Battle of the Boyne Site

Looking at the site one wouldn’t expect that the Battle of the Boyne, in 1690, could have such a lasting and central impact on people’s lives. 300 years after the battle, passions in Ireland still run high when the subject of James II’s defeat by William of Orange comes up. It’s not so much the battle as what it stands for - continuing differences between Catholics and Protestants - and the difficulty of overcoming memories of the past in search of a common future.

Battle of the Boyne Visitor Centre in County Meath with cannons Musket Display at the Battle of the Boyne Visitor Centre County Meath

Battle of the Boyne Site
Where William of Orange defeated King James II in 1690.

Location
Location On the south bank of the Boyne, 3km north of Donore Village off the L21. The site is signposted off the N51 (Slane Drogheda Road, access for cars only this route is not suitable for coaches), off N1 (Drogheda), off N2 (Slane-Ashbourne) and Exit 9 of the M1 Motorway

Open
March –April Daily 09.30-17.30
May-September Daily 10.00-18.00
Oct-Feb Daily 09.00-17.00

Last admission 1hr before closing. Site closes Christmas and New Year.

Admission Charges
Adult: €4.00
Group/Senior: €3.00
Child/Student: €2.00
Family: €10.00
Free admission to the grounds (battlesite walkways).

Guided Tours
Self Guide through Visitor Centre.
Groups of 10 or more must be pre-booked
Length of Tour: 1hour
Living History every Sunday from June to September.

Walking Tours of the battlesite take place every Saturday and Sunday, weather-permitting, at 2.30pm, and do not need to be pre-booked.

Audiovisual Presentation
Seating: 51
Duration: 15 minutes
Languages: English. Subtitled in Irish, French, German, Italian and Spanish (full narration)

Average Length of visit Visitor Centre: 1hour approx
Self Guiding Walks: 1hour approx

Calavry display at the Battle of the Boyne Visitor Centre Tea Rooms at Battle of the Boyne Visitor Centre, Co. Meath

Leaflet/Guidebook
OPW leaflets will be available in English and other languages. A selection of books and postcards will also be for sale in the Pavillion Tea Room.

Facilities
Original 17th century weaponry, laser battlefield model, exhibitions, audiovisual presentation, display of replica 17th Century weaponry, walled garden, car and coach parking. Centre will be accessible to visitors with disabilities- including Pavillion Tea Room and toilet facilities. Optional self-guiding walks on Battlesite Walkways and Boyne Riverside Walkway. Caution- deep water.

Pavillion Tea Room: Capacity 100. A selection of books and postcards will be on sale in the Pavillion Tea Room.

Battle of the Boyne

Visitor Centre and Grounds Rules

Carpark locked 1hr after closing
Guide Dogs Only. No dogs permitted into Visitor Centre, Walled Gardens and Tea Pavillion. Dogs must be kept on a lead. The following breeds, crosses or strains must be kept muzzled and on a lead at all times on the walkways. German Shepherd (Alsatian), American Pit Bull Terrier, English Bull Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Bull Mastiff, Doberman Pinscher, Rhodesian Ridgeback, Rottweiler, Japanese Akita, Japanese Tosa, Bandog.
No Cycling on walkways.
Vehicles other than official vehicles are not permitted throughout the grounds of the site.
Plants or parts of trees or shrubs must not be broken or removed from the site
Camping, golfing, motorcycles, horse riding, fire lighting, barbeques are not permitted on the grounds.
One supervisor must accompany every 20 children/students inside Visitor Centre at all times.
No photography or video recordings are permitted within the Visitor Centre. Permission to photograph or video must be sought directly through the site. CCTV in operation 24hrs

Contact
Tel +353 (0) 41 9809950
Fax + 353 (0) 41 9849873
Email: battleoftheboyne@opw.ie
Website:www.battleoftheboyne.ie

Battle of the Boyne Visitor Centre Walking Routes

Walking route Battle of the Boyne Visitor Centre pdf, 1,006kb