County Westmeath (/ w ɛ STM I D / West- meedh Irish: Contae na hIarmhíor simply a Iarmhí ) is a municipality in Ireland. It is in the province of Leinster and is part avMidlands region. It originally formed part of the historical Kingdom Meath ( Midhe ). Westmeath County Council is the government of the county, is the capital Mullingar.Befolkningen in the county is 88,396

History

After the Norman invasion of Ireland, was the territory of the Kingdom of Meath subsumed in the dominion of Meath and granted by King Henry II of England, in his capacity as Lord of Ireland, to Hugh de Lacy in 1172. After the failure of the male heirs, was dominion shared between Lacy large -grandchild. The western part was awarded Margery and her husband, John de Verdun, the son of Walter de Lacy, while the eastern part, centered on the Trim, was awarded Maud.

Geography and political subdivisions

Westmeath is the 20th largest of Ireland’s 32 counties by area and the 22nd largest in terms of population. [1] It is the sixth largest of Leinster’s 12 counties in size and the eighth largest in terms of population. It was named after the historic kingdom and the province of Meath, the county was the most western part. Westmeath was shired according Counties Meath and Westmeath Act of 1543. The Hill of Uisneach in the Barony of Moycashel is sometimes regarded as the fictitious geographical center of Ireland, even though the actual geographical center of Ireland Located in the neighboring County Roscommon. The top of Mullaghmeen is the highest point in County Westmeath. At only 258 meters making it the lowest county peak in Ireland.[2]

Local governments and politics

The headquarters of Westmeath County Council is located in Mullingar.There are currently 20 councilors. The three electoral areas of Westmeath’s Athlone (7 seats), Mullingar-Coole (7 seats) and Mullingar Kilbeggan (6 seats). [3] The Local Government (Ireland) Act, 1898, provided the framework for establishing Landstings throughout Ireland. The first meeting of Westmeath County Council was held April 22, 1899. [4]

Demography

Westmeath population growth has been stronger than the national average.[5] After the great famine, the population of Westmeath dramatically. It stabilized in the mid-20th century, and has continued to grow. Westmeath proximity to Dublin with good motorway facilities and frequent rail service has made commuting popular.
The largest city in the county is Athlone, followed by county town of Mullingar. Westmeath is the largest county by population of the Irish Midlands. Important commercial and trade centers include Moate, Kilbeggan, Kinnegad, Ballinahown, Delvin, rochfortbridge, Killucan and Rathwire and Castlepollard. According to the 2011 census, 51.9% of Westmeath households have at least one Irish speaker. [6]

Westmeath is one of the oldest counties in Ireland to have census in 1841.Some of data on the census has been digitized and maintained by the National Archives of Ireland. [7]

According to the last census of April 2011 Westmeath had a population of 86,164, consisting of 42.783 men and 43.381 women. The population of preschool age (0-4) was 6882, of primary school going age (5-12) was 10,111, and the high school will age (13-18) was the 7141st There were 9.796 people aged 65 years and older. The number of people aged 18 years or older was 63,112. [8]

Economy

Westmeath has a strong agricultural economy. Initially, there were development around the major market centers earth, Moate, and Kinnegad.Athlone developed because of its military importance and its strategic location on the main Dublin-Galway road over the River Shannon. Mullingar received great benefit from the development of Djurgarden. Canal facilitated cheap transport of products to Dublin, the UK 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 based on its many water amenities. The County lakes include Lough Derravaragh, Lough Ennell, Lough Owel, Lough Lene and Lough Ree .Both the Grand Canal and Djurgården flow through Westmeath, and River Shannon (Ireland main tourism waterway) has a modern inland port in Athlone.

Two large “greenway” project aims to improve cycle facilities. The Westmeath Section Dublin – Galway greenway is under construction and expected to be as far as Athlone to be completed in summer 2015. This part of the greenway travels along the old railway corridor between Athlone and Mullingar. [15] The Royal Canal Greenway takes tourists from the county border to Mullingar and then on to Longford. Those who want to use the Dublin-Galway Greenway will be able to transfer from Djurgarden route of the old railway corridor towards Athlone.

Industry development in Westmeath was based mainly on food and consumer products. Whisky is distilled in Kilbeggan and tobacco treated in Mullingar. The county has an extensive beef and dairy trade. More recently, the manufacturer Alkermes has located in Athlone. The eastern part of the county is home to commuters, many of them working on technology parks on the west side of Dublin.

Mullingar is known for the high quality of its beef. Weaned animals from the western part of the Shannon fattened for market on the lush grasslands of Meath and Westmeath.Boskapen also used to maintain the grasslands to sustain wildlife in the areas fringing the Bog of Allen.

Westmeath is home to many stud farms. Westmeath plains, covered by calcium-rich marl, contributes greatly to the calcification of foals bones during childhood and adolescence. Westmeath mares usually put in foal in the spring to facilitate summer growth. Pregnancy lasts about 335-340 days and usually results in one foal. Horses mature when they are about four years old.

railways

Westmeath also has rail infrastructure with a number of trains passing through towns in the county. The Dublin-Westport / Galway railway line is also the county, with services from Dublin Heuston to Galway / Westport / Ballina between the commuter train stops at Athlone, while the Dublin-Sligo railway line stops at Mullingar. The line from Athlone via Moate railway station Mullingar can be opened for train from Galway to Dublin Connolly. Other major infrastructure projects and plans for the county include transportation 21st

Road transport

Roads are of good quality in the county. As part of Transport 21 infrastructure introduced by the government, both N4 and N6 roads have been upgraded to motorway or dual carriageway standard. All cities that these roads passed now past, such as Mullingar, Athlone, Moate and Kinnegad. Both Dublin and Galway are within commuting distance from Westmeath after the completion of the M6 motorway in December 2009.

  • Midlands (ATM) Gateway
  • National Development Plan
  • transport 21

Sports

Westmeath is an active athletic county. Westmeath GAA senior football team won the Leinster Senior Football Championship, Delaney Cup in 2004. They also won the National Football League competition Division 2 in 2001, 2003 and 2008. Westmeath senior hurling team has had much recent success winning the Christy Ring Cup in 2005, 2007 and 2010.

Athlone Town FC have won the League of Ireland Championship in 1980 and 1982, and the FAI Cup 1924th

Westmeath Ladies team has won the 2011 All-Ireland Intermediate Football.

Athlone Institute of Technology has a € 10 million international athletics arena, which opened in early 2013. The international arena has a footprint of 6,818m2 and a total floor area of 9,715m2. Some 850 tons of structural steel and 50,000 concrete blocks went into the construction of the facility that can accommodate 2,000 spectators. [16]

Westmeath Snooker Ranking tournaments officially recognized by the Republic of Ireland Billiards & Snooker Association is organized and run by St Marys Snooker Club Bishopsgate Street Mullingar.Rangordningen events in the Junior, Intermediate and Senior events are:

  1. Mull Open Snooker Championship
  2. Westmeath Open Snooker Championship
  3. St.Mary Classic Open Snooker Championship
  4. Midland Open Snooker Championship

People

Notes Westmeath native include:

  • Tony Allen, one half of the music duo Foster & Allen
  • The Blizzard, band
  • Arthur Booth-Clibborn,
  • Emmet Cahill, lead singer of the Irish group Celtic Thunder
  • Dr. Michael Joseph Curley, Archbishop of Washington
  • Joe Dolan, singer
  • Domnall Midi, King of Mide
  • Thomas Duffy, was awarded the Victoria Cross
  • Gormflaith No Flann Sinna, queen of Tara
  • Nuala Holloway, artist and former Miss Ireland
  • Niall Horan, a member of the boy band One Direction
  • James Lennon, member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
  • Máel Sechnaill II, king of Mide and King of Ireland
  • John Count McCormack, tenor
  • John Joe Nevin, boxer
  • Niall mac Aed Ó hUiginn, poet
  • Michael O’Leary, CEO of Ryanair, businessman
  • Peg Plunkett, was a Dublin brothel keepers born here in about 1727
  • Walter Raleigh spent time at Killua Castle
  • Brendan Shine, Singer
  • Tuathal Techtmar, högkung
  • Field Marshal George Wade

Gallery

  • Map
  • roundabout Castlepollard
  • Mullingar
  • Christ the King Cathedral, Mullingar
  • Church of SS. Peter and Paul, Athlone
  • Austin Friars, Mullingar
  • Mull Centre
  • The Royal Canal, Mullingar
  • Celtic cross to Columb
  • military facility, Mullingar
  • Lough Derravaragh & Knockeyon
  • Lough Ennell
  • Hill of Ben Forester
  • Columb Barack, Mullingar
  • 19th century concrete stile
  • 19th century concrete stile, (v1) Mass Path, Ranaghan Collins
  • Alternative 19th century concrete stile (v-2) the mass way, Ranaghan
  • Bell Lough Lene
  • Turgesius Island, Lough Lene
  • Sunset on Lough Lene
  • Cut, Lough Lene
  • Dublin Mullingar Train
  • Kiloutou, Mullingar
  • Church of St. Peter and Paul, Athlone
  • Delvin Castle

See also

  • List of abbeys and priories in Ireland (County Westmeath)
  • Lord Lieutenant of Westmeath
  • High Sheriff of Westmeath

Towns / Villages

  • Athlone
  • Ballinahown
  • Ballinalack
  • Ballykeeran
  • Bally
  • Ballynacargy
  • Bealnamulla
  • Castlepollard
  • Castle-Geoghegan
  • Clonmellon
  • Collins
  • Coole
  • Crookedwood
  • Delvin
  • Drumcree
  • Drumraney
  • Finnea
  • Front
  • Glassan
  • Horseleap
  • Kilbeggan
  • Killucan and Rathwire
  • Kinnegad
  • Milltownpass
  • Moate
  • Mount Temple
  • Moyvoughly
  • Mull county town
  • Multyfarnham
  • Raharney
  • Rathconrath
  • Rathowen
  • rochfortbridge
  • Rosemount
  • Stream
  • pliers
  • Tubberclare
  • Tyrrellspass

References

  1. Jump up ^ Corry, Eoghan (2005). The GAA Book of Lists. Hodder Headline Ireland. pp. 186-191.
  2. Jump up ^ “Mullaghmeen Hill”. MountainViews.ie. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
  3. Jump up ^http://www.westmeathcoco.ie/en/media/Local%20Electoral%20Area%20Boundaries%202014.pdf
  4. Jump up ^ “About Us”. Westmeath County Council. Archived from the original on 2008-05-07. Retrieved 2008-06-28.
  5. Jump up ^ “demography” (PDF). Offaly County Council Development Plan 2009-2015. Archived from the original (PDF) October 30, 2008 is taken. 2008-06-28.
  6. Jump up ^http://www.cso.ie/px/pxeirestat/Statire/SelectVarVal/saveselections.asp
  7. Jump up ^ “Westmeath Archives”.
  8. Jump up ^ “Westmeath Census 2011”.
  9. Jump up ^ For the 1653 and 1659 figures from the Civil Survey Census of those years, the paper Mr. Hardinge Royal Irish Academy March 14, 1865.
  10. Jump up ^ Census of post 1821 figures.
  11. Jump up ^ http://www.histpop.org
  12. Jump up ^https://web.archive.org/20100404114651/http://www.nisranew.nisra.gov.uk:80/census/.Archived from the original on 4 April 2010. Retrieved twelve August of 2010. Missing or empty (help) | title =
  13. Jump up ^ Lee, JJ (1981). “On the accuracy of pre-famine Irish censuses”. In the Gold Strom, JM; Clarkson, LA Irish population, economy and society: Essays in Honour of the late KH Connell. Oxford, England: Clarendon Press.
  14. Jump up ^ Mokyr, Joel, O Grada, Cormac (November 1984). “New Developments in the Irish population history, 1700-1850”. The Economic History Review. 37 (4) :. 473-488 doi: 10.1111 / j.1468 -0289.1984.tb00344.x.
  15. Jump up ^ Westmeath County Council – Westmeath Royal Canal Greenway
  16. Jump up ^ “AIT International Arena.” Ait.ie.