Boyne Valley brochure [pdf, 8.03MB] - Discover Ireland

Spire of Lloyd
The only inland lighthouse in Ireland, The
Spire of Lloyd is an 18th century “folly’’
Follies were decorative buildings commonly erected during the 18th
century. Built in 1791, it resembles a giant Doric column topped
with a glazed lantern.
The Spire had a commemorative rather
than functional purpose: it was erected to
the memory of Thomas Taylor, I st Earl of
Bective, by his son. Yet it is called the Spire
of Lloyd since it sits on the Hill of Lloyd,
named after Thomas Lloyd of Enniskillen.
The Spire stands at 30 metres (100ft)
tall, and offers wonderful vistas of the
surrounding countryside. On a clear day,
it is possible to see as far as the Mourne
Mountains in Co. Down.
Did you know? In the 19th Century,
the Spire was used to view horseracing
and hunts.
GPS: 53.730616, -6.908040
Patrickstown
Viewing Point
It is possible to walk up Patrick’s Hill from
the viewing point at Patrickstown. Part
of the Loughcrew complex of passage
tombs, Patrick’s Hill has several ‘’cairns’’ (or
mounds) which conceal Neolithic passage
tombs. There are also the remains of
several standing stones.
Patrick’s Hill is one of three hilltops that
make up Loughcrew; the site itself spans
a ridge of land that runs roughly eastwest
across the middle of Ireland. The
Loughcrew hills are the highest in Co.
Meath, and are each peppered with various
monuments. The other hills in the complex
are Carnbane West and Carnbane East.
Oldcastle
The town of Oldcastle was the 18th century
creation of the Naper family, who received
parts of the Plunkett estate following
the cromwellian wars. Due in part to the
continuation of a Gaelic way of life, the area
suffered badly during the Great Famine
(1845-‘9) in comparison with richer, more
arable and more progressive areas in the
southern part of Co. Meath. The poorest
inhabitants were obliterated by starvation
and emigration. Nonetheless, land
patterns still visible today reveal a strong
attachment to pastoral farming of
’Gaelic’ culture.
GPS: 53.770124, -7.162657
GPS: 53.749760, -7.085113
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