County Westmeath
Westmeath is an inland county that contains some delightful scenery - chiefly near the centre of the county, where a number of lakes with wooded shores and surrounding hills provide many charming views. There are other lakes on the northern border and in the west is Lough Ree, a large expansion of the River Shannon, where the boundaries of Counties Westmeath, Longford and Roscommon meet. Much of County Westmeath is flat, and its highest point rises to a little more than 850 feet.
Home to great abbeys and Castles including Tullynally Castle, a 17th century Castle with numerous turrets and battlements. Westmeath has a rich history of wealthy landowners and Anglo-Irish families who stayed for the rich grasslands and glorious rolling countryside. Today many dairy farmers are part of the make up of this county's vibrant agri-industry. Early evidence of the importance of this county as a center for the farming sector are the large market towns of Athlone and Mullingar. Westmeath formed part of the ancient kingdom of Meath and became an independent county in 1541.
