County Westmeath
Travel Guide

County Westmeath

La Kilbeggan Distillery - © Attila JANDI

Explore County Westmeath

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County Westmeath : Must-See Attractions

Les festivals irish

  • an tairseach samhain uisneach 2026

    An Tairseach: Samhain ar Uisneach

    Saturday 7 November 2026: 2 pm to 11 pm. Sunday 8 November 2026: 7 am to 12 noon. Timings for concerts, tours, screenings and demonstrations will be confirmed in the final programme. Arrive early for ticket checks and the walk across the hill.

    Rathnew Rathnew

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County Westmeath

County Westmeath lies at the heart of the Midlands, surrounded by large lakes, farmland and two complementary centres: Athlone to the west and Mullingar to the east. Its central location makes it easy to include in an itinerary between Dublin, Galway and the Shannon.

Understanding County Westmeath

Westmeath had a population of 96,221 in the 2022 census. Mullingar is the administrative centre, while Athlone, situated on the Shannon and straddling the border with Roscommon, is a major tourist hub in the western Midlands.

Lough Ree and the Shannon

The western part of the county is shaped by the Shannon and Lough Ree. Boating, islands, fishing and lakeside landscapes provide a contrast with the inland farmland.

Mullingar and the central lakes

Mullingar is a convenient base for exploring Lough Ennell, Lough Owel and several estates or heritage sites in the eastern part of the county.

Midlands heritage

Westmeath is home to monasteries, estates, castles and scattered historic landscapes. Its appeal lies mainly in the combination of heritage and wide-open lakeside spaces.

How should you plan your stay?

Two days allow you to combine Athlone and Lough Ree with Mullingar or the central lakes. The train makes it easy to reach the main towns; a car remains useful for rural areas.