Meath Heritage Colouring Book

A new colouring book celebrating the wonderful built, cultural and natural heritage of Meath is now available, offering young readers a fun and creative way to explore their surroundings.

“Colouring Meath”, introduces children to some of the county’s most iconic heritage sites – from the passage tombs of Brú na Bóinne, to the Hill of Tara, Trim Castle, Loughcrew Cairns, and some lessor known sites. Designed for children aged 5 to 12, each page invites them to colour and learn, some fun facts and stories in an accessible and engaging way.

The project was undertaken by the Heritage Section in Meath County Council in collaboration with Clare Tuffy and graphic designer Connie Scanlon. The book is freely available from Meath Libraries, or you can download the individual pages below.

Most of the sites featured are open to the public and can be enjoyed by all the family.

An action of the County Meath Heritage Strategy 2024-2030 funded by the Heritage Council and Meath Couty Council.

The Royal County/ An Contae Ríoga

Co. Meath is known as the Royal County because it was the seat of the High Kings of Ireland. Meath was also Ireland’s fifth province. The Meath colours are green and gold.

Tugtar “An Contae Ríoga” ar Chontae na Mí toisc gurbh é suíomh Ardríthe na hÉireann é Ba í an Mhí an cúigiú cúige in Éirinn freisin . Is iad glas agus ór dathanna na Mí.

Whooper Swans at Newgrange/Ealaí Glóracha ag Sí an Bhrú

Every year, whooper swans return from Iceland to spend the winter in fields near Newgrange. Many of the myths told about Newgrange include stories about swans.

Gach bliain, filleann ealaí ghlórach ón Íoslainn chun an geimhreadh a chaitheamh i bpáirceanna cois Abhainn na Bóinne in aice le Brú na Bóinne. I measc go leor de na miotais a insítear faoi Bhrú na Bóinne tá scéalta faoi ealaí.

Evie Hone Window at Tara/Fuinneog Evie Hone ag Teamhair

Evie Hone was a famous stained-glass artist. In 1932, she was asked to make this window for the church at Tara. The window shows the Pentecost.

Ealaíontóir clúiteach gloine dhaite ba ea í Evie Hone. Sa bhliain 1932, iarradh uirthi an fhuinneog seo a dhéanamh don séipéal i dTeamhair. Taispeánann an fhuinneog an Chincís.

Fourknocks/Na Fuarchnoic

Fourknocks is a 5,000 year old passage tomb. Stunning megalithic art was discovered there as well as the cremated remains of Stone Age people.

Is tuama pasáiste 5,000 bliain d’aois é na Fuarchnoic. Thángthas ar ealaín mheigiliteach iontach chomh maith le hiarsmaí créamtha mhuintir na Clochaoise.

Loughcrew Cairns (The Hills of the Witch)/Cairn Loch Craobh (Sliabh na Caillí)

The Loughcrew cairns are on top of Co. Meath’s highest hills. The Hag or Witch is said to have made the cairns when she dropped stones from her apron.

Tá Cairn Loch Craobh ar bharr na gcnoc is airde i gCo. Na Mí . Deir an scéal gur chruthaigh an Chailleach na cairn nuair a thit na clocha as a naprún.

Donaghmore Round Tower/Cloigtheach Dhomhnach Mór

Donaghmore was founded by St Patrick. The round tower is nearly 27m tall. Inside there were wooden floors connected with ladders.

Ba é Naomh Pádraig a bhunaigh Domhnach Mór. Tá an cloigtheach beagnach 27m ar airde. Taobh istigh bhí urláir adhmaid ceangailte le dréimirí.

The Tailteann Games/Na Cluichí Tailteann

Long ago, the Tailteann Games included competitions for running, spear throwing and wrestling as well as swimming, dancing, storytelling and singing.

Fadó fadó, chuimsigh na cluichí Tailteann comórtais reatha, caitheamh sléanna agus iomrascáil chomh maith le snámh, damhsa, scéalaíocht agus amhránaíocht.

Girley Bog/Portach An Ghreallaigh

Girley Bog is a raised bog and a very special place. It is home to many species of birds, animals and plants.

Is portach ardaithe é Portach An Ghreallaigh agus áit an-speisialta é. Fásann go leor speiceas d’éin, d’ainmhithe agus de phlandaí ann.

Moynalty Steam Threshing/Buaileadh gaile Mhaigh nEalta

Held each August, the Moynalty steam threshing festival takes you to a time when farmers used horses, steam power and traditional crafts to get their work done.

Ar siúl gach Lúnasa, tógann féile Bualadh Gaile Maigh nEalta siar thú go dtí am nuair a d’úsáid feirmeoirí capaill, cumhacht gaile, agus cleachtais thraidisiúnta chun a gcuid oibre a dhéanamh.

Tara Brooch/Dealg na Teamhrach

The Tara brooch is one of Ireland’s great national treasures. A woman and her children found it on the beach in Bettystown in August 1850.

Tá dealg na Teamhrach ar cheann a mhór-sheoda náisiúnta na hÉireann. Fuair bean agus a clann í ar an trá i mBaile an Bhiataigh i Lúnasa 1850.

Ratoath Motte/Móta Ráth Tó

The Anglo Normans built motte and bailey castles to protect their territory. The motte is a mound, and the bailey is like a courtyard. This is what Ratoath motte looked like over 850 years ago.

Thóg na hAngla-Normannaigh mótaí chun a gcríocha a chosaint. Is dumha é an móta, agus tá an babhún ar nós clóis. Seo an chuma a bhí ar Mhóta Ráth Tó os cionn 850 bliain ó shin.

Up and over at Longwood/Suas agus anonn ag Maigh Dearmhaí

At Longwood they built an aqueduct to carry the Royal Canal across the Boyne and a viaduct to carry the railway line across it. 

Ag Maigh Dearmhaí thóg siad uiscerian chun an Chanáil Ríoga a iompar trasna na Bóinne agus tarbhealach chun an iarnród a iompar trasna uirthi.

Battle of The Boyne/Cath na Bóinne

The Battle of the Boyne was fought in July 1690 and was a very important battle in Irish, British and European history.

Troideadh Cath na Bóinne i mí Iúil 1690 agus ba chath an-tábhachtach é i stair na hÉireann, na Breataine agus na hEorpa.

Navan Mills/Muileann na hUaimhe

There have been mills in Navan since the 12th century. Powered by the waters of the Blackwater and Boyne rivers, the mills supplied people with flour, wool, paper, cotton and flax as well as corn.

Tá muilte san Uaimh ón 12ú haois. Cumhachtaithe ag uiscí aibhneacha na hAbhann Duibhe agus na Bóinne, sholáthraigh na muilte plúr, olann, páipéar, cadás, líon chomh maith le harbhar do dhaoine.

Hill of Slane/Mullach Bhaile Shláine

St. Patrick lit a fire on the Hill of Slane even though it was forbidden by the King of Tara to light fires anywhere in Ireland at that time of year.

Las Naomh Pádraig tine ar Mhullach Bhaile Shláine cé go raibh cosc curtha ag Rí na Teamhracha ar thinte a lasadh áit ar bith in Éirinn ag an am sin den bhliain.

The Knowth Macehead/Máscheann Chnóbha

This is one of the treasures of Stone Age Europe. It was made 5,000 years ago and was discovered inside the eastern tomb of the Great Mound of Knowth. 

Tá sé seo ar cheann de na seoda is mó ón gClochaois san Eoraip. Rinneadh é 5,000 bliain ó shin agus thángthas air taobh istigh den tuama thoir de Dhumha Mór Chnóbha.

Sand dunes/Dumhcha

The sand dunes near the sea are constantly changing shape depending on the weather, while the dunes farther offshore are home to a wide variety of wildlife and wildflowers.

Bíonn cruth na ndumhcha in aice na farraige ag athrú an t-am ar fad ag brath ar an aimsir, agus tá réimse leathan fiadhúlra agus bláthanna fiáine sna dumhcha is faide amach ón gcósta.

Sir Francis Beaufort/Sir Francis Beaufort

Sir Francis Beaufort (1774 -1857) was born in Navan. He was a great sailor and scientist. He developed the Beaufort scale to measure wind strength.

Rugadh Sir Francis Beaufort (1774 -1857) san Uaimh. Mairnéalach agus eolaí den scoth a bhí sé. Cheap sé an scála Beaufort chun neart na gaoithe a thomhais.

St Kieran’s Holy Well/Tobar Beannaithe Naomh Ciarán

St. Kieran’s Holy Well is near Carnaross and its water is said to cure toothaches, headaches and warts. There is a festival held there every August.

Tá Tobar Beannaithe Chiaráin gar do Charn na Ros agus deirtear go leigheasann an t-uisce tinneas fiacaile, tinneas cinn agus faithní. Bíonn Féile ar siúl ann gach Lúnasa.

Bective Bridge/Droichead Bheigthí

Bective Bridge, which crosses the River Boyne between Trim and Navan, has nine arches. Nearby is Bective Abbey, the second Cistercian monastery in Ireland, founded in 1147. 

Tá naoi n-áirsí ag Droichead Bheigthí, a thrasnaíonn Abhainn na Bóinne idir Bhaile Átha Troim agus an Uaimh. In aice láimhe tá Mainistir Bheigthí, an dara mainistir Chistéirseach in Éirinn, a bunaíodh sa bhliain 1147.

Trim Castle/Caisleán Bhaile Átha Troim

Trim Castle is the largest Anglo-Norman castle in Ireland. It has a huge central tower called a Keep as wellas curtain walls, a moat and strong gates.

Is é Caisleán Bhaile Átha Troim an caisleán Angla-Normannach is mó in Éirinn. Tá túr mór lárnach ann ar a dtugtar Coimeád chomh maith le himbhallaí, móta agus geataí láidre.

The River Boyne/Abhainn na Bóinne

The Boyne Valley is rich in mythology, archaeology and history. Small river boats called currachs were traditionally used for river fishing. 

Tá saibhreas miotaseolaíochta, seandálaíochta agus staire i ngleann na Bóinne. Go traidisiúnta, baineadh úsáid as báid bheaga abhann ar a dtugtar curacha le haghaidh iascaireachta abhann.

Lagore Crannóg/Lagore Crannóg

A crannóg is an artificial island built in a lake. Lagore crannóg near Dunshaughlin is one of the largest and most famous in Ireland. It was the residence of powerful Kings in the 7th and 8th centuries AD.

Is oileán saorga é crannog a tógadh i lár locha. Tá Crannóg Loch Gabhar in aice le Dún Seachlainn ar cheann de na cinn is mó agus is cáiliúla in Éirinn. B’áit chónaithe na Ríthe cumhachtacha í sa 7ú agus 8ú haois AD.

Kells Market Cross/Cros an Mhargaidh Cheanannais

The Market Cross of Kells is regarded as one of the finest high crosses in Ireland. Originally it may have been brightly painted. It is over 1100 years old.

Meastar go bhfuil Crois Mhargaidh Cheanannais ar cheann de na crosa arda is fearr in Éirinn. Seans go raibh sé péinteáilte go geal ar dtús. Tá sé os cionn 1100 bliain d’aois.