A trip through County Meath visiting Navan, Slane and Newgrange.

Starting at Navan, located at the confluence of the Rivers Blackwater and Boyne, we take the road to Donaghmore to the site of Donaghmore monastic settlement.

The round tower here has a carving of the crucifixion over the doorway, and like all round towers served many purposes including that of lookout post, enabling the monks to see,

The approach of the marauding Danes up the Boyne.

The ruins of nearby Dunmore Castle which overlook the river date from the fifteenth century and was at one time the seat of the D’arcy family until destroyed by fire during the 1798 Rebellion.

Passing the imposing gates of Slane Castle to Slane bridge, the poet Francis Ledwidge comes to mind,

The Blackbird of the Boyne must have stood and watched the water.

Finishing at the Newgrange passage tomb which is at present being excavated and reconstructed by archaeologists, the huge Kerbstones can be seen,

Richly carved with designs that have not seen the light of day for many generations.

This episode of ‘Mountain and Meadow : Regal Boyne’ was broadcast on 10 July 1963. The presenter is by JB Malone.

‘Mountain and Meadow’ was a series of six programmes broadcast from July to August 1962. Presented by the wellknown hill walking enthusiast JB Malone, it followed routes of walks in the Dublin and Wicklow countryside.

A second series of ‘Mountain and Meadow’ was broadcast from July to October 1963 and covered counties Meath, Wicklow, Westmeath, Kildare, Kilkenny, Roscommon, Waterford and Tipperary. Both series were produced by James Plunkett.

In an article in the RTV Guide of 6 July 1963 the second series promises to be a record on film of a journey which can be made on foot or by car, in the course of one day and aims to include

“Those simple and eternal things that make up the beauty and charm of Ireland.”