Serving as the seat of County Meath, Navan is a historic town at the junction of the Boyne and Blackwater rivers. It was established as a Norman fort in the 12th century with just three streets within its town walls, all of which remain today. Navan’s historic town centre is clustered with well-preserved buildings dating from the Victorian and Edwardian periods.
Things to do in Navan
One of Navan’s most important architectural landmarks is St Mary's Church, which was established in 1835 following the Catholic Emancipation. It is topped by a square bell tower and features beautiful stained glass windows by Franz Mayer & Co. While visiting St Mary’s Church, take note of the piers and gate at the Trimgate Street entrance, which came from the now-ruined Dangan Castle in nearby Summerhill.
For a retail fix, head to Navan Town Centre, a relaxed shopping destination with 75 stores selling everything from clothing to homewares and beauty products. You can browse the latest fashions at Penneys, explore the Art & Hobby Shop or pick up groceries at Tescos. Navan Town Centre also boasts an array of eateries, including Ginzeng, Esquires Coffee and a Krispy Kreme store.
Performing arts and cultural events are regularly held at the Solstice Art Centre, which is home to a 320-seat theatre that can be transformed into a state-of-the-art cinema. Hands-on workshops are held in the ground-floor studio, while changing art exhibitions take place in the gallery space. At the Solstice Cafe, you can enjoy delicious and healthy meals made using locally sourced produce.
Getting around Navan
Navan is around 45 minutes’ drive from Dublin and Dublin Airport, which has flights to destinations across the globe. Regular buses connect to Navan and the town centre is compact enough to explore on foot.