a historic church.

The church on the Hill of Slane.

• Monastery
  • Also on the Hill of Slane, this was once a college or monastery.

The monastery ruins on the Hill of Slane.

• St. Columb's House
  • This church is located in Kells.

St. Columb's House in Kells.

Crosses and Other Monuments

These monuments include ancient crosses, town defenses, and ritual sites that tell us about daily life and beliefs.

• Balrath Cross
  • This cross is found in Balrath.

The east face of Balrath Cross.

• Sheep Gate
  • In Trim, this is part of the old town defenses, a gate that protected the town.

The Sheep Gate in Trim.

• Carrickdexter Cross (Baronstown Cross)
  • This is an early 17th-century stone cross located in Carrickdexter.

Carrickdexter Cross near Slane.

• Hill of Tara
  • In Castletown Tara and Castleboy, the Hill of Tara is a very important ritual and burial site, and also has a church and graveyard. It was once the seat of the High Kings of Ireland.

The Banqueting Hall Area on the Hill of Tara.

• Castlekeeran Crosses
  • These crosses are found in Castlekeeran.

An Ogham stone near Castlekeeran Church.

• Dowdall Cross (Duleek)
  • This cross is located in Commons, Duleek.

• Cruicetown Church
  • In Cruicetown, this site includes a church and a cross.

• Athcarne Cross
  • This is a wayside cross from around 1700, located in Gaulstown.

The White Cross at Athcarne.

• Porch Fields
  • In Trim, this site includes a town gate and a medieval roadway, showing how the town was laid out long ago.

• Sarsfieldstown Cross
  • This is a wayside cross from around 1500, found in Sarsfieldstown.

A wayside cross at Sarsfieldstown.

• Kells Round Tower
  • In Kells, this site features a tall round tower and high crosses, which are famous for their carvings.

The Round Tower in Kells.

• Hill of Ward
  • This site in Wardstown consists of earthworks, which are large shapes made in the ground, often for defensive or ceremonial purposes.

The Hill of Ward.

• Rath Meave
  • Located in Odder and Belpere, this is a ritual enclosure known as a Henge, used for ceremonies in ancient times.

Sources

• National Monuments in County Meath