WESTMEATH, a county of Ireland in the province of Leinster. The area is about 709 sq. miles. Pop. (1926) 56,796. Westmeath is a county of carboniferous limestone.
The only heights are Knocklayde (795 ft.), Hill of Ben (710 ft.) and Knockayon (7o7 feet). A considerable system of eskers, notably north of Tullamore, diversifies the surface of the lime stone plain. A large surface is occupied by bog. The loughs of the county have a combined area of nearly 17,000 acres. In the north, on the borders of Cavan, is Lough Sheelin, with a length of 5 m., and an average breadth of between 2 and 3 m., and adjoining it is the smaller Lough Kinale. In the centre of the county is Lough Derravaragh, 6 m. long by 3 m. broad at its widest part. To the north of it are Loughs Lene, Glore, Bawn and others ; and to the south, Loughs Iron and Owel. Farther south is Lough Ennell or Belvidere, and in the south-west Lough Ree, a great expansion of the river Shannon, forming part of the boundary with Roscommon. The loughs are noted for their trout.
Westmeath was severed from Meath (q.v.) in 1543. The insur
rection of 1641 was concerted at Multifamham abbey, and both in the wars of this period and those of 1688 the majority of the estates in the county were confiscated. There are a con siderable number of raths or encampments : one at Rathconrath is of great extent; another at Ballymore was fortified during the wars of the Cromwellian period and those of 1688 and was after wards the headquarters of Gen. Ginkell, when preparing to be siege Athlone; and there is a third near Lough Lene.
The soil is generally a deep rich loam well adapted both for tillage and pasturage. The occupations are almost wholly agri cultural, dairy farming predominating. Flour and meal are largely produced. The only textile manufactures are those of friezes, flannels and coarse linens for home use. The county would benefit from the proposed extension of the Shannon elec tricity scheme to Lough Ree. Water communication with Dublin is furnished by the Royal canal. The counties of Longford and Westmeath return five members to Dail Eireann.