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County Westmeath ( ) is one of the traditional counties of Ireland and is located within the province of Leinster.

Westmeath is the 23rd largest of Ireland’s 32 counties in area and 22nd largest in terms of population. It is the sixth largest of Leinster’s 12 counties in size and eighth largest in terms of population.

It was named after the historic kingdom and province of Mide. Westmeath was created under The Counties of Meath and Westmeath Act of 1543. The hill of Uisneach in the medieval Barony of Moycashel is generally accepted as the notional geographical centre of Ireland.

Geography

County Westmeath is bordered by the counties of Cavanmarker, Longfordmarker, Meathmarker, Offalymarker and Roscommonmarker.

Towns and villages

Towns and villages in County Westmeath include:

Administration

Westmeath County Council offices are at the County Building in Mullingar. There are currently 22 councillors. The five electoral areas of Westmeath are Athlone (7 seats), Coole (3 seats), Kilbeggan (3 seats), Mullingar East (4 seats) and Mullingar West (5 seats). The Local Government Act 1898, provided the framework for the establishment of County Councils throughout Ireland. The first meeting of Westmeath County Council was held on 22 April 1899.

Demography

Westmeath’s population growth has been stronger than the national average. After the Great Famine, the population of Westmeath declined dramatically. It stabilized in the middle of the last century, and has continued to grow. Westmeath's proximity to Dublinmarker, with good motorway facilities and frequent rail service has made commuting popular. The county town of Mullingarmarker which has a population approaching twenty thousand. Athlonemarker, Moatemarker, Kilbegganmarker, and Castlepollardmarker are important commercial and marketing centres.

Economy

Canal at Mullingar
Westmeath has a strong agricultural economy. Initially, development occurred around the major market centres of Mullingar, Moate, and Kinnegad. Athlone developed due to its military significance, and its strategic location on the main Dublin-Galway route across the River Shannon. Mullingar gained considerable advantage from the development of the Royal Canalmarker. The canal facilitated cheap transport for produce to Dublin, Britain and Europe. Athlone and Mullingar expanded further with the coming of the Midland Great Western Railway network in the nineteenth century.

Tourism in Westmeath is generally centred on its many water amenities. The county lakes include Lough Derravaraghmarker, Lough Ennellmarker, Lough Lenemarker, Lough Owelmarker and Lough Reemarker. Both the Grand Canal, and the Royal Canal flow through Westmeath, and the River Shannon (Ireland's key tourism waterway) has a modern inland harbour in Athlone.

The development of industry in Westmeath was mainly based on food processing and consumer products. Whiskey is distilled in Kilbeggan and tobacco is processed in Mullingar. The extensive beef and dairy trade reflects the rich agricultural produce of the county. In recent times, the manufacturer Élan has located in Athlone. The eastern part of the county is home to commuters many of whom work at the technology parks on the western side of Dublin, and around Leixlipmarker, County Kildaremarker.

Infrastructure



Agriculture

Westmeath Cattle

Mullingar is renowned for the high quality of its beef and veal. Weaned cattle from the west of the Shannon, are fattened for market on the lush grasslands of Meath and Westmeath. The cattle are also used to maintain grassland to help sustain wildlife in the areas fringing the Bog of Allen.

Westmeath Horses

Barbavilla Stud Horses
Westmeath is home to many stud farms. The plains of Westmeath, covered in calcium-rich marl, contribute significantly to calcification of foal bones during their formative years. Westmeath mares are usually put into foal in spring to facilitate summer growth. Pregnancy lasts for approximately 335-340 days and usually results in one foal. Horses mature around four years old.

Sport

Westmeath is an active sporting county. Westmeath GAA won the Leinster Senior Football Championship, and the Delaney Cup, in 2004. It won the Christy Ring Cup for hurling in 2005 and 2007.

People

Notable Westmeath natives include:

See also



References

External links



Images

Image:Mullingar 01 area.JPG|MapaImage:Castlepollard_01.JPG|The Round-about, CastlepollardmarkerImage:Moulin_%C3%A0_Pierre.jpg|An Muileann gCearrImage:Les_tours_Christ_le_Roi_Mullingar.jpg|Twin Towers,
Christ the King
Mullingarmarker

Image:SmallStPetersAthlone.jpg|Saint Peter's & Pauls
Athlonemarker
Image:Austin_Friars_01.jpg|Austin Friars An Muileann gCearrImage:Mullingar_Centre.jpg|Bothar Mor Mullingar CentreImage:Canal_%C3%A0_Mullingar.jpg|The channel An Muileann gCearrImage:Celtic_Cross_Columb_Barracks_Mullingar.JPG|Celtic Cross at Columb
Military Barracks, Mullingar
Image:Knockeyon_07.jpg|Lough Derravaraghmarker & KnockeyonmarkerImage:Lough_ennell_ireland.png|Lough EnnellmarkerImage:Hill_of_Ben_Fore.JPG| Hill of Benmarker ForeImage:Plaque_de_la_caserne_Columb_Mullingar.JPG|Columb Baracks, MullingarmarkerImage:Style.JPG|19th century concrete stileImage:Stile_01_Ranaghan.jpg|19th. concrete Stile,(v1)Mass-Path, Ranaghanmarker, CollinstownImage:Stile_02_Ranaghan.jpg|Alternative 19th century concrete Stile (v-2) mass path, Ranaghan, CollinstownmarkerImage:Lough_Lene_Bell_Riplica.JPG|Bell of Lough LenemarkerImage:Lough_Lene_%26_Turgesius_island.jpg|Turgesius Island, Lough LenemarkerImage:Couché_de_Soleil_Lough_Lene.jpg|Sunset on Lough LeneImage:Lough_Lene_bathing.JPG|The Cut Lough LeneImage:Dublin_Mullingar_Train.JPG|Dublin/Mullingar TrainImage:An_Muileann_gCearr.JPG|Kiloutou, An Muileann gCearr (Mullingarmarker)Image:Athlone Ireland and river Shannon.jpg|Athlonemarker
St. Peter & St. Paul
Image:De_Lacey_Castle_01.jpg|Delvin Castlemarker,
Delvin, Mullingar



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