County Westmeath

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County Westmeath Contae na hIarmhí
Location
Statistics
Province:	Leinster
County Town:	Mullingar
Code:	WH
Area:	1,764 km²
Population (2006)	79,403
Website: www.westmeathcoco.ie

County Westmeath (Contae na hIarmhí in Irish) is a county situated in the Irish Midlands, in the western part of the province of Leinster. Area: 1,764 km². The county was once part of the ancient province of Meath and later of County Meath, this association was ended in 1543 when County Westmeath was created.

Mullingar (population 18,529) is the largest town and the county town, Athlone (population 16,888)[22,000+ including environs] is also an important town in the county.

The county is famous for its cattle, lakes such as Lough Owel, pewter such as Mullingar Pewter, scenery, the canal, the drug company Elán and is rapidly becoming part of the outer commuter belt of Dublin.

Notable Westmeath people include Michael O'Leary the CEO of Ryanair, Joe Dolan, a popular singer and Nuala Holloway, a former Miss Ireland, model and actress, now artist and academic.

Westmeath's main achievements in Gaelic games were winning the Leinster Senior Football Championship, or Delaney Cup, in 2004, and winning the Christy Ring Cup in hurling in 2005.

[edit] Towns and villages in Westmeath

• Athlone
• Castlepollard
• Delvin
• Glasson
• Kilbeggan
• Killucan
• Kinnegad
• Moate
• Mullingar
• Rochfortbridge
• Tyrrellspass
• Raharney

Westmeath is bordered by the counties of Cavan, Longford, Meath, Offaly and Roscommon.

[edit] External links

• Westmeath County Council
• Westmeath Tourism
• Westmeath Enterprise
• Westmeath Examiner (Local Newspaper)