I am She. Welcome to my land. I am the Mother of Meath. My spirit flows throughout the River Bóinne and its tributaries, watering the woods and fields of the most fertile place in all of Eire. Rich pastures cover nearly three-fourths of this realm. The terrain is gentle and deep green, with no mountains and only one large lake, Lough Sheelin. The highest hill is Sheve-na-Calliagh to the west, where the limestone ridges gracefully ascend. Uplands lie to the north.

You are standing where the earliest known settlers in Ireland put down their roots. Here you will find remnants of buildings and tombs that are older than Egypt's pyramids. People have lived here for over 8,000 years. My land is called Royal Meath because for at least 500 years, ancient Irish kings lived within the stretch of my arm, at Temuir. All five provinces of Ireland meet here, which is why Meath was called Mide, meaning "centre." Aill na Mireann (The Stone of Boundaries) still stands on Uisnech hill where in ancient times a national assembly was once held every year.

There is a story of how the River Bóinne was made. It is said that Boand, wife of Nechtaine, visited his forbidden secret, sacred spring and caused it to burst open, overflowing in an angry torrent over the land to the sea. The myth claims that she was drowned, yet the people continue to honor me as a goddess. I was the life-bringer for the first people and I am still today the living source of fertility for this thriving place. I am the silver ribbon that binds together all of Meath's history.

Today Meath is divided into Westmeath, Meath, and some parts of Cavan and Longford. Before the sons of Niall of the Nine Hostages settled here in the fifth century, various ancient dynasties succeeded one another in Meath. From the 5th century until the Normans arrived in the 12th century, the all-powerful Southern Uí Néill dynasties ruled here. Their realm extended into portions of Longford, Offaly, Louth, Dublin and Kildare. In the 8th through 11th centuries, the area belonged to the petty kingdom of Brega. (For a more detailed listing of Meath's historical kings and accompanying maps, click here and here.

Five thousand years of history can be found within the small space of Meath, from the megalithic monuments and tombs of Brú na Bóinne and Loughcrew, to Slane where St. Patrick's flame heralded a new age. In 1690 the famous Battle of the Boyne took place near Drogheda, on the estuary where the river flows out to the Irish Sea.

Explore my realm of Meath. Walk in the footsteps of kings and warriors, druids and saints. Ancient worlds will come to life once again through your eyes, ears and hands. And as you move through my world, remember Boand, the Lady of the River.