122-597: North County Dublin may refer to: Fingal , a county of Ireland , formed in 1994 as one of three successor counties to County Dublin Dublin County North , a Dáil constituency created in 1969 and abolished in 1981 Northside, Dublin , the part of Dublin city north of the River Liffey [REDACTED] Topics referred to by the same term This disambiguation page lists articles about distinct geographical locations with
244-588: A calendar system. However, a writing system would not be developed until the 1st century BC, with the emergence of Ogham . The arrival of the Celts to Ireland around 500 BC heralded the beginning of the Iron Age and the establishment of most of what would define Gaelic Irish culture for millennia; including Primitive Irish , Irish mythology , Celtic paganism and an early form of the Gaelic calendar . The ancient monuments of
366-682: A fulacht fiadh and mounds of burnt soil and stone. Farming was established in the area during the Neolithic period. This provided a surplus of time and resources which was spent constructing great stone monuments to the dead, such as passage graves , court cairns and wedge tombs . There are hundreds of surviving examples of these dotted across the landscape, however, the most famous Neolithic monuments in Ireland are those at Brú na Bóinne – Newgrange , Knowth and Dowth . These tombs were constructed prior to 3,000 BC making them older than Stonehenge and
488-450: A barony in Dublin was in 1842, when the barony of Balrothery was divided into Balrothery East and Balrothery West. Their official status is illustrated by Placenames Orders made since 2003, where official Irish names of baronies are listed under "Administrative units". The boundaries of Fingal do not respect the boundaries of the baronies. As a result, only three baronies are entirely contained in
610-461: A chief who was elected by members of their extended family. Due to a lack of extensive written historical records prior to the 5th century AD, the early history of Meath is murky and largely mythologised. Irish legend purports that the title of " High King of Ireland " stretches back millennia, however, it is today known that the Hill of Tara did not become a seat of power until the early centuries AD. In
732-643: A core area of the Pale, and that part of Ireland was most intensively settled by the Normans and in due course the English. Records during the period 1285–92, of rolls of receipts for taxes to the King, indicate Fingal as a distinct area, listed along with the baronies or lordships of Duleek, Kells, and Loxuedy, as well as Valley (Liffey), and sometimes under, sometimes separate from Dublin. Later records of rolls of receipts e.g. " granted to
854-432: A lack of temperature extremes. Met Éireann records the climate data for Meath from their station at Dunsany , situated 83 m (272 ft) above sea level. The average maximum January temperature is 7.3 °C (45 °F), while the average maximum July temperature is 19.6 °C (67 °F). On average, the sunniest months are May and June, while the wettest month is October with 87 mm (3 in) of rain, and
976-648: A minor kingdom ruled by Hiberno-Norse kings. The Norse Kingdom of Dublin stretched, at its greatest, from Drogheda to Arklow , and while mostly a thin strip of coastal land, from the Irish Sea westwards as far as Leixlip in the central part. After the Battle of Clontarf , when High King Brian Boru curtailed the power of the Vikings in Ireland, the Norse-Irish Kingdom of Dublin continued, with its own bishop, part of
1098-400: A mix of clay, sand and gravel which were deposited by glacial melt-water. In the north of the county near the border with Cavan, a small series of drumlins were formed from boulder clay . Loughs typically form in between the poorly-drained inter-drumlin areas, however unlike in neighbouring Cavan and Westmeath, Meath has no sizable loughs, other than Lough Sheelin , on which the county shares
1220-464: A paramount superiority over several sub-infeudated smaller baronies (such as Castleknock , Santry, Balrothery ), and thus eventually accrued vicecomital attributes. In addition, several other baronies existed as feudal holdings or were created within the geographical territory of Fingal (such as Finglas; Swerdes Swords; Santry, Feltrim ), and in other parts of Dublin: Howth and Senkylle ( Shankill in southern Dublin). A later, related, development
1342-564: A robbery, he was hanged on Arbour Hill nearby. Another Robin Hood–type, known as McIerlagh Gedy, is recorded as a notorious felon responsible for many thefts and incendiary acts in Meath, Leinster, and Fingal, and was taken prisoner, brought to Trim Castle and hanged. Walter de Lacy, Lord of Meath , son of Hugh, gained seisin of the Lordship of Meath by charter in 1194 during Richard I's exercise of
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#17328555421921464-461: A small coastline in its westernmost tip. Meath is largely flat and much of the county lies below 100 m (330 ft) above sea-level. The minor hills in the far west of the county at Loughcrew , and in the north at Carrickleck are the only upland areas of any significance. Slieve na Calliagh , at just 276 m (906 ft) in height, is the highest point in the county, making it the second lowest county top in Ireland. Carrickleck Hill, near
1586-497: A unified Kingdom of Mide ( Meath ), a name derived from the Old Irish meaning "middle". The first annalistic mention of a " High King of Ireland " or " Ard-Rí " was Máel Sechnaill mac Máele Ruanaid , King of Mide, who died in 862 AD, having achieved many victories against both the Norse and the kingdoms of Ulster. Later historians would retroactively apply the title of "High King" to
1708-728: A way too, an estate was given to the Irish chieftain MacGillamocholmog, who held sway over the territory of Cualann (Wicklow) when the Anglo-Normans arrived. De Lacy parcelled out most of this land to his vassals, who were to hold these lands from him, as he had held the Lordship of Meath from King Henry, by military tenure. D'Alton also provides a reference to the enumeration of these grants given in Hibernica, by Harris (pp. 42–43). Hugh de Lacy
1830-478: Is Ireland's primary horticultural region, producing 50% of the national vegetable output and 75% of all glasshouse crops grown in the country. However, the areas of production are coming under severe pressure from other development and the rural towns are increasingly becoming dormitories for the city. Howth Harbour is the biggest fishing harbour on the east coast and the fifth largest in the country. Dublin Airport
1952-405: Is Ireland's third-least forested county and remains well below the national average of 11% forest cover. Historically, Meath was extensively forested, but experienced a near total deforestation between the 16th and 18th centuries. Although it has rebounded in recent years, the low forest cover compared to other counties can be explained by the lack of a significant commercial forestry industry within
2074-704: Is Meath's dominant geographic feature and is synonymous with the county, having defined its history and culture over millennia. The two most prominent tributaries of the Boyne are the Leinster Blackwater , which has its source in Cavan and flows south for 68 km (42 mi) before joining the Boyne at Navan, and the Enfield Blackwater , which has its source in Kildare and flows north for 25 km (16 mi) before joining
2196-540: Is a UNESCO -designated World Heritage Site . The earliest known evidence of human settlement in the county is the Mesolithic flints found at Randalstown north of Navan, which were uncovered during the construction of the tailings pond for Tara Mines in the 1970s. These flints have been dated to 9,500 BC and are one of the earliest traces of pre-historic humans in Ireland . The excavation site at Randalstown also revealed other evidence of hunter-gatherer society, such as
2318-509: Is a county in Ireland . It is in the province of Leinster and is part of the Eastern and Midland Region . It is one of three successor counties to County Dublin , which was disestablished for administrative purposes in 1994. Its name is derived from the medieval territory of Scandinavian foreigners ( Irish : gaill ) that settled in the area. Fingal County Council is the local authority for
2440-429: Is a county in the Eastern and Midland Region of Ireland , within the province of Leinster . It is bordered by County Dublin to the southeast, Louth to the northeast, Kildare to the south, Offaly to the southwest, Westmeath to the west, Cavan to the northwest, and Monaghan to the north. To the east, Meath also borders the Irish Sea along a narrow strip between the rivers Boyne and Delvin , giving it
2562-614: Is bordered by County Meath to the north, by Kildare to the west and by Dublin city to the south. At the Strawberry Beds, the River Liffey separates the county from South Dublin . Fingal varies enormously in character, from densely populated suburban areas of the contiguous Dublin metropolitan region to remote rural villages and small, unpopulated agricultural townlands. The northernmost parts of Ballymun , Santry and Finglas are also part of Fingal. Clonee, part of County Meath, has housing estates in its hinterland that merge into
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#17328555421922684-536: Is listed in the database along with the subdivisions of that county; Fingal, with its subdivisions, is also listed. Fingal County Council is the local authority for the county, established on 1 January 1994 by the same law that created the county. It succeeded the functions of Dublin County Council in the former electoral county of Fingal, which was abolished by the Local Government (Dublin) Act 1993 . It
2806-491: Is located within the county, along with the headquarters of Aer Lingus and Ryanair . The Dublin Airport Authority has its head office on the grounds of the airport. In addition Swords has the headquarters of ASL Airlines , CityJet , and Ingersoll Rand . In 2006 Fingal County Council was lauded by prominent Irish construction industry figures, politicians and EU Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs for becoming
2928-664: Is one of four councils in the traditional County Dublin . The County Hall is in Swords , with another major office in Blanchardstown. The county administration is headed by a Chief Executive, leading a team of functional heads and directors of services. The county council is governed by the Local Government Act 2001 . The council has 40 elected members who are elected by single transferable vote in elections held every 5 years. Fingal County Council sends three representatives to
3050-507: Is predominantly made up of Lower Carboniferous limestone , which underlies approximately 75% of the county. These were laid down following the erosion of mountain ranges which formed due to the closure of the Iapetus Ocean . The eroded mountains became basins in which limestone sediments and carbonate mud were deposited. The oldest rocks in the county are Ordovician in age and are found in thin layers near Slane and at Stamullen , while
3172-445: Is the 14th-largest of Ireland's 32 counties by area, and the eighth-largest in terms of population. It is the second-largest of Leinster's 12 counties in size, and the third-largest in terms of population. Meath borders seven counties – Dublin and Louth to the east, Westmeath and Offaly to the west, Kildare to the south, and Cavan and Monaghan to the north. Meath's coastline stretches for roughly 20 km (12 mi) along
3294-568: The Abbey of Kells , Trim Castle and Slane Castle . The county was also the site of the seminal Battle of the Boyne , which was fought near Oldbridge in 1690, ending in the defeat of James II and his flight to France . It is the only county in Leinster to have Gaeltacht regions, at Ráth Chairn and Baile Ghib , and is also one of only two counties outside of the west of Ireland to have an official Gaeltacht (the other being County Waterford ). Meath
3416-665: The Allianz National Hurling League and (in the past) the Nicky Rackard Cup . From "Irish placenames database" . logainm.ie (in English and Irish). Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs . Retrieved 20 December 2020 . From other sources: 53°27′35″N 6°13′05″W / 53.4597°N 6.2181°W / 53.4597; -6.2181 County Meath County Meath ( / m iː ð / MEEDH ; Irish : Contae na Mí or simply an Mhí , lit. ' middle ' )
3538-605: The Clann Cholmáin dynasty meant that both Magnus and Art Ua Máel Sechlainn were also vying for the kingship of Meath. To circumvent this problem, Henry defined the borders of Meath as they had been in 1153 and ignored all subsequent subdivisions. In March 1172 he granted control of Meath to de Lacy on the condition that de Lacy could personally retain the kingdom with near total autonomy if he could conquer it. Shortly after Henry left Ireland, Hugh de Lacy invaded Meath, setting up countless motte and bailey fortifications throughout
3660-621: The Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly . For elections to Dáil Éireann , the following Dáil constituencies are wholly contained within the county: Dublin Fingal (5 seats); Dublin West (4 seats). Parts of the following constituencies are also contained in the county: Malahide and Howth in Dublin Bay North (5 seats); and small parts of Mulhuddart in Dublin North-West (3 seats). Fingal
3782-440: The Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly . The county town is Navan, where the county hall and government are located, although Trim , the former county town, has historical significance and remains a sitting place of the circuit court . County Meath was divided under the Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898 into the rural districts of Ardee No. 2, Dunshaughlin, Kells, Meath, Navan, Oldcastle, Trim, and Edenderry No. 3, and
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3904-452: The Egyptian pyramids . The site is believed to have been of religious significance and is decorated with megalithic art . Newgrange, the largest pre-historic tomb in Ireland, is most famous for its alignment with the equinoxes , when sunlight shines through a ' roofbox ' and floods the inner chamber. In constructing the tomb the early settlers displayed an advanced knowledge of astronomy and
4026-517: The Farmers' Party returning 6 and 1 TDs respectively in the 1920s and 1930s. No other party would win a Dáil seat in Meath until 2011, when Peadar Tóibín was elected to Meath West for Sinn Féin. Meath East and Meath West return 6 TDs to the Dáil. In the most recent general election in 2020 , Sinn Féin won 2 of the 6 seats, Fine Gael won 2, and Fianna Fáil and Aontú both won 1 seat each. The voter turnout at
4148-503: The Irish Sea between the Boyne and Delvin rivers, making it the second shortest coastline of any coastal county. The county town, Navan, is the largest settlement in Meath, and is situated on the River Boyne in the middle of the county. Navan is approximately 50 km (31 mi) from Dublin and 140 km (87 mi) from Belfast . Owing to the fertile agricultural plains along
4270-422: The Lordship of Ireland , having previously been a minor when his father Hugh de Lacy died in 1186. Walter succeeded to all Hugh's lordships, including of Fingal, which by a grant of King John in 1208 was subsequently confirmed in perpetuity under the same terms as the palatine Lordship of Meath, and no longer limited by the original conditions linked to service as bailiff of Dublin. In 1208 the Lordship of Fingal
4392-519: The Parliament of Ireland and Meath was officially divided in two. The act was intended to allow a more effective administration in both counties, particularly in Westmeath, which England had lost control of. A new shire town at Mullingar was established along with four new baronies , while Trim retained its status as the shire town of Meath. Despite the general loyalty of the " Old English " of Meath to
4514-506: The Social Democrats hold 1. There are 11 independent councillors. Council elections are held every 5 years, with the next election due to be held in June 2029. The 2024 Meath local elections had a voter turnout of 48.0%, a very slight decrease of 0.1% on the 2019 election . The highest turnout was at Kells (55.0%) and the lowest was at Trim (43.9%). The council has three representatives on
4636-509: The Twelve Apostles of Ireland . During the golden age, the monasteries of Meath were associated with several of Ireland's most famous artefacts, which are considered to be among the finest examples of Insular and medieval Christian art in existence. As knowledge of the importance and wealth of the Irish monasteries became more widely known, they began to attract the attention of Vikings , who were raiding throughout Britain and Ireland in
4758-609: The peerage of Ireland of Earl of Fingall was created in 1628 by Charles I , and granted to Luke Plunkett, 1st Earl of Fingall , Baron Killeen, whose first wife, Elizabeth Plunkett née FitzGerald, thus became Lady Killeen The Plunketts also intermarried with the Prestons, Viscounts Gormanston. The Fingall Estate Papers, acquired by the Fingal County Archives, do not however relate to any properties in Fingal, but rather to lands in Meath. That Fingall title became extinct upon
4880-456: The province of Leinster . Historically, the kingdom and its successor territory the Lordship of Meath included all of the counties Meath, Fingal and Westmeath as well as parts of counties Cavan , Longford , Louth , Offaly and Kildare . The seat of the High King of Ireland was at Tara . The archaeological complex of Brú na Bóinne in the north-east of the county is 5,000 years old and
5002-422: The second shortest coastline of any county. Meath County Council is the local authority for the county. Meath is the 14th-largest of Ireland's 32 traditional counties by land area, and the 8th-most populous , with a total population of 220,826 according to the 2022 census . The county town and largest settlement in Meath is Navan , located in the centre of the county along the River Boyne. Other towns in
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5124-403: The urban districts of An Uaimh ( Navan ), Ceannanus Mór ( Kells ), and Trim . The rural districts were abolished in 1925. The urban districts became town councils in 2002. All town councils in Ireland were abolished in 2014. County Meath is within four Dáil constituencies : From 1923 to 1937, and again from 1948 to 2007, there was one Meath constituency. From 1937 to 1948 the county
5246-519: The " Golden Age of Irish Christianity " lasted for several centuries. Irish Scholars preserved invaluable Latin texts and Gaelic monasteries developed into centres of learning which attracted theologians from across Europe. These monasteries sent missionaries to northern and central Europe to re-ignite Christianity and Latin tradition in areas where it had lapsed following the fall of the Western Roman Empire . One of Ireland's national nicknames, "
5368-551: The 1208 grant, the bulk of Fingal, considered to be " in the vale of Dublin ", was part of the County Dublin, when the latter was established as one of the first twelve counties created by King John during his visit to Ireland in 1210. Its history forms part of that of County Dublin for the following eight centuries. As mentioned above, by the time John granted Fingal as part of his inheritance to Walter, Walter's father Hugh had already sub-infeudated parts thereof to his vassals (e.g.
5490-631: The 2016 general election was 61.5% in Meath West, and 63.4% in Meath East. The county is part of the 4-seat Midlands–North-West constituency for elections to the European Parliament . The county is colloquially known by the nickname "The Royal County", owing to its history as the seat of the High King of Ireland . It formed from the eastern part of the former Kingdom of Mide but now forms part of
5612-575: The 400s, Niall of the Nine Hostages , King of the Uí Néill , conquered southward from Ulster and established a kingdom in Meath. As was commonplace in Ireland at the time, the achievements of Niall and his sons were propagandised and mythicised by bards to such an extent that much of what is known about them is considered fictional. Nevertheless, the dynasty of the Uí Néill had become firmly established in
5734-426: The 8th century. The most distinctive feature of Irish monasteries, their round towers , were built in response to these Viking raids. Eventually, the Vikings established kingdoms and founded Ireland's first cities along coastal areas, including in neighbouring Dublin . The High Kings and lesser kingdoms waged near-continuous war with these Norse-Gael settlers for over two centuries. In 1166, Diarmait Mac Murchada
5856-877: The Bellews, Barons of Duleek ; the Darcys of Platten, Barons of Navan; the Cusacks, Barons of Culmullin; the FitzEustaces, Baron Portlester . Some of these again were succeeded by the De Baths of Athcarn, the Dowdalls of Athlumny, the Cruises, the Drakes of Drake Rath, and others. In 1184, Prince John, the Lord of Ireland and Earl of Mortain gave half the tithes of Fingal to the episcopal see of Dublin, which grant
5978-632: The Boyne Valley were assimilated into Celtic culture and mythology, with Cú Chulainn said to have been conceived at Newgrange. Furthermore, tradition states that Sláine mac Dela , of the Fir Bolg , cleared the forest at Brú na Bóinne and built the monuments, becoming the first High King of Ireland. It was during the Celtic period that Meath was divided into 8 túatha , the primary political unit of Celtic Ireland . The túatha were independent petty kingdoms ruled by
6100-516: The Boyne at Donore. In the east of the county, both the River Nanny and the Delvin River flow to the Irish sea, with the latter demarcating the border with County Dublin. As of 2017, there is a total of 13,326 ha (32,929 acres) of forest cover in the county, representing 5.7% of the total land area. This is an increase from just 11,200 ha (27,676 acres) (4.8%) in 2006. Nevertheless, Meath
6222-672: The Boyne valley, which dominate the county, Meath's landscape is largely rural in nature. However, it is also one of the most densely populated counties in Ireland, with a population density of 94 people per km2. Centuries of exhaustive harvesting and reclamation for agriculture have severely reduced the extent of bogland in the county, especially in comparison to the neighbouring Midland counties. However, small areas of bogland survived, such as Jamestown Bog, Girley Bog and Killyconny Bog, and are currently protected as either Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) or Natural Heritage Areas (NHAs). The River Boyne, at 112 km (70 mi) in length,
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#17328555421926344-541: The Castleknock barony, granted by Hugh de Lacy to Hugh Tyrell, etc.). Therefore, Fingal was already a superior lordship (or paramount barony) when originally granted, consisting of lesser baronies (and their several manors), even though some of these may have been granted by Hugh in his capacities as Bailiff or as Viceroy, and later confirmed as held of the Crown in capite , and in perpetuity. The Lordship of Fingal was, therefore,
6466-467: The Cavan border, is the second highest peak in Meath, at 173 m (568 ft). The Hill of Tara is located south of Navan and, although just 155 m (509 ft) in height, is the most prominent feature in the local topography, commanding a panoramic view of the surrounding area. There are eighteen historic baronies in the county. While baronies continue to be officially defined units, they are no longer used for many administrative purposes, and
6588-616: The De Genevilles, Lords of Meath; Mortimer, Earl of March (and later Lord of Trim, from De Geneville); the Plunkets, of Danish descent, Baron of Dunsany and of Killeen , and later Earl of Louth and Earl of Fingall (by letters patent); the Prestons, Viscounts Gormanston and Viscount Tara , the Barnewalls, Baron Trimlestown and Viscount Barnewall ; the Nettervilles, Barons of Dowth ;
6710-408: The High King. Máel Sechnaill's claim to the kingship was challenged by Boru in 1002 at the Hill of Tara. The Meath king requested a month-long truce to rally his subordinates to his side, which Boru accepted, however, Máel Sechnaill was quickly abandoned by his northern Uí Néill kinsmen. Having failed to raise enough troops to challenge Boru, he was forced to abdicate, thus ending the hereditary right of
6832-524: The High-King's coalition army to oust the Normans, however, their forces were routed during an unsuccessful siege of Dublin. Fearing that Strongbow was growing too powerful and might set up his own independent kingdom in Ireland, Henry II of England landed in Ireland in October 1171 to establish control over both the Irish and the Normans. Henry's campaign in Ireland was largely successful and he managed to reign in
6954-713: The Holy See and declared himself the head of the Church in England , and subsequently refused to recognise the Roman Catholic Church 's vestigial sovereignty over Ireland. For this reason, and also to address England's waning power in Ireland, Henry proclaimed the Kingdom of Ireland in 1542, with himself as its monarch. The following year, the Counties of Meath and Westmeath Act was passed by
7076-573: The King in Ireland of the term of Trinity a.r.21 (1293) " for the period 1293–1301 also include references to Fingal listed as a lordship, again along with the baronies of Duleek and Kells, and Dublin City, and Valley, all listed under Dublin County. Several other references also exist in the chancery records of the 14th century. The feudal system was finally completely abolished by the Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Act 2009. The Act abolished feudal tenure, but preserved estates in land, including customary rights and incorporeal hereditaments. A title in
7198-415: The King of Mide. In the late 10th century, the Dalcassians to the south, led by Brian Boru , consolidated their hold over Munster , with Boru establishing himself as King of Munster . The ascendancy of this longtime rival kingdom posed a serious threat to High King Máel Sechnaill mac Domnaill , so the two leaders met at Clonfert in 997 and agreed upon a truce, whereby Boru was granted overlordship of
7320-407: The Manor of Fyngallestoun. The Viscounts Gormanston continued to retain the Lordship of the latter under reversion., and the prescriptive barony of Fingal was also retained by the Viscount Gormanston as an incorporeal hereditament in gross , until passed to the late Patrick Denis O'Donnell , and thence to his son, gazetted in England as Lord O'Donnell of Fingal. Geographically, Fingal became
7442-454: The Normans as well as a few Irish kingdoms which also submitted to him. Most crucially, he retained the city of Dublin, and Baron Hugh de Lacy was made its bailiff. Henry's appointment of de Lacy was intended to act as a counterbalance to Strongbow. However, in order to achieve this, de Lacy would need a strong holding on Irish soil and it was decided that the Kingdom of Meath was to be granted to de Lacy. This grant posed an issue for Henry as
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#17328555421927564-408: The Pale while other areas – which were inhabited by both the Gaelic Irish as well as Normans who were once loyal to the Crown – were now outside the control of the authorities in Dublin. The papal bull Laudabiliter of Pope Adrian IV , issued in 1155, recognised the Angevin monarch as Dominus Hibernae (Latin for "Lord of Ireland"). When Pope Clement VII excommunicated Henry VIII in 1533,
7686-469: The Uí Néill and established himself as the Lord of Meath . This lordship gradually diminished in size before being formally shired as County Meath in 1297, which was further sub-divided into Meath and Westmeath in 1542. The county took its present boundaries in 1977, when much of Drogheda was transferred to County Louth . Meath has an abundance of historical sites, including the Hill of Tara , Hill of Slane , Newgrange , Knowth , Dowth , Loughcrew ,
7808-409: The Uí Néill septs. The feud was eventually resolved, and as part of the resolution, it was decided that the position of King of Tara would alternate between the northern and southern Uí Néill septs. The title alternated between the two septs for over 500 years, with every second king travelling south from Ulster for an inauguration ceremony at Tara. By 740, Domnall Midi of the Clann Cholmáin dynasty,
7930-436: The Uí Néill to the title of High King. Although they remained Kings of Meath, the power and prestige of the southern Uí Néill would never recover. Traditional accounts of the arrival of Saint Patrick and Christianity to Ireland are centred on Meath and its legendary High Kings. Folklore states that he travelled to the kingdom to light a Paschal Fire on the Hill of Slane , in defiance of High-King Lóegaire mac Néill , who
8052-399: The Westminster hierarchy rather than the Irish, though it gradually came under the influence of the Kings of Leinster. Diarmait Mac Murchada established himself there before his expulsion by the High King in 1166, a series of events that led to the area being invaded in the late 12th century, by the Cambro-Normans . This was to form part of the heartland of the area known as The Pale during
8174-432: The barony boundaries in County Meath which continuously changed from the 16th to 19th centuries were last finalised in 1807. Their official status is illustrated by Placenames Orders made since 2003, where official Irish names of baronies are listed under "Administrative units". The largest barony in Meath is Kells Upper, at 49,552 acres (201 km2), and the smallest barony is Dunboyne, at 16,781 acres (68 km2). Townlands are
8296-438: The case of Hugh de Lacy's custodianship of Dublin, in payment of his services. This appears evidenced by several grants which he made in his own name within the city to St. Mary's Abbey , and his foundation of a hospital of St. John of Jerusalem at Kilmainham . Therefore, both Strongbow and Hugh de Lacy exercised lordships within the royal demesne of Dublin. In addition to Dublin city, the royal demesne itself also consisted of
8418-417: The case of those counties created after 1994, they often drop the word county entirely, or use it after the name; internet search engines show many more uses (on Irish sites) of "Fingal" than of either "County Fingal" or "Fingal County". The local authority uses all three forms. Fingallian is an extinct language , a hybrid of Old and Middle English and Old Norse , with Leinster Irish influences. It
8540-432: The centre of Ireland and they proclaimed themselves the Kings of Tara and Kings of Uisnech . The Uí Néill dynasty subsequently divided into two septs, the Northern Uí Néill who remained in Ulster, and the Southern Uí Néill who now ruled over several small, disjointed kingdoms established throughout modern-day Meath, Westmeath and Dublin. Following the split, a series of internecine conflicts erupted between members of
8662-438: The constitutional position of the lordship in Ireland became uncertain. Following Henry's split with the church, the Tudors heralded the end of monastic Meath. Church Lands which comprised roughly one-third of the county were seized and granted to Protestant English statesmen and soldiers as a form of payment. Monasteries were suppressed and their treasures were either looted or scattered by Irish scholars to protect them. Meath
8784-543: The county include Trim , Kells , Laytown , Ashbourne , Dunboyne , Slane and Bettystown . Colloquially known as "The Royal County", the historic Kingdom of Meath was the seat of the High King of Ireland and, for a time, was also the island's fifth province . Ruled for centuries by the Southern Uí Néill dynasty, in the late 1100s the kingdom was invaded by the Anglo-Norman conqueror Hugh de Lacy , who ousted
8906-611: The county is part of the Mid-East Region – a NUTS III entity – which is in turn part of the level II NUTS entity – Eastern and Midland Region . Meath County Council is the local authority governing County Meath. It has 40 councillors, and the county is divided into divided into six local electoral areas , each of which also forms a municipal district: Ashbourne (6), Kells (7), Laytown–Bettystown (7), Navan (7), Ratoath (7) and Trim (6). Fine Gael currently hold 11 seats, Fianna Fáil hold 9, Sinn Féin hold 6, Aontú hold 2, and
9028-557: The county. In 2022 the population of the county was 330,506, making it the second most populated council in Dublin and the third most populous county in the state. Fingal is one of three counties into which County Dublin was divided in 1994. Swords is the county town . The other large urban centre is Blanchardstown . Smaller towns include Balbriggan and Malahide . Suburban villages with extensive housing include Baldoyle , Castleknock , Howth (and Sutton), Lusk , Donabate , Portmarnock , Skerries . Small rural settlements exist in
9150-443: The county. Meath is one of the smallest contributors to the national timber supply, and over two-thirds of Meath's forests are broadleaf – the highest of any county – as opposed to more commercially viable conifers . Additionally, three-quarters of forests within the county are privately owned. Under Köppen climate classification , Meath experiences a maritime temperate oceanic climate with cool winters, mild humid summers, and
9272-584: The county: Balrothery East , Balrothery West , and Nethercross . Parts of three baronies are also contained in the county: Castleknock , Coolock , and Newcastle . In the case of Castleknock, most civil parishes of the barony are under the jurisdiction of Fingal County Council. Some of the eastern parishes are under the jurisdiction of Dublin City Council. The core of the civil parish of Finglas lies within Dublin City. There are two substantial exclaves of
9394-410: The death of the 12th and last Earl in 1984, along with a peerage barony of the same name, not to be confused with the titular prescriptive barony of Fingal previously mentioned. In 1985, County Dublin was divided into three electoral counties: Dublin–Belgard to the southwest, Dublin–Fingal to the north, and Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown to the southeast. At the 1991 local election , the area of Dublin–Fingal
9516-431: The driest month is June with 67 mm (3 in). Humidity is high year-round and rainfall is evenly distributed throughout the year. A number of synoptic stations which record rainfall are located throughout the county. The driest parts of the county are in the east and south, while the wettest are in the west. Julianstown near the east coast receives 781 mm (31 in) of rainfall per year, while Oldcastle in
9638-450: The earlier Kings of Tara, although there were no contemporary references to either the Kings of Tara or Mide being referred to as Ard-Rí prior to the 9th century. During the reign of Máel Sechnaill mac Domnaill in the 970s, the fort of Dun-na-Scia near Lough Ennell became the permanent royal residence, thereby creating two seats of power within the kingdom – one for the High King and one for
9760-479: The energy used for heating and hot water coming from renewable sources such as solar, geothermal or biomass. The Technological University Dublin formerly known as the Institute of Technology, Blanchardstown is the largest third-level education facility in Fingal. Fingal is home to Morton Stadium , Ireland's national athletics stadium and 2003 Special Olympics venue. Between 2007 and 2011 Morton Stadium hosted
9882-448: The estates of Ongar in western Fingal. The former county of Dublin was divided into nine baronies . The part of Fingal within County Dublin was in later centuries subdivided into the following administrative baronies: Balrothery West , Balrothery East , Nethercross , Castleknock and Coolock . While baronies continue to be officially defined units, they are no longer used for many administrative purposes. The last boundary change of
10004-413: The first local authority in Ireland to introduce mandatory sustainable building requirements. The policy, which relates to all construction in 8 parts of the county—including roughly 13,000 new homes—stipulates that the amount of energy and CO 2 emissions associated with the heating and hot water of all buildings must be reduced by at least 60% compared to Irish Building Regulations, with at least 30% of
10126-626: The government in Dublin, the introduction of new Anglican English settlers, seen as more reliable by the English government, undermined the power of the Anglo-Norman aristocracy who had remained overwhelmingly Catholic following the Reformation . Although there was a fervent anti-Catholic sentiment in England at this time, no punitive laws were enacted out of fear that they would provoke further rebellion. However, this changed following England's victory over
10248-466: The highest concentration of zinc per square kilometre on Earth. The ubiquity of these minerals gave rise to the term " Irish-type " lead-zinc deposits, which is a descriptive term for lead-zinc deposits hosted in carbonate rocks. Meath's landscape was shaped during the Last Glacial Period , which ended 11,700 years ago. The soils of the county are mostly derived from glacial till , consisting of
10370-653: The home matches of the former soccer team Sporting Fingal F.C. The county has many GAA teams which are still organised under the County Dublin GAA since the political county changes have not affected the GAA Counties (see Gaelic Athletic Association county ). However, a team representing Fingal as county has competed against GAA counties as a sub-region of the GAA county of Dublin in the Kehoe Cup , Division 2B (as of 2014) of
10492-412: The king at Tara . These princes, and various Gaelic chieftains, held sway over the area until the coming of the Vikings in the 8th century. By 841 AD a Scandinavian settlement had been established at Dublin; this was abandoned in 902, re-established in 917, and developed thereafter. It was so established by the 11th century that it was regarded even amongst the surrounding native Gaelic population as
10614-492: The kingdom. de Lacy made the ecclesiastic centre of Trim his stronghold, constructing a huge ringwork castle defended by a stout double palisade and external ditch on top of the hill. With de Lacy now at the border of Ua Ruairc's outermost settlement of Kells, a parlay was arranged and the two leaders met on the Hill of Ward for negotiations. During these negotiations, a dispute erupted and de Lacy's men killed Ua Ruairc. Both sides blamed
10736-427: The land of saints and scholars ", is in reference to this period. Patronage of the Church was also used as a political tool to project wealth and prestige in Irish kingdoms until the 16th century. Successive High Kings and Kings of Meath supported the establishment of prominent religious settlements and institutions, such as Kells and Clonard Abbey , the latter of which taught Ireland's most significant saints, dubbed
10858-608: The late 6th century AD Christianity had supplanted Celtic Paganism in every corner of the island. In a similar manner to how the Celts assimilated prehistoric traditions into their beliefs, many Celtic pagan beliefs and festivities were adapted to Celtic Christianity , such as Samhain , which became Halloween , and Imbolc , which became St. Brigid's Day. By the 7th century a network of monasteries and religious settlements had been set up throughout Ireland and Western Scotland , supported by local kings and chieftains. Beginning at this time,
10980-449: The lordship followed over the next century. The Lordship was formally shired in 1297 into the County of Meath. Following this, Meath developed into the largest and wealthiest shire in Ireland, with the eastern portion characterized by well-populated market towns, nucleated villages and a strong commercial focus on labour-intensive cereal cultivation, with one English official noting that Meath
11102-413: The most powerful branch of the southern Uí Néill, had conquered or subdued all neighbouring clans in Meath, and the Uí Néill were recognised as their suzerain . Domnall was now in possession of both Tara, the seat of the Uí Néill, and the Hill of Uisneach , which held symbolic significance as the geographical centre of Ireland . Having secured his power in the heart of the island, Domnall now presided over
11224-408: The most prominent Anglo-Norman families, who were meant to act as England's viceroys in Ireland, no longer followed English laws or customs. English authority continued to retreat eastward until Trim, Athboy and Kells were the outermost settlements of The Pale , an area centred around Dublin where English law was still obeyed. This situation meant that by the 1500s part of County Meath was within
11346-451: The northern and western parts of the county. The motto of the arms of Fingal reads Irish : Flúirse Talaimh is Mara meaning "Abundance of Land and Sea". The motto reflects the strong farming and fishing ties historically associated with the area. It also features a Viking longboat, which represents the arrival of the Norse in Fingal, where they became integrated with the existing Irish. Fingal
11468-571: The other, with the Irish annals reporting that Ua Ruairc was " treacherously slain ". By 1175, de Lacy had conquered the entire territory, executing Magnus Ua Máel Sechlainn that year. He expanded existing settlements into charter towns throughout Meath, including Trim, Athboy, Kells and Navan; and he married Rose Ní Conchobair , the High-King's daughter, in order to cement his claim as Lord of Meath. Hugh de Lacy died in 1186 and several informal divisions and feuds among de Lacy's descendants over control of
11590-535: The parish proper that are located in Fingal. In the case of Coolock, most civil parishes of the barony are in Dublin City. The parishes listed in the table below are located in Fingal. In the case of Newcastle, most of the barony is situated south of the River Liffey and so is under the jurisdiction of South Dublin County Council . Six townlands are located north of the Liffey in the civil parish of Leixlip . Listed in
11712-529: The previous decade had been a tumultuous time in Meath. There were four rival heirs to the kingship and each claimant held a different part of the kingdom. The strongest claim came from the King of Breifne, Tigernán Ua Ruairc , who – through conquest, marriage and an alliance with the church – had subsumed almost all of eastern Meath into his kingdom by the time of the Norman arrival. Strongbow also had nominal claim to Meath as King of Leinster. A war of succession within
11834-442: The royal manors of Crumlin , Esker , Newcastle , and Saggart , in the south-west of the county, and the royal demesnes of O Thee (O'Teig), O Brun (O'Broin), and O Kelly (O'Ceallaigh) in the south-east of the county, which were rented from the Crown by Irish-speaking tenants. Over half of the land in the county of Dublin was granted to religious houses and priories, as well as archbishops and monasteries, and minor lay lords. In such
11956-584: The same name. If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=North_County_Dublin&oldid=1070838195 " Category : Place name disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages Fingal Fingal ( English: / ˈ f ɪ ŋ ɡ ɔː l / FING -gawl ; from Irish Fine Gall , meaning ' foreign tribe ')
12078-403: The same on a basis of grand serjeanty for his services as bailiff to the King. The grant describes the scope of administrative responsibility, and the limits of powers delegated. The gist of the grant is recounted as follows: Grant and confirmation to Walter de Lascy, on his petition, of his land of Meath; to hold of the King in fee by the service of 50 knights; and of his fees of Fingal, in
12200-501: The smallest officially defined geographical divisions in Ireland, there are approximately 1,634 townlands in the county. Historic town boundaries are registered as their own townlands and much larger than rural townlands which, within County Meath, are typically small in size, ranging from just 1 acre to 2,681 acres, with the average size of a townland in the county (excluding towns) being 356 acres. For statistical purposes at EU level ,
12322-502: The southern half of the island. The Kingdom of Leinster immediately rebelled against Boru and allied with the Norse Kingdom of Dublin . Mide and Munster formed a defensive alliance and, after a series of campaigns throughout 998–999, crushed the forces of Leinster and Dublin, which both became vassals of Munster. Boru now believed that Munster was the most powerful kingdom in Ireland and therefore he, and not Máel Sechnaill, should be
12444-527: The successive periods of rule by Anglo-Norman and the later kings of England. With the arrival of the Anglo/Cambro-Normans in 1169, the territory of the old Gaelic Kingdom of Meath was promised in around 1172 to Hugh de Lacy by King Henry II of England . At that time, Meath extended to most of the current county of Fingal (including as far as Clontarf , Santry and the barony of Castleknock ), County Westmeath and part of County Kildare. Fingal
12566-559: The table below, they are part of Fingal. The name "Fingal" derives from the medieval territory of Fine Gall (tribe or territory of foreigners), the Viking settlement north of Dublin. The Vikings referred to the hinterland of Dublin as Dyflinarskiri . In Ireland, the usage of the word county nearly always comes before rather than after the county name; thus " County Clare " in Ireland as opposed to " Clare County " in Michigan , US. In
12688-453: The territory north of the river Liffey was known as Mide or Midhe , i.e. "the Kingdom of Meath" (that to the south was known as Coigh Cuolan or Cualan ). The west of this area was known as Teffia , and the east as Bregia (Latinised from Gaelic Magh Breagh, "the great plain of Meath"). Bregia comprised five Gaelic triocha-cheds (equivalent to cantreds) or the later baronies , and was ruled by
12810-408: The vale of Dublin; to hold in fee by the service of 7 knights; saving to the King pleas of the Crown, appeals of the peace, & c., and crociae, and the dignities thereto belonging; the King's writs to run throughout Walter's land. Further grant to Walter of the custody of his fees, although the lords thereof hold elsewhere in capite; saving to the King the marriages of the heirs of those fees. In
12932-410: The west receives 1,002 mm (39 in). The annual precipitation at Dunsany is 847 mm (33 in). Snow showers generally occur between November and March, but prolonged or heavy snow events are rare. Although frost is common in the central and western areas of the county, temperatures typically fall below 0 °C (32 °F) on just a few days per year. The lowest ever temperature in Meath
13054-491: The youngest rocks are of Paleogene age, and were formed as a result of volcanic activity. These are found in small dykes and sills throughout the county. Crustal stretching beneath Ireland during the Carboniferous allowed fluids to infiltrate through faults in the rock, and extensive mineralisation occurred. Most notably, zinc-bearing Sphalerite and lead-bearing Galena were deposited in vast quantities, giving Ireland
13176-527: Was "as well inhabited as any shire in England". Many of the Lordship of Ireland's judges, barristers and government officials such as Lord Chief Justice of Ireland , Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer and Chief Justice of the Common Pleas for Ireland hailed from the county. Between the 13th and 15th centuries, English power diminished significantly in Ireland for three primary reasons. Firstly, there
13298-480: Was a reconsolidation and resurgence in the power of the Irish kingdoms which had been shattered during the Norman invasion. Secondly, the onset of the Black Death devastated nucleated settlements such as walled Anglo-Norman towns but had a significantly smaller impact in more sparsely populated Gaelic kingdoms. Lastly, and of most concern to the English crown, the gradual gaelicisation of the Normans meant that many of
13420-907: Was appointed Viceroy in 1178, and again in 1181 after a brief period of royal disfavour. By virtue of his grant of Meath, Hugh de Lacy was appointed a Palatine Count in that territory and divided it amongst his various vassals who were commonly called "De Lacy's Barons". These were: Hugh Tyrell, Baron of Castleknock; Jocelyn de Angulo , Baron of Navan and Ardbraccan ; De Misset, Baron of Lune; Adam de Feypo , Baron Skryne ; Fitz-Thomas, Baron of Kells ; Hussey, Baron of Galtrim; Richard de Fleming, Baron Slane ; Adam Dullard or Dollard, of Dullenvarty; Gilbert de Nugent, Baron Delvin and later Earl of Westmeath ; Risteárd de Tiúit , Baron of Moyashell; Robert de Lacy's descendants, Barons of Rathwire ; De Constantine, Baron of Kilbixey Petit, Baron of Mullingar ; Meyler FitzHenry of Maghernan, Rathkenin, and Ardnocker. As Burke points out, to some of these there descended
13542-814: Was banished from Ireland by the High King Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair for the abduction of Lady of Meath Derbforgaill ingen Maeleachlainn , wife of Tigernán Ua Ruairc , King of Breifne . Mac Murchada returned with Norman allies and landed at Bannow in Wexford in 1169, after which they conquered northward throughout 1169–70, initiating the Norman Invasion of Ireland . In response, the High King assembled an alliance which included King Magnus Ua Máel Sechlainn of Meath as well as soldiers from Connacht , Breifne and Dublin along with their respective kings. They confronted Mac Murchada's forces at Ferns and an agreement
13664-520: Was confirmed in 1337 by King Edward, and in 1395 by King Richard II when in Dublin. John featured prominently in the tales of Robin Hood during the reign of Richard I of England , absent on the Third Crusade . In 1189, on the breaking up of Robin Hood's company, Robin Hood's companion Little John , is said to have exhibited his feats of archery on Oxmanstown Green in Dublin, until having been detected in
13786-478: Was granted to Walter de Lacy by King John of England . The first known administrative provision related to the original name was a palatine grant of the Paramount Lordship of Fingal , confirmed by letters patent from King John. This feudal barony or Prescriptive barony was granted to Walter de Lacy and his heirs in perpetuity in 1208. The grant was based on Hugh de Lacy, Walter's father, having held
13908-493: Was invaded by Tyrone and its allies in 1539 who raided as far south as Navan, which was razed to the ground. King Conn O'Neill had been recognized as " King of our realm in Ireland " by Pope Paul III and was encouraged to expel Protestant influence from the island. However, the conflict stoked an unexpectedly swift reaction from the typically lethargic Dublin government, and Tyrone was defeated by Lord Deputy Grey and forced to sue for peace in 1541. Henry had broken away from
14030-403: Was on the nearby Hill of Tara celebrating a pagan festival. Patrick was then summoned to the king's court and so impressed Lóegaire with his teachings that he was allowed to continue preaching Christianity across Ireland. While Christian missionaries were documented in Ireland long before the time of Saint Patrick, and accounts of his activities are heavily shrouded in myth, what is known is that by
14152-554: Was reached whereby Mac Murchada was acknowledged as king of Leinster, in return for acknowledging Ruaidrí as his overlord and agreeing to send his foreign allies away permanently. However, Mac Murchada breached the agreement and enlisted more Normans to his side before continuing his conquests, capturing Dublin in 1171 and forcing the capitulation of Magnus Ua Máel Sechlainn. Following Mac Murchada's death in May 1171, Strongbow succeeded him as King of Leinster and, once again, Magnus joined
14274-497: Was recorded in December 2010, at −13.3 °C (8 °F). Summer daytime temperatures range between 15 °C (59 °F) and 22 °C (72 °F), with temperatures rarely going beyond 25 °C (77 °F). As with rainfall, the sunniest areas of the county are located along the coast. The climate gets progressively duller and wetter inland due to the convective development of clouds over land. The county's geological landscape
14396-469: Was renamed as Fingal. On 1 January 1994, under the Local Government (Dublin) Act 1993 , the old County Dublin ceased to exist and was succeeded by three counties: Under the Local Government Act 2001 , Fingal is determined and listed as a county. The Placenames Committee maintains the Placenames Database of Ireland , which records all placenames, past and present. The former county of Dublin
14518-501: Was spoken by the people of Fingal until the mid-19th century. Fingal is within the part of the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly, established in 2015, one of three such regional assemblies in the state. Within that, it is part of the Dublin strategic planning area. In the 2nd century AD, Ptolemy identified Eblana (Dublin) as the capital of a people called the Eblani . In later centuries
14640-471: Was the granting of the first viscountcy in Ireland in 1478 to a Preston, Lord Gormanston, the Premier Viscount of Ireland, who at the time was a major landowner in the Fingal area, and a direct descendant of Walter de Lacy. That viscountcy was called after Gormanston as the latter was the principal seat and Manor of the Prestons at the time, having been acquired upon their relinquishment of occupancy of
14762-486: Was therefore implicitly included in the grant of "Meath" either as part of Meath proper or under the additional element of that grant "and for increase to the gift, all fees which he has or shall acquire about Dublin". This element of the grant related to his role as Bailiff and was copied into the Gormanston Register. Strongbow was probably also assigned some fees within the royal demesne of Dublin, as in
14884-589: Was within the Meath–Westmeath constituency. Between 1923 and 2007 a total of 31 general elections and by-elections were held. Following the demise of Cumann na nGaedheal in the 1930s, national politics in the Meath and Meath–Westmeath constituencies was dominated by Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Labour Party. During those years, the Meath and Meath–Westmeath constituencies returned a total of 106 TDs to Dáil Éireann , of which 54 were from Fianna Fáil, 34 from Fine Gael and 11 from Labour; with Cumann na nGaedheal and
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