Sports & Leisure
There is an extensive range of activities available to visitors to Navan and the Royal County. These include Horse Racing, Angling, Golfing, Walking and Garden Tours.
Angling and Fishing
Ireland is widely recognised as the last unspoilt fishing ground in Europe. County Meath is in the heart of the Eastern and Boyne Valley fisheries, providing some of the best game and course and sea angling in the country. Catering for all levels of anglers and with great diversity of waters in the local fisheries, you are invited to sample the quality and variety of fishing for yourself.
The River Boyne and it’s tributaries provide excellent game angling as do a series of small to medium sized lakes which are to be found near Collinstown and Fore in Co. Westmeath. These lakes hold excellent stocks of coarse fish as do the Royal and Grand canals at Enfield and Edenderry.
Drumconrath which has roughly 20 lakes within the surroundings of the village, has a choice of top class fishing waters to offer the visitor. Types of fish available in these waters are: bream, rudd, pike and tench. Some even better lakes include Moynalty, Ballyhoe and Capragh. Sea angling can be found where the Boyne flows into the Irish Sea on the stretch of coastline from Clogherhead South to Laytown. Season – February/March to September.
Upper Boyne – Navan: Trout or salmon permits available from Clarke’s Sports Den, Trimgate St, Navan – Telephone 046 902 1130.
Lough Sheelin, the White Lake and Lough Bane are good fishing areas for trout.
Rathbeggan Lakes – Dunshaughlin, Co. Meath, Telephone 01/8240197.
Website: http://www.rathbegganlakes.com
Stillwater rainbow trout fishery. 10 minutes from M50 Motorway.
Slane, Co. Meath – Day passes available. Also tourist information point at Battle of the Boyne site. Salmon of Knowledge Fishing Competition held in August each year.
Shooting
Meath will provide unsurpassed testing for both beginner and experienced shooting enthusiast whether your interest is clay pigeon or driven pheasant shooting.
Horse Racing
Host to the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse, Meath has no fewer than four racetracks. As well as Fairyhouse, racing can be found at Navan racecourse, Bellewstown and Laytown, home of Europe’s only strand races.
Fairyhouse – Home to the Irish Grand National;
Telephone 01/8256167, Fax 01/8256051,
E-mail: info@fairyhouse-club.com
Navan Race Course – Telephone 046/9021350
Laytown – famous for its annual strand races, the only official strand races remaining in Europe.
Telephone 041/9842111 Fax 041/9837566
Bellewstown Races – 3 day annual racing festival.
Telephone 041/9842111 Fax 041/9837566
Also Tattersalls in Fairyhouse, County Meath, is Ireland’s largest bloodstock sales arena.
Golf
The county has an abundance of attractive golf courses, many a short drive from Navan, all designed to provide enjoyment should you be seeking a truly competitive game or simply a relaxing round in pleasant surroundings. These range from the beautiful links of Laytown to the inland splendour of Royal Tara Golf Course.
Walking
The Boyne Way, which begins in the town of Navan, and the Loughcrew Hills provide perfect walking through the beautiful landscape that is Ireland’s Royal County.
Gardens
Whether you are an avid horticulturist or a weekend stroller, Meath’s many formal gardens are places to let your senses and mind wander, enjoying the beauty and subtlety of the ever-changing plants and seasons.
