County Westmeath - Towns

Moate gets its name from the very fine motte-and-bailey nearby. The town owes its origins to Quakers who settled and started industries in the area towards the end of the 17th century. The oldest building is "The Castle", an early 16th century, three-storey rectangular building, still inhabited; the owners, Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell, have in their possession an original deed of sale of the castle, dated 1656. Beside the castle is a Quaker cemetery and the remains of a Quaker Meeting House, founded in 1697. Moate is a thriving market town in the centre of a rich castle raising area; it has a large cattle mart and milk pasteurising plant.

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A little village located on the Longford border with Westmeath. The nearby Rath river provides some good fishing.

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Mullingar was one of the ancient palatinate towns founded by the Normans. In 1227 a priory was founded there by the Canons Regular of St. Augustine.

The Dominicans also started a foundation there about the same time. Today the town is a thriving commercial centre and is the centre of probably the best cattle raising district in the country.

It is encircled by the Royal Canal which with its 46 locks links dublin with the River Shannon. The cost of building the canal bankrupted its investors and it was never profitable.

The town contains some early 19th century style architecture and is dominated by the cathedral, dedicated in 1939, and imposing renaissance-style structure. The two towers of the cathedral are 42.6 m high and surmounted by gilt bronze crosses; over the main door there is some fine carved stonework by the late Albert Power, R.H.A.

The great mosaics of St. Patrick and St. Anne, near the high altar, are by Boris Anrep and are in the great tradition of Rome and Ravenna; the cathedral has an interesting ecclesiastical museum.

Other buildings of note are All Saints Church, erected in 1816, the recently restored market house which houses the local museum and the town library.

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About 3 miles (5km) north of Lough Owel is the village of Multyfarnham, one time tidy Towns winner. The modern Franciscan college is on the site of an early monastic foundation, and the tower of the adjoining church probably dates from the sixteenth century, and has recently been extensively restored.

On the lawns around the church and college are elaborate life size Stations of the Cross, one of the finest outdoor shrines in Ireland. There are horse-riding facilities available.

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Located in the east of County Westmeath, near to the border with Kildare. The main N6 road between Dublin and Galway crosses the island. Nearby Lough Ennell provides a good stock of brown trout.

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