The Ultimate Lifestyle Guide for Clog na Leinn Residents
Collinstown is a beautiful, active village in the heart of Westmeath’s Lakelands.
We are situated on the shores of the beautiful Lough Lene, which is the first freshwater lake in Ireland to obtain a Blue Flag for its pollution-free water. It has long provided a rich habitat for fish and wildlife, not to mention a perfect sandy swimming spot for our locals!
We are also surrounded by natural and historical landmarks, including Mullaghameen Forest, Belvedere House and Gardens (under 30 minutes drive), Loughcrew Estate and Gardens and Multyfarmham Friary (within 15 minutes drive), and Fore Abbey just 2 minutes drive from our front door.
houses one of the replica’s of the Lough Lene bell which is the most important and well known of the ancient relics from the area.
Local Resources
Our village is very well served with resources and amenities. The economic heart of the village are the businesses around the attractive central crossroads; we have Carmel’s Collinstown Daybreak, The Lough Lene Inn, The Maypole Bar, and Roma Takeaway on the Castlepollard Road.
St. Mary’s NS, is a co-educational primary school beside the church in Collinstown village. The school is a vital part of our vibrant community and with numbers growing in the school year on year the school is going from strength to strength. Kidz Aloud is our local Montessori School.
St. Mary’s Church, Collinstown with it’s landmark bell tower and healing garden, provides a spiritual and tranquil space in the village. The Church Collinstown Dance Hall is our community hub, located on the Castlepollard road. The hall houses many of our community groups, clubs and events. Locals can join a Toddler Group, play Bingo, participate in Community Games, and get involved in a number of special interests including Pickleball , Pilates, or the Irish Countrywomen’s Association. For our local foodies, we host a monthly Farmers Market offering locally grown produce, crafts and farm-made products – usually on the last Sunday of every month. All the details of events and activities are managed and updated on the new Collinstown.ie website, expertly maintained by the Collinstown Community Action Group.
Hurling and camogie are the sport of choice in this corner of North Westmeath and Collinstown is no exception. The Lough Lene Gaels GAA Club on the Castlepollard Road is home to our hurling and camogie teams. The Club have a playing pitch and walking track and clubhouse, and are developing a second pitch to further expand their facilities. Our clubs are passionate about nurturing talent from a young age with the junior teams training every week from April until October.
Collinstown Running Club is a great non competitive bi-weekly run with a fun chatty bunch. All all levels from beginner to the more advanced join in, and support each other. The group runs every Monday & Wednesday at 7.15 from Lough Lene Gaels Club house, regardless of the weather.
We are very lucky to have the beautiful Lough Lene on our door step. The Cut, which is 2km from the crossroads out the lake road, is one of the finest swimming spots in the country. With it’s blue flag certified clean water, a jetty, a sandy bottom and “gin clear” water – it is a great place for swimmers of all abilities, not to mention sailors or windsurfers.
The renowned Lough Lene Angling Association is based here, ad members enjoy some of the best trout fishing in Ireland at Lough Lene. Non-members can pick up a day permit to fish the teeming Lake, at Carmel’s Daybreak shop in the middle of the village.
Collinstown is aiming to become Westmeath’s first Age Friendly village and we are working on introducing measures to make this a reality. Age Friendly benefits everyone. An Age Friendly approach improves life for everyone in the community because it creates safer environments.
Heritage & Culture
Fore Abbey is one of the top-rated attractions in the Midlands, according to Tripadvisor. View the site where St Fechin founded a Christian monastery housing up to 300 monks in the 7th Century. You can still see the remains of St Fechin’s church, built about 900, and one of the 18 Fore crosses, which are spread out over 10 kilometres on roadways and in fields. You will also experience the The Seven Wonders of Fore – which are the monastery in the bog, the mill without a race, the water that flows uphill, the tree that has three branches/the tree that won’t burn, the water that won’t boil, the anchorite in a stone and the stone/lintel raised by St Fechin’s prayers.
Mullaghmeen Forest is an isolated area of forest rising above the farm land of north Westmeath. Mullaghmeen Forest is the largest planted beech forest in Ireland and within it’s 400 hectares of forest you will also find Sitka spruce, Scots pine, Noble fir and other native trees. The summit of Mullaghmeen provides magnificent views north across Lough Sheelin and into the neighbouring county of Cavan. There is an extensive network of marked trails for varying levels of fitness. The forest, once belonging to a Lord Gradwell, includes remnants of our local history, including relic walls of famine field, a Booley Hut, a summer grazing shelter and Flax Pits which remind us that a thriving linen industry once existed in this area.
Tullynally Castle is an historic Irish country house, located near Castlepollard, County Westmeath. Home to the Pakenham family (now the Earls of Longford) for over 350 years, the house is surrounded by 12 acres of Garden that are open to the public.
Loughcrew Estate, offers Gardens, a Café, an amazing adventure centre, 6-acres of beautifully landscaped gardens with a lake, plus a manor house dating to the 1850’s.
Ballinlough Castle & Gardens, is a hidden gem in Clonmellon, County Westmeath. It is perched on a hill overlooking two lakes, and is the home of Sir John and Lady Nugent. The gardens were restored in 1994 and are now open to the public, together with the lakeside and woodland walks.
Surrounding Towns
Mullingar
20 minutes south
Mullingar is a vibrant town full of music, family activities, theatre & arts, shopping and dining, located in the heart of the lakelands, where history and heritage combine to create a mythical, magical landscape. Mullingar is renowned from dining and nightlife – and has achieved Purple Flag status.
It is well served by public transportation to Dublin, Sligo and other major routes.
Kells, Co. Meath
30 Minutes North
A heritage town, Kells is one of the reasons that Ireland is referred to as the Land of Saints and Scholars and is on the tentative list to become a World Heritage Site with UNESCO. Here was the home of the internationally famous Book of Kells for over 800 years before being moved to Trinity College in the late 17th century. Kells today is a tourist attraction, full of shops, restaurants.
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