An Seanchaisleán: Churches, Monuments and History

An Seanchaisleán (Oldcastle) offers several themes to consider when planning a trip: church architecture, historic burial sites, a monument in the market square and an easy 5 km walking route. In County Meath, the historical connections also extend to prehistoric monuments.

Churches and older burial sites in Oldcastle

Saint Bride's Church of Ireland in Oldcastle was built in 1816 on the site of an earlier church. Its tall spire rises above the surrounding buildings on the square in Oldcastle. The churchyard has marked burials dating from around 1725, as well as gravestones from the 18th and 19th centuries. The burials dating from around 1725 predate the church building of 1816; the gravestones also come from two later centuries.

Another church building is Saint Brigid's Catholic Church, which was built in 1899. It is associated with Saint Oliver Plunkett. The construction dates of 1816 and 1899 place the two churches in different periods; the connection with Saint Oliver Plunkett belongs to the Catholic church.

Monument, station building and walking route

The Cogan and McDonnell Monument stands in the centre of Oldcastle's market square. It is a freestanding monument made of dressed limestone, in the style of a Celtic high cross, and dated to 1961. Its material and form distinguish it from the church buildings and provide another point of reference for the town's history.

Another architectural feature is the former stationmaster's house at Oldcastle railway station. It was designed in the Italianate style, retains many original features and is now used as a residence. Its former function as a stationmaster's house and its Italianate design make it a distinctive part of the local built heritage.

If you would like to plan a walking activity alongside the historical themes, there is the “Oldcastle Town” route: an easy 5 km walk along roads and paths in Oldcastle. This gives you both local history and a specific route length to help with trip planning.

Prehistoric and historical connections in County Meath

Near Oldcastle, in County Meath, lies Loughcrew Megalithic Cemetery, also known as the Hills of the Witch. This group of Neolithic passage tombs stretches across four gently rolling hilltops and dates from around 3000 BC. The site connects the region's prehistoric history with a landscape of several ridges.

The wider destination of County Meath is also home to the Brú na Bóinne World Heritage Site, situated in a bend of the River Boyne. It includes the passage tombs of Knowth, Newgrange and Dowth, built around 3200 BC. The dates offer a comparison with Loughcrew: around 3200 BC for the passage tombs of Brú na Bóinne and around 3000 BC for Loughcrew.

Other historical sites in County Meath offer different perspectives. The Hill of Tara was the seat of the High King of Ireland and a major centre of political and religious power. Trim Castle is Ireland's largest Anglo-Norman castle and stands on the south bank of the River Boyne. Four high crosses survive in Kells; the base of a fifth is visible on the grounds of St Columba’s Church. These places add distinct connections to the history of County Meath to the churches, burial sites and market-square monument in Oldcastle.

Discover more destinations: Dun Buinne, Dunsany, Rathmolyon, Navan, Longwood, Duleek, Kilmessan, Kilbride

For the wider travel overview: County Meath.