The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1911-05-13


and half miles long. It's greatest
breadth, from the Lellow River to
Ballyhoe lake, is thirty-nine and
half miles. 1t has an area of 9O6
square miles and population of
about $1,000.
The county is nearly all level al
! though there is range of hills in
/; the northwest, and one of these hills
near Carbane is 9O4 feet above sea
level. On the submits of these hills
is an ancient pagan cemetery, con-
slstlng of most remarkable group
OF large cromlechs and sepulchral
chambers, in all respects resembling
the great cemetery at Bruga of the
Boyne. In the barony of Lower
kells, at the north end of the county,
there are hills rising to the height
of 1886 feet. The Hill of Ward, near
Athboy, though only 800 feet high,
is locally. very remarkable
Meath has coast line of seven
miles from the mouth of the Delvin
| river to the mouth of the Boyne.
1t is nearly straight, and there is
fine sandy strand the whole way,
backed by sand hills. The Boyne
river, coming from Kings county and
Kildare, first touches Meath at the
mouth of the Yellow river, at the
southwest corner; it then forms the
boundary line between Meath and
Kildare for eight miles. From there
1T flows through Meath, passing by
Trim, Navan and Slane until it
meets the Mattock river at Old
bridge. Tributary to the Boyne in
Meath are the Blackwater, the
Moynalty, the Cross Water, the
Mattock, the Devlins. the Trembles-
town, the Dee, the Nabber, the
Nanny Water, the Talka and the
Rye Water. Besides these flowing
streams there are many beautiful
lakes irrigating the plains of Meath.
Trim, the assize city of Meath, is
town of great antiquity, with many
remains of its former importance.
! among others fine old castle and
the ruins of several ecclesiastical
establishments, chief among them
being the Yellow Steeple. Trim has
a population of 1000 Navan, which
is situated at the junction of the
Boyne and Blackwater, is good
trading town.. Kells, on the Black
water, is another very ancient town
and has number of very ancient &C.
clesiastical ruins, among them
round tower, a. Celtic cross and a
stone-roofedr oratory called st.
Colu1nb's House:r The town grew
around monastery founded by st.
Colu1nbkille in the sixth century.
Duleek, little town in the eastern
part of the county and located on
the banks Of the Nanny Water, was
place of great, Importance in olden
times. An abbey was founded there
in the fifth century by st. Cianan or
Keenan,, its first Bishop, which con-
| tinued to flourish for many ages;
and the place now contains the ruins
! of monastery.
The present country of Meath
formed part of the ancient king
dom of the same name Tara, the
ancient residence of the Kings, is
situated six miles, from Navan. In
ancient times the chief ecclesiastical
centers of Meath" were Beehive, on
the Boyne, where there is beautiful
ruin; Danshoughlin, in the southeast
of the county, where St. Sechnall, a
nephew Of st. Patrick, founded an
abbey in the fifth century; Shane with
| its fine ruins Of an abbey and hermi-
tage of st. Ere the patron; Skreen,
on hill where st. Patrick lighted
the first paschal fire in the year 433;
and Clonard on the Boyne, where st.
Finnian established his great school
in the sixth century. Not vestige of
the school now remains
| Robin With the Rosy Breast.