Activities

Cycling

Bloomfield House Hotel is located on a new looped cycling route. Enjoy the fresh air, peace and tranquillity. Take in the views of Lough Ennell, relax at Lilliput amenity area or visit Belvedere House and Gardens. This route can take from 2.5 - 3.5 hours. There are also two more looped cycling routes to choose from in the surrounding area.

Bike Hire and pick up can be arranged from the hotel. Pre-booking is essential to ensure availability of suitable bikes.

L’Estrange Bike Hire, Mullingar

Contact: L’Estrange AutoCare, Austin Friar’s Street Mullingar Co Westmeath, Telephone 0035344 (044) 9348847 and 9343909, E-mail lestrangeautocare@eircom.net

€15.00 per day for first 2 days
€12.30 per subsequent day
€80.00 Per week

Use of helmet, cycle lock and hi visibility belt included.
Individual requirements catered for, i.e. Large or small frame bicycles. Deposit required or credit card imprint on commencement of hire. Over 100 Bicycles in stock

Equestrian

Mullingar Equestrian Centre

Address: Athlone Road, Mullingar, County Westmeath, Republic of Ireland
Telephone: +353 (0)44 9348331,Fax: +353 (0)44 9349004,Mobile: +353 (0)86 8514317
E-mail: info@mullingarequestrian.com, Web: www.mullingarequestrian.com

Description: The Fagan Family extend a warm welcome to all horse lovers at Mullingar Equestrian Centre situated in the heart of Ireland just one hours drive from Dublin city. The centre is very much a family affair, and we invite you to come and share our passion for equestrian sports. During the summer months we specialise in residential horse riding & English courses for 10 to 18 year olds. Guests usually stay for two weeks to more. Robert Fagan the centres manager, a very experienced show jumper himself has a deep commitment to equestrian sport and ensures that the centre operates to the highest standard. We offer equestrian day trips, tuition in flatwork & Show jumping. We especially welcome visitors in Ireland to come & enjoy our weekly shows especially our International Show in June. Full fixture list on our web.
Directions: Mullingar Equestrian Centre is situated in the centre of Ireland one hour from Dublin city. Take the M4 from Dublin to Mullingar. We are situated 1.5 kms from Mullingar on the Athlone road ( R390 ) Check our web site for detailed directions.

Mullingar Equestrian Fixture Dates 2009

August

Irish Draught Show Saturday August 2nd

SJI Pony & Young Rider Championships August 21st, 22nd 23rd

Amateur & Horse Show August 29th & 30th

September

SJI Horse/Pony/ Amateur League Saturday Sept 5th, 12th, 19th, Saturday Oct 3rd & 10th

Ladestown House Riding Stables

Address: Ladestown, Mullingar, County Westmeath.Telephone: +353 (0)44 9348218

Ladestown House is a historic manor house offering riding in woodlands and by lake shores in the beautiful County Westmeath. Beginners, nervous riders and children are welcome.

Mullingar Greyhound Stadium

Firmly established as one of the leading entertainment venues in the Midlands, Mullingar Greyhound Stadium offers a panoramic view of all the racing action, 3 superb licensed bars, restaurant and snack bar facilities. Ideal for social and corporate outings with packages to suit all tastes. Families welcome, group discounts available. Mullingar stadium provides thrilling dog racing action every Thursday and Saturday night.

Opening Times : Racing Every Thursday & Saturday. Doors open 6.50pm.

Special Greyhound Racing and Accommodation packages available at Bloomfield House Hotel.

Ballinderry, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath
Tel: 044 93 48348 Fax: 044 93 42362
email: info@mullingargreyhoundstadium.ie web: Click here

Bloomfield House Hotel, Westmeath

Ambushed Paintball Games

Paintball is a game played in a forest much like a friendly battle. Groups are divided into teams and safety equipment is provided. Paintballing is great for office & corporate outings, Stag and Hen Parties and birthday parties.

Laser Tag Games Mobile Units are available and can be arranged at Bloomfield House Hotel.

Paintball Strictly 16yrs and over. Laser Tag Strictly 8yrs and over.

Address: Gaybrook Demesne , Gaybrook, Mullingar, County Westmeath,
Telephone: +353 (0)44 9334966,Mobile: +353 (0)86 8593004, E-mail: sales@ambushedireland.com,
Web: www.ambushedireland.com

Lilliput Adventure Centre

Lilliput Adventure Centre, located on the shores of Lough Ennell, County Westmeath offer Abseiling, archery, Canadian sailing, canoeing, kayaking, orienteering and raft building.

Address: Lilliput House, Lough Ennell, County Westmeath, Telephone: +353 (0)44 9226789
Fax: +353 (0)44 9226789

Angling

Gillie Service - Colin Cahill 086 321 7340 E:mail: colcahill@gmail.com

Lilliput Boat Hire - Address: Lilliput, County Westmeath. Mobile: +353 (0)87 6492866 E-mail: info@lilliputboathire.com, Web: www.lilliputboathire.com
Lilliput is located on the scenic shores of Lough Ennell, Co. Westmeath. Being one of the few inland facilities in Ireland to be a holder of the prestigous Blue Flag award, Lilliput is a beautiful and historic park which can cater for everybody's tastes.

Boat Hire Eileen Hope - Address: Lough Ennell, Mullingar, County Westmeath, Republic Of Ireland
Telephone: +353 (0)44 9340807. Eileen Hope is a boat hire operator for fresh water fishing on Lough Ennell.

Colin Cahill - is a boat hire operator for fresh water fishing on the Midland Lakes. He also operates a Gillie Service. Tel: 086 321 7340 Email: colcahill@gmail.com

Doolans Boat Hire - Address: Doolan's Boat Hire , Lough Owel , Mullingar, County Westmeath, Telephone: +353 (0)44 9342085, E-mail: michaeldoolan26@hotmail.com
Lough Owel is a well known Trout Lake. It covers an area of 2,500 acres and is situated 3km north of Mullingar on the N4. The open season is from 1st March - 12th October. We have a fleet of Fibre Glass Boats and engines can be provided. We also arrange a Ghillie service.

Irish Angling Safaries - Address: Crookedwood, County Westmeath,Telephone: +353 (0)44 9372015 Web: www.irelandpike.com Irish Angling Safaris on Lough Derravaragh, offers visiting anglers the complete fishing package. We arrange accommodation in a choice of hotels, guesthouses or Self Catering Cottages. Our boats, which have been specially imported from the US are fully equipped with all the latest angling gadgetry, comfort, safety and technology. Alan is a well known fisherman, writer and broadcaster on pike matters. He'll be on hand to advise you throughout your stay.

Lough Derravaragh Boat Hire - Address: Donore Shore, Multyfarnham, County Westmeath.Telephone: +353 (0)44 9371500 Fax: +353 (0)44 9371394, Mobile: +353 (0)86 8230363, E-mail: Camping@iol.ie,
Situated on the shores just off the N4, 4 kms outside the village of Multyfarnham. We provide fiberglass lake boats with outboard engines, lifejackets & fuel.

Boat Hire Oliver Daly - Address: Multyfarnham, County Westmeath. Telephone: +353 (0)44 9371220
Oliver Daly is a boat hire operator for fresh water fishing on Lough Derravaragh. He also operates a Gillie Service.

Boat Hire Martin Fagan - Address: Fulmourth, Multyfarnham, County Westmeath.Telephone: +353 (0)44 9371353
Mr Martin Fagan is a boat hire operator for fresh water fishing on Lough Derrvaragh.

Angling White Lake - Address: Castlepollard, County Westmeath,Telephone: +353 (0)44 9348650. The White Lake is four miles east of Castlepollard, County Westmeath. It is stocked with both rainbow and brown trout. There is a 10 inch ( 254 mm ) size limit and a bag limit of six trout. This lake is managed by White Lake Anglers' Association.

Malleys Fishing Tackle Specialist, Watchmaker & Jeweller - Address: Dominick Street, Mullingar, County Westmeath, Telephone: +353 (0)44 9348300 E-mail: dpomalley@eircom.net. Mullingar's oldest established tackle shop! For the best local fishing knowledge and appropriate fishing tackle, come to Mullingar's longest established tackle shop.

Mullingar Sailing Club - Address: Lough Owel, Mullingar, County Westmeath, Telephone: +353 (0)44 9342058 E-mail: milnerk@gofree.indigo.ie Web: www.msail.net
A small friendly club situated at Lough Owel just outside Mullingar. The water quality is excellent as the lake forms the reservoir for Mullingar water supply. Facilities include clubhouse, hard standing and launching slipway.

Lakeland Shooting Centre

Contact: Dalystown, Mullingar, County Westmeath, Telephone: +353 (0)44 9223127
Fax: +353 (0)44 9223624, E-mail: info@lakelandguns.com

Description: Clay pigeon shooting is something that can be enjoyed by all in all weathers. Beginners are started off with comparatively easy clays and as one progresses the targets are changed to present a challenge. Staff at the centre are very experienced shooters and are always on hand to help with every shot. Also on site is a fully stocked gunshop with resident gunsmith. Private and group lessons are available. Corporate days are also arranged. Clay pigeon shooting is only open on a Friday night for experienced shooters and thereafter open by appointment only.
This new clay pigeon shooting centre is located 10km from Mullingar on the N52 and a short driving distance from Bloomfield House Hotel.

Lough Owel Pitch and Putt

Contact: Tullaghan, Mullingar, County Westmeath, 044 9348319

Description: Lough Owel is a challenging 18 hole championship course set on a scenic 25 acre site on the shores of Lough Owel. The design provides and exciting challenge for both the casual and accomplished player. There is also a Pitching Range, a Practice Putting Green and a full size croquet lawn.

Special rates for groups, societies an corporate Outings.

The Hill of Uisneach

Address: Ballymore, County Westmeath,

The Hill of Uisneach, situated between the villages of Ballymore and Loughanavally, was the ancient seat of the Kings of Meath. Its roots stretch back into ancient mythology with its history rooted in a La Tene period of the Iron Age and it has been placed in the same league as the Hill of Tara in neighbouring County Meath.

Uisneach has also been famous as a meeting place in pre history as a place of cattle rituals and other ‘May Day’ assemblies, and in more recent times as the meeting place for an important twelfth century synod. St. Patrick and St. Brigid have important connections with the Hill, it being claimed that it was here St. Brigid received the veil from St. Patrick.

The importance of Uisneach in early times is reflected in the large number of monuments – almost twenty – mostly ring forts and tumuli which are scattered around and upon it. it was said to be linked to Tara by a chariot road and many of the town-lands which impinge on the hill re named for the remaining features such as Meawira meaning “the bald fort” or more likely “the dismantled fort”, Rathnew or “the new fort” and Togherstown meaning “the town of the causeway”. The most famous feature on Uisneach is the CAT STONE, named so because it resembles a cat watching a mouse. It is a huge limestone boulder almost six metres high which is estimated to weigh over 30 ton and is said to mark the centre of Ireland or the coming together of the provinces.

The Belvedere Trail

Contact, Mullingar Tourist Office, Mullingar, County Westmeath. Telephone: +353 (0)44 9348650,
Fax: +353 (0)44 9340413, E-mail: mullingar@failteireland.ie

The Belvedere Trail. The Starting point for the Belvedere Trail is Mullingar Town.

Mullingar is a town associated with agriculture and noted as a prime cattle-rearing area. The area has a strong farming history and yet it is a vibrant & thriving commercial town. The town its self is easily accessible due to its location on the N4 and its railway station (which opened in 1845) and frequent bus services.

Mullingar is a good shopping and entertainment area with a choice of shops, restaurants, a 6-screen cinema, Greyhound Stadium and arts centre. It has a good range of activities and facilities. The Mullingar bronze and Pewter factory, which is situated outside Mullingar on the N4, is known worldwide.

Mullingar is also is also noted for its interesting buildings, to mention a few, the Railway station, Columb barracks, Masonic Hall, the old infirmary, Clonard House, and the Market House where the Tourist Information office is housed.

Another fine building is the Cathedral of Christ the King. The town is surrounded by the Royal canal and due to its proximity to many lakes it is aptly named “the Capital of the Lakeland’s” and is an anglers dream.

From Mullingar take the N52, the Tullamore Road where you will pass Mullingar Golf Club, the Bloomfield House Hotel & Belvedere House Gardens & Park.

Belvedere situated on the shores of Lough Ennell is connected with a wealth of stories about the Anglo-Irish gentry and the imprisonment of Mary Molesworth by her husband. Visitors to Belvedere can do a tour of the house which was designed in the 1740’s as fishing and hunting lodge for Robert Rochfort and see a glimpse of the upstairs down stairs life of the mid 18th century.

See the jealous wall and follies such as the Gothic arch, octagonal gazebo and icehouse. Visit the walled garden and explore 160 acres of parkland. Children will enjoy the Belvedere Tram; Children’s play area and animal sanctuary. Refreshments are available at the Courtyard Café. Belvedere has many interesting surprises in store.

From Belvedere on the N52 there is access to Lough Ennell down a side road on your right hand side, which is signposted. You can also access Lilliput by a side road to your right, which is well signposted

Lilliput was named after Jonathan Swift, who published Gulliver’s Travels in 1726. Mr. Swift was the Dean of St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin and was a regular visitor to Westmeath. He stayed with the Rochfort Family at Gaulstown house, which was located on the Milltownpass/ Rochfortbridge road close to Belvedere.

Jonathan Swift looked across the expanse of Lough Ennell one day and saw people on the other side of the lake. It is said this is what inspired him to write about the Lilliputians in Gulliver’s travels.

There is also an early Christian association with Lilliput. St. Patrick’s sister, Lupita is also known to the Lilliput area, which may recall her name.

Walking

Inspire yourself and set your senses alight with a walk through some of the most memorable scenery in the midlands. Walking is a challenging and inspirational way to get close to the country’s nature and wildlife.

Throughout Westmeath, there are a whole host of exceptional walks from short jaunts that only take a couple of hours, to famous walking ways that demand time and commitment.

Whatever your choice of walk, Westmeath's got something to offer with nature, history, archaeology, scenery and the ever famous craic.

Boherquill Ramblers

Contact: Address: Boherquill, County Westmeath, Telephone: +353 (0)43 9385116
Mobile: +353 (0)86 2596656, E-mail: brian@irelandwalking.ie or bnerney@02.ie

Description: Walks each Sunday excluding August unless by arrangement. Meet up point Boherquill Church off N4 at Rathowen. Details in local Westmeath & Longford papers (Streete & District notes) or TEXT 086 2596656.

International Walking Festival - 8/9/10th May 2009

The walking festival takes place in May each year. This is a great weekend starting with a short local walk on Friday evening e.g. in gardens / forest of Tullynally Castle near Castlepollard or Derrycassin Forest near Granard. On Saturday, Sunday – there are two grades of walk which usually take place in North Westmeath in Mullaghmeen Forest and its environs and in Fore – the site of a wonderful monastic settlement set in the most scenic area of the country.

Mullingar Fun Walk Run

Contact: Mullingar, County Westmeath, Telephone: +353 (0)44 9348392, Mobile: +353 (0)86 3581634
E-mail: noel.ocallaghan@defenceforces.ie

Description: The race will start in Columb Barracks at 11am to the sound of a ceremonial 25 Pounder Gun on half charge. The route is out the Ashe road, out to the Athlone Road and across Fitzpatrick's Bridge finishing in Belvedere house and Gardens.

The Westmeath Way

Contact: Tourist Office, Mullingar, County Westmeath, Republic Of Ireland Telephone: +353 (0)44 9348650 Fax: +353 (0)44 9340413. A map of the Westmeath way can be ordered free from Mullingar Tourist Information Office.

Distance 33km walking route. Estimated Time The Route can be comfortably walked in two days.
The starting point for the Westmeath way is at Locke’s Distillery museum, Kilbeggan. From Locke’s distillery follow the road towards the business estate. At the main gate turn right & follow the path over to the canal. You will reach the River Brosna & will follow the path upriver.

You will get to a bridge called Coola bridge, which has an Old mill building adjacent to it. Follow a farm road from here. You will reach two gates and you will return to the path along the River bank.

Continue on to the quaint village of Ballinagore & the on to the peaceful setting of Lough Ennell at Liliput.

From here you will be walking cross country towards Dysart village. On the bog road you will reach a bend. Turn right along a muddy track. You will reach the ruins of an old farmhouse. Keep to the right down through the fields to reach a footbridge on the Dysart River.

Continue through Dysart village. Outside the village you will reach a stile, cross this & descend through fields until you reach an old track that leads down to another footbridge. Cross over into fields & enter the Keoltown woods.

Follow the route to Bellmount Bridge, follow the right hand bank of the Royal Canal all the way to Mullingar town.

The Westmeath way finishes at the Harbour Bridge, Mullingar.

The Fore Trail
Contact: Mullingar Tourist Office, Mullingar, County Westmeath, Republic Of Ireland Telephone: +353 (0)44 9348650 Fax: +353 (0)44 9340413.

The starting point for this scenic and historical tour is from Mullingar. Taking the R394 route. You will also see a signpost on your left for the Famine graveyard.

As you approach the 1st roundabout you will be passing over the N4 dual carriageway and continuing straight out the Castlepollard Road.

On your right you will see the gates to Knockdrin Castle and further along on the left is the Belfry restaurant. Continue to the village of Crookedwood.

You can do a detour to Taughmon church, which has a fort behind it by turning right in Crookedwood.

Continuing straight on from Crookedwood there is a resting area and information point. You will see Lough Derravaragh the lake mentioned in the famous legend of “the Children of Lir”

Further along this route you will come to a junction, if you veer right and continue straight you will arrive in Collinstown village.

There is an area called “the cut”, at Lough Lene. This is a slipway into the lake. There are toilets, car parking facilities and a picnic area here.

From Collinstown you can do a detour to Delvin and Clonmellon. From Collinstown take signposts for Fore Village town of the spring. Here you can see Fore Abbey and learn about the 7 wonders of Fore. Visit the Fore Abbey Coffee shop, which is open during the summer and on Sunday’s.

From Fore you can do a detour to Lough Crew Cairns and Lough Crew historic gardens, by taking the Oldcastle road. From Fore travel to Castlepollard village and take the Coole Road where you will pass Tullynally Castle and gardens the largest inhabited Castle in Ireland. Tullynally is open during the summer months.

Turn left at the crossroads near Coole hall. You will see the old church of Mayne on your right. At the next junction keep right and travel through bog land and further on through forestry.

You will then come to a village called Multyfarnham, where you will see an old forge building and a 700-year-old Franciscan Friary and life size Stations of the Cross. There is also a caravan and camping park at Donore on the shores of Lough Derravaragh.

From Multyfarnham take the Mullingar road. You will come to a junction with the Covert pub on the left and Ballinafid Lake in front of you. Turn left. Further along this route on the right hand side you will see a picnic area overlooking Lough Owel and its islands. If you continue straight and take the first right this road will lead you pass Captains Hill, St. Brigid's well, and back to Mullingar town.

Mullaghmeen

Contact: Mullingar Tourist Office, Market Square, Mullingar, County Westmeath, Telephone: +353 (0)44 9348650 Fax: +353 (0)44 9340413

Description: This 1,000 acre forest offers picnickers a shady haven in which to feast and provides the more energetic with scenic walks of varying length. The predominant tree in Mullaghmeen is the European Beech, but the other trees flourish in small pockets throughout - most notably Sycamore, Oak and Ash.

Donore Wood
Contact: Donore, Mullingar, Westmeath, Republic Of Ireland Telephone: +353 (0)44 9348650

Multyfarnham is the nearest village to Donore Wood, the wood is situated on the southern shore of Lough Derravaragh (which is north of Mullinga) and has a rich natural and human history. Donore is home for many of our birds and wild animals. Badger, fox and grey squirrel are the more common species. The wood has a rich variety of wild plants found among the grasses and sedges.

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