Historic Sites

Journey Through Time: Discovering the Rich Heritage of Batterstown and Kilcloon

Batterstown Kilcloon Heritage Keepers

Photo credit - Eamonn Gosling Masterpiece Aerial Photography 

Please note: Dowth Hall is not open to the public at this. More details on the Boyne Valley National Park will be announched in due course. 

The Boyne Valley National Park will be the 7th in Ireland and will join Wild Nephin in Mayo, The Wicklow Mountains National Park, The Burren National Park in Clare, Killarney National Park in Kerry, Glenveagh National Park in Donegal and Connemara National Park in Galway. 

The early Christian monastery of Castlekeeran is situated in the valley of the River Blackwater. Very little remains of the structure of this 8th century monastic settlement  but with three high crosses, an Ogham stone and a early cross slab grave on the wall of the one remaining part of the church it was worth paying a visit to. 

St. Ciaran's (also seen as St. Kieran's) Holy Well is near both Castlekeeran (and its monastic site) and Carnaross townlands (approximately three miles). The well is of bedrock and is accessible by crossing one of two bridges across a river. The main well is situated beside a large ash rag tree and has two steps descending into its gorge; two others are proximal and follow along the rock streambed.

Located on the east side of Castle Street, this building ranks as the largest fortified town house to survive in Ireland. The mass of its masonry makes it the most noticeable of the remains of the medieval town of Ardee. Dating from the fifteenth century, this structure is known as ‘Ardee Castle’, ‘St Leger’s Castle’ and ‘Pipard’s Castle’.

The town land of Ardmulchan hugs one of the most beautiful bends on the River Boyne between Navan and Slane. For the most part the area was retained by Hugh de Lacy until sometime at the end of the 12th century. This was at a time when defense of the Boyne was vital to the establishment of the Norman colony in Meath. A substantial motte was built, along with a church and several chapels rebuilt on pre Norman foundations. The church tower may be as early as 13th or 14th century. The present ruins of the church seem to be 15th century.

Athlumney overlooks a key strategic point, where the Leinster Blackwater drains into the Boyne. The placename derives from the Irish for "Loman's ford", referring to Lommán of Trim. Archaeological digs uncovered an Early Christian souterrain.

The motte at Athlumney (which preceded the existing castle) was built in the years after 1172 when Hugh de Lacy, Lord of Meath granted the title of Baron Skryne to his ally Adam de Feypo; he in turn granted Athlumney to a relative Amauri de Feipo, who built the motte.

Battle of the Boyne Visitor Centre: Oldbridge House and Gardens

The Battle of the Boyne (1690) is one of the most significant events in Irish history, part of a wider struggle for power across 17th century Europe.

Beaulieu House is a 17th Century house and gardens.It is one of the first unfortified houses built in Ireland and designed around an old Plunkett property by Sir Henry Tichbourne, who was granted a Patent to the lands in 1666, by Charles II.

Situated on the north bank of the river Boyne between Drogheda and the Irish Sea, the estate was originally owned by the ‘St. Oliver' branch of the Plunkett family and was the Army in Ireland and Governor General of Drogheda at the time of the Restoration of Charles II.

Saint Patrick is said to have first founded a monastery here, giving charge of it to one of his followers, St. Cassanus. The existing ruins, however, do not date back that far. The architectural style of the church indicates it was built in the 15th Century. Most likely, it replaced an older church built in the Romanesque style; a carved Romanesque head is incorporated in the south wall of the bell tower. The round tower predates the church and was built in the 9th or 10th century. It is well-preserved though missing its conical cap.