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County Westmeath
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County Westmeath is popularly referred to as the "Lake County". It lies in western part of the province of Leinster in Ireland. The county was part of the ancient central province of Meath and later of County Meath. 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.
ty Westmeath is bordered by the counties of Cavan, Longford, Meath, Offaly and Roscommon.
s and villages in County Westmeath include:
meath County Council offices are at the County Building in Mullingar.
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Encyclopedia
County Westmeath is popularly referred to as the "Lake County". It lies in western part of the province of Leinster in Ireland. The county was part of the ancient central province of Meath and later of County Meath. 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 Cavan, Longford, Meath, Offaly and Roscommon.
Towns and villages
Towns and villages in County Westmeath include:
- Mullingar, the county town
- Athlone, Ballymore
- Castlepollard, Castletown-Geoghegan, Collinstown, Coole
- Delvin
- Finnea, Fore
- Glassan
- Horseleap
- Kilbeggan, Killucan, Kinnegad, Knockdrin
- Moate, Multyfarnham
- Raharney, Rochfortbridge, Rosemount
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 (Ireland) 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 stablized in the middle of the last century, and has continued to grow. Westmeath's proximity to Dublin, with good motorway facilities and frequent rail service has made commuting popular. The county town of Mullingar which has a population approaching twenty thousand. Athlone, Moate, Kilbeggan, and Castlepollard are important commercial and marketing centres.
Economy
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 it's strategic location on the main Dublin-Galway route across the River Shannon. Mullingar gained considerable advantage from the development of the Royal Canal. 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 ninteenth century.
Tourism in Westmeath is generally centred on its many water amenities. The county lakes include Lough Derravaragh, Lough Ennell, Lough Lene, Lough Owel and Lough Ree. Both the Grand Canal, and the Royal Canal flow through Westmeath, and the 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 Leixlip, County Kildare.
Infrastructure
Agriculture
Westmeath Cattle
Mullingar is renowned for the high quality of it's 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
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.
People
Notable Westmeath natives include:
Sport
Westmeath's is an active sporting county. Westmeath GAA won the Leinster Senior Football Championship, and the Delaney Cup, in 2004. It won Christy Ring Cup for hurling in 2005 and 2007.
See also
External links
Images
Image:Mullingar 01 area.JPG|Mapa
Image:Canal Mullingar_01.JPG|Cosán tarraingthe canála
Image:Christ_le_Roi_Mullingar.JPG|Christ the King Mullingar
Image:Castlepollard_01.JPG|The Round-about, Castlepollard
Image:Moulin_%C3%A0_Pierre.jpg|An Muileann gCearr
Image:Les_tours_Christ_le_Roi_Mullingar.jpg|Twin Towers,
Christ the King
Mullingar
Image:SmallStPetersAthlone.jpg|Saint Peter's & Pauls
Athlone
Image:Austin_Friars_01.jpg|Austin Friars An Muileann gCearr
Image:Mullingar_Centre.jpg|Bothar Mor Mullingar Centre
Image:Canal_%C3%A0_Mullingar.jpg|The channel An Muileann gCearr
Image:Celtic_Cross_Columb_Barracks_Mullingar.JPG|Celtic Cross at Columb
Military Barracks, Mullingar
Image:Knockeyon_07.jpg|Lough Derravaragh & Knockeyon
Image:Lough_ennell_ireland.png|Lough Ennell
Image:Hill_of_Ben_Fore.JPG| Hill of Ben Fore
Image:Plaque_de_la_caserne_Columb_Mullingar.JPG|Columb Baracks, Mullingar
Image:Style.JPG|19th. Century concrete Stile,
Image:Stile_01_Ranaghan.jpg|19th. concrete Stile,(v1)Mass-Path, Ranaghan, Collinstown
Image:Stile_02_Ranaghan.jpg|Alternative 19th Century concrete Stile (v-2) chemin de la messe, Ranaghan, Collinstown
Image:Lough_Lene_Bell_Riplica.JPG|Bell of Lough Lene
Image:Lough_Lene_%26_Turgesius_island.jpg|Turgesius Island, Lough Lene
Image:Couché_de_Soleil_Lough_Lene.jpg|Sun-set Lough Lene
Image:Lough_Lene_bathing.JPG|The Cut Lough Lene
Image:Dublin_Mullingar_Train.JPG|Dublin/Mullingar Train
Image:An_Muileann_gCearr.JPG|Kiloutou, An Muileann gCearr (Mullingar)
Image:Athlone Ireland and river Shannon.jpg|Athlone
St. Peter & St. Paul
Image:De_Lacey_Castle_01.jpg|Delvin Castle,
Delvin, Mullingar
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