Meath County has a colorful history, stemming as the seat of the High King of Ireland, and as such has been colloquially dubbed “The Royal County.” It is home to the UNESCO designated World Heritage Site: Newgrange, an ancient burial site older than the Great Pyramids of Giza and Stonehenge. The County’s significance is also prevalent in contemporary culture, and the famous fictional character, Gerald O’Hara, from Margaret Mitchell’s, Gone With The Wind, was born in the county. In recent years, it’s importance has shifted and it is continually becoming a hotbed for multinationals. The county lies in the mideast region of Ireland, just northeast of Dublin, and therefore has been able to capitalize on its proximity to the capital.
Joe English, the Head of Meath County Council’s Enterprise and Economic Development, elaborated on the growth within the county, “County Meath is doing extremely well, and its strategic location just outside of Dublin has allowed for a quick commute into the city, which has translated into one of the lowest unemployment rates in Ireland, and one of the highest employment participation rates in the country. While Ireland is a great place to do business, Dublin may not be the best place to live and work. It is expensive, overcrowded and bursting at the seams in regards to the infrastructure, transport, water sewage, and the facilities necessary to accommodate traditional FDI. County Meath offers the benefits of proximity, with towns that are 20 minutes from downtown Dublin, and a much better quality of life with cost savings.”
English continued to discuss how the county has already attracted major international players, “We were one of the first counties to come up with a clear economic strategy, and one of the core pillars was to attract more FDI. To facilitate and expedite processes for investors, Meath County Council has a dedicated point of contact facilitating regulatory and planning approvals. The county has already pre-approved planning permission for industrial units on several sites that are available and ready for development. Companies like Facebook have capitalized on these processes, and are currently inaugurating a large site at record speed.”
“Meath Enterprise was established to provide infrastructure that can enable businesses to scale and succeed. It currently manages facilities that nurture new and existing businesses across multiple sectors within two modern office spaces in Navan, and Kells Tech Hub, which is recognized for its excellence as a new international technology startup and scale up hub. Meath Enterprises’ efforts are fostering local entrepreneurship, boosting the local economy and giving businesses the tools needed to succeed.”
With such a deeply rooted and rich history, the county is considered the birthplace of Ireland’s Ancient East. English described some of the attractions, “A number of our major tourist attractions are in the top 10 nationally in terms of visitor numbers, and our reputation for food excellence is evidenced by winning Ireland’s Top Foodie Destination award in 2016. Some core attractions include: Bru na Boinne, the area within the bend of the River Boyne, which contains one of the world’s most important prehistoric landscapes; Newgrange, a 5,200 year old passage tomb, which is best known for the illumination of its passage and chamber by the winter solstice sun. We also have Trim Castle, the largest, best preserved and most impressive Anglo-Norman castle in Ireland. Slane Castle is well known for the rock concerts it hosts on an annual basis, and is home to the Slane Distillery which takes visitors through Meath County’s whiskey heritage.”
County Meath’s historic past and vibrant culture blends well with the new and established companies that continue to expand operations across the county. It is a must see for both investors and tourists alike.
