County Westmeath
| County Westmeath Contae na hIarmhí |
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| Location | ||
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| Statistics | ||
| Province: | Leinster | |
| County seat: | Mullingar | |
| Code: | WH | |
| Area: | 1,764 km² | |
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Population (2006) |
79,403 | |
| Website: www.westmeathcoco.ie | ||
County Westmeath (Irish: Contae na hIarmhí) is a county situated in the Irish midlands, also popularly called the "Lake county" 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 ended in 1543 when County Westmeath was created under the Counties of Meath and Westmeath Act.
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Towns and villages in Westmeath
- Athlone, Ballymore
- Castlepollard, Castletown-Geoghegan, Collinstown, Coole
- Delvin
- Finnea, Fore
- Glasson
- Horseleap
- Kilbeggan, Killucan, Kinnegad, Knockdrin
- Moate, Mullingar, Multyfarnham
- Raharney, Rochfortbridge, Rosemount
Westmeath is bordered by the counties of Cavan, Longford, Meath, Offaly and Roscommon.
Politics
Westmeath County Council has its headquarters at the County Building in Mullingar. It currently has 22 councillors for the five electoral areas of Athlone (7), Coole (3), Kilbeggan (3), Mullingar East (4) and Mullingar West (5).[1]
The Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898, provided the framework for the establishment of County Councils throughout Ireland and the first meeting of Westmeath County Council was held on 22 April 1899.[1]
Demographics
Westmeath’s population growth during the period 2002-2006 (10.5%) has been stronger than the National average (8.2%).[2]
Mullingar with a population 18,529 is the county administrative centre. Athlone, Moate, Kilbeggan, and Castlepollard are also important commerce and marketing centres within the county.
After the famine the population of Westmeath dropped dramatically, and didn't recover until the late 1950s.
Economy
Westmeath has traditionally been an agricultural economy. Urban development centred on market centres like Mullingar, Moate, and Kinnegad. Athlone developed due to its critical military significance in the 1500s, as it was located where the main East-West route crossed the Shannon. Mullingar got considerable advantage from the development of the Royal Canal making possible bulk transport to Dublin, and the sea. Both Athlone and Mullingar developed further in significance with the construction of the Irish railway network.
Tourism in Westmeath is centred on its water amenities. The county has lakes such as Lough Derravaragh, Lough Ennell, Lough Lene, Lough Owel and Lough Ree. Both the Grand Canal, and the Royal Canal go through Westmeath, and the Shannon (Ireland's key tourism waterway) has a considerable inland harbour in Athlone.
The development of industry in Westmeath was based on food processing and consumer products. Whiskey production in Kilbeggan, tobacco processing in Mullingar, and the meat trade were prominent. In recent times, the drug company élan has located in Athlone. The district to the East of Mullingar is now part of the commuter belt serving the technology parks on the western side of Dublin, proving popular with people who wish to work in Leixlip, County Kildare.
Infrastructure
- Midlands (ATM) Gateway
- National Development Plan
- Transport 21
- Platform 11
Agriculture
Westmeath cattle
Mullingar Heifers
Mullingar Cattle are farmed for their high quality beef, veal, fattened upon the plains of Meath and Westmeath. Much of the country's weaned cattle, in particular, cattle from west of the Shannon, west of Athlone, arrive upon the Westmeath and Meath grasslands, for final fattening before they are conditioned for human consumption. This is also true to a lesser extent for other neighbouring counties, Cavan and Offaly pastures. These cattle are also employed to maintain grassland for wildlife for example, within the surrounding areas fringing the Bog of Allen. They are often used in some of the wildest places for livestock. Depending upon their breed, certain cattle are more suited to hill grazing, heaths, marshes, and moors.
The Westmeath Horse
Collinstown Westmeath
Westmeath contains many stud farms. The rich plains of Westmeath, rich in calcium, marl contribute significantly to calcification of the foals bones during the formation years. Westmeath mares are put into foal preferably in spring so that the foal may grow through the summer, pregnancy lasts for approximately 335-340 days and usually results in one foal. When these Westmeath horses are about four years old, they are considered mature.
People
Notable Westmeath people include:
- Michael O'Leary the CEO of Ryanair
- Joe Dolan
- Broadcaster Marian Finucane
- Nuala Holloway, artist and former Miss Ireland
Sport
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 and 2007.
See also
- List of abbeys and priories in Ireland (County Westmeath)
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "About Us". Westmeath County Council. Retrieved on 2008-06-28.
- ↑ "Demographic context". Offaly County Council Development Plan 2009 - 2015. Retrieved on 2008-06-28.
External links
- Westmeath Census information
- Westmeath Community Development
- STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK FOR THE MIDLANDS GATEWAY; Census stastics page 27
- Athlone Advertiser and Mullingar Advertiser local newspapers
- Local job vacancy listings online
- Westmeath Tourism
- Westmeath Enterprise
- Westmeath Examiner (Local Newspaper)
- Tullamore Life & Community
- Westmeath Bands
- Ardnagrath National School Website
- Rosemount GAA Website
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