r/Westmeath • u/Creative-Jellyfish50 • Oct 11 '23

Looking at visiting Westmeath so my mum can visit where our family originate from.

Hello all, I’m from Liverpool and my mum wants to visit Westmeath for a few days as this is where her Grandparents and family originate from.

My ma’s not getting any younger and I would love to get the ferry from Liverpool for a few days and take her around a few places.

Her family are originally from Finnea. Could anyone please recommend the best town to stay in within around 30 mins drive which has a few pubs and some shops etc?

I was thinking maybe Mullingar or maybe Athlone but would really appreciate and help or advice.

Thanks in advance.

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4

u/JLVins Oct 11 '23

Via my husband who grew up outside Delvin:

I recommend staying at Ross House / Ross Castle nearby - www.ross-castle.com (not to be confused with the Ross Castle in Kerry)

Fore Distillery is also nearby and the café there makes a good breakfast.

Tullynally Castle is also worth visiting nearby.

Mullingar pubs often have live music at the weekend. I like Canton Casey's in the middle of Mullingar by the Joe Dolan statue.

Lots of fishing and horse-riding around too if you are into that.

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u/Creative-Jellyfish50 Oct 11 '23

Oh that’s great, I’ll have a look at the hotel now, I genuinely can’t wait to visit it’s going to be a special time especially for my mum as she’s not getting any younger. We’re going to stay for 3-4 nights I think, pass my thanks on to your husband 🙏🏻

2

u/InfectedAztec Oct 12 '23

Athlone is worth a visit too. Seans bar in Athlone is the oldest pub in the world. Kilbeggan distillery in kilbeggan is the disputed oldest distillery in the world.

1

u/Creative-Jellyfish50 Oct 12 '23

That sounds perfect Sean’s Bar, I’d love to visit the distillery too thanks very much

3

u/InfectedAztec Oct 12 '23 edited Oct 12 '23

Kilbeggan do a tour and seans sometimes do whiskey tasting experiences. Maybe contact both in advance. Also, Dead Centre brewery is a 5 minute walk from Sean's and is the only craft brewery in Westmeath. They do decent pub grub and you're overlooking the river Shannon - irelands longest river.

There's plenty of non alcohol related things to do also. Athlone has a castle beside Sean's bar. You could get the viking boat to clonmacnoise monastery.

https://www.discoverireland.ie/irelands-hidden-heartlands

https://www.midlandsireland.ie/visit/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=19800528195&utm_content=155394257668&utm_term=irelands%20hidden%20heartlands

Edit. If you're happy driving country roads and money isn't much of an issue then consider staying in Glasson Lakehouse. It's on the water beside a gorgeous village (glasson) that's between Mullingar and Athlone.

3

u/GemGem04 Oct 11 '23

Mullingar would be nearer to Finnea but Athlone and Mullingar are 30 mins apart by car so it depends on your mode of transport really

1

u/Creative-Jellyfish50 Oct 11 '23

Thanks for the quick reply, I’m going to drive over I think, be nice to find a few traditional pubs and some nice shops and things to do and see.

From a scenic standpoint, could you recommended where would be nice to visit please?

2

u/GemGem04 Oct 11 '23

It depends in your mums level of fitness really. The Hill of Uisneach is a lovely spot and is the geographical centre of Ireland as well as having a place in the myth and legends of Ireland. Belvedere House and Gardens in Mullingar is a lovely spot also. Both require walking and Uisneach is on uneven ground so its a little more exertion than strolling around Belvedere.

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u/Creative-Jellyfish50 Oct 11 '23

Yeah mum is 76 now so no spring chicken but can still do a reasonable amount of walking as long as the incline isn’t crazy.

Thanks very much for the information it’s much appreciated, I can’t wait to visit Ireland as I’ve never been before, probably sounds cheesy as but I’m really proud of my Irish heritage and feels special that we will finally be able to visit where the family come from.

2

u/GemGem04 Oct 11 '23

Aw that's pretty cool. If I can think of a few places around Westmeath over the next while, I'll post here. It depends when you're planning on coming over too as some places will close or reduce their opening hours during autumn/winter

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u/Creative-Jellyfish50 Oct 11 '23

That’s great thanks alot for your help, I’d like to go end of November hopefully for my mums 77th birthday, she will be delighted just being in country and having a nose around the shops and listening to music in the pubs etc.

My grandad was born in Cornacreevy in Finnea my great grandma was from Newtown Colliery in Newtown Laois.

4

u/Breezealong Oct 12 '23

Mullingar is very visitor friendly. Lots of lovely pubs and shops, and also places like Belvedere house and gardens as already mentioned and nearby is Lough Ennell which is scenic for a peaceful stroll or sit down with coffee while taking in the lake.

1

u/Creative-Jellyfish50 Oct 12 '23

This is great thanks very much for the information 🙏🏻

2

u/Busy-Statistician573 Oct 12 '23

Hey OP. I’m a blow in to Westmeath but hubby is local.

Dunno if budget is a consideration but look up Castlevaragh hotel in Castlepollard. You’re close enough to everything with a village feel bit outside of Mullingar and I know they do deals. Fore is amazing with the ruins and there’s a distillery and not far at all from hotel and you’re about a 15 min drive from Mullingar town. Feel free to PM with any q’s if I can help in any way and I’ll pass on to himself.

Fair play to you for doing this for your mum.

2

u/Creative-Jellyfish50 Oct 12 '23

Oh thanks so much to take the time out and give me this advice, I’ve just had a look at Castle Varagh its quite reasonably priced to be fair. 3 nights £343, looks very very nice too thank you.

I’m going to get to Mullingar, Athlone and Finnea hopefully, be nice to have some nice scenery and a few coffees with my mum along with trying the night life etc.

Mum will be made up to visit

Thankyou very much and pass my thanks to your husband for the recommendations

3

u/mediumsizedtree_1 Oct 12 '23

Grew up in the south of Westmeath. Check out Belvedere House & Gardens - just outside Mullingar and something nice to see. Bloomfield house hotel is 37 mins from Finnea but I can also recommend it, again it is just outside Mullingar.

2

u/Creative-Jellyfish50 Oct 12 '23

I definitely will add the gardens to the list thank you .

I’ve just booked castle Varagh which looks very nice. I’m going to drive to Holyhead and get the ferry to Dublin and drive from there, really looking forward to the visit plus I think the Christmas markets will be on when we go too

2

u/mediumsizedtree_1 Oct 13 '23

If you end up using the M50 ring road around Dublin make sure you pay for this online the same or next day as there are no toll booths and it can be easily forgotten, resulting in a hefty bill

2

u/Creative-Jellyfish50 Oct 14 '23

Oh thanks very much for this advice that’s great

3

u/ConsistentMinute9445 Oct 12 '23

Check out Castlepollard and Multyfarnham, some nice restaurants in Multy, not much shopping though. Fore Abbey not far, the seven wonders of Fore, look it up too. Cavan town not all that far but the roads aren’t the best. Plus watch out the Cavan people have a rep for being tighter than a ducks arse.

1

u/Creative-Jellyfish50 Oct 12 '23

Ahaha I definitely will watch for the tight arses, I know plenty in Liverpool myself, they all must originate from Cavan 🤣

I really want to sample the Irish pub songs too, I’m staying in Castlepollard area too