Historical Meath - Attractions in County Meath

Kells Round Tower - an Irish round tower in County Meath, nearly complete and displaying fine workmanship.

Saint Patrick challenged the High King of Tara here - today the challenge may be to actually find the place.

Duleek will never make it into the top ten attractions of Ireland, but a visit to the abbey is highly recommended if you are in the area.

The Battle of the Boyne holds an iconic status in Irish history - William III forced a crossing of the River Boyne to carry on towards Dublin, James II fled the battle and ultimately Ireland. The battlesite is being redeveloped in cooperation between the government of the Republic and the Orange Order as part of the ongoing peace process.

Bective Abbey is one of the lesser-known points of interest in County Meath - despite being just a few minutes drive from the heritage town of Trim.

Bru na Bóinne, the landscape containing the famous passage tombs of Dowth, Knowth and Newgrange, is one of the "must-see" sights in Ireland. Through the modern visitor centre tours are arranged, conducted by guides. The winter solistice is simulated in the inner chamber of Newgrange. But is the visit worth the price?

Tara is the ancient seat of the High Kings of Ireland and thus one of the most important sites on the Emerald Isle. Visitors will, however, not find huge structures or monuments here, instead a landscaped area of enormous proportions awaits them.

Once you find the Loughcrew Gardens and they are actually open you are in for a treat. Which hints at a nice attraction, albeit with limited opening times and not too easy to find.

Loughcrew ... if you are interested in megalithic culture and art you should make a beeline here - situated on a group of hills near the town of Oldcastle you will find the second largest (after Carrowmore in County Sligo) megalithic cemetery in Ireland.

Visiting some the ancient monuments in the Boyne Valley is a must for every visitor to Ireland. But nowhere can the past be experienced as impressively as within the central chamber of Newgrange. The Brú na Boinne (pronounced "broo-na-boyne") site is well managed and tours will provide an educational and above all unique experience. This is one of the places in Ireland that will take your breath …

James Martin's photo essay on Bective Abbey on About.com's European Travel website.