Genealogy in Meath
Meath, a county of Ireland, province of Leinster, bounded N by Cavan, Monaghan, and Louth; E by the Irish Channel and the port of Dublin; S by Kildare; and W by W. Meath ( Hotels, Meath, Ireland) , 36 m. long, and 44 1/2 broad. Its principal rivers are Boyne, Black Water, and tributary streams of the Nanny, the Rye Water and Moynalty. Meath ( Bed and breakfasts, Meath, Ireland) is the site of some of the most extraordinary pre-historic remains to be found anywhere in Europe, the vast Neolithic burial complexes of the Boyne valley, erected by the pre-Celtic peoples of Ireland before the pyramids of Egypt. In the original Gaelic divisions Mide was in fact a fifth province and, as well 
as the present Co. Meat(Holiday apartments, Meath,Ireland), incorporated what is now WestMeath and large parts of Cavan and Longford. It was reduced to its present size by the Normans in the thirteenth century; large parts of the territory had been granted to Hugh de Lacy, who built massive fortifications at Trim and elsewhere to enforce and protect his possession.
Navan, Trim, Kells, Slane and Dunshaughlin are the chief towns in County Meath
Surnames associated with the county include O\‘Reilly, Farrell, Gogarty, Smith, Halton, Lynch, Newman and Sherry.
Meath Heritage Centre, Mill Street, Trim, Co. Meath , Ireland
The Meath Heritage Centre offers a record search service for those whose ancestors came from Co. Meath.
The main records include:
Roman Catholic records, the earliest of which date from 1759
Church of Ireland (Anglican/Episcopalian) records date from 1698
Presbyterian records date from 1873
The earliest Census returns date from 1821.
Over 400,000 records have now been computerised at this Centre and the computerisation work is ongoing. Enquirers to this centre can expect a reply within about two weeks.
