County Westmeath
Area:	1,838 km²
Capital:	Mullingar
Code:	WH
Population:	71,858 (2002)
Province:	Leinster

County Westmeath (Irish: An Iarmhí) is a county situated in the Irish Midlands, in the western part of the province of Leinster. Area: 1,838 km² (710 square miles).

Athlone (pop. 15,936) on the River Shannon, Westmeath's western boundary, is the largest town, while Mullingar (pop. 15,621) is the county's administrative centre. Other notable towns are Castlepollard, Moate, Kinnegad and Killucan.

The County is famous for its cattle, lakes such as Lough Owel, pewter such as Mullingar Pewter, scenery, its canal, the drug company Elán and is rapidly becoming part of the commuter belt of Dublin.

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Notable Westmeath people include Michael O'Leary, the CEO of Ryanair; Joe Dolan, a popular singer; Donnie Cassidy, a well-known businessman and TD; and Mary O'Rourke, a senator and former Government minister.

External links

• Westmeath County Council (http://www.westmeathcoco.ie)
• Westmeath Tourism (http://www.westmeathtourism.com)
• Westmeath Enterprise (http://www.westmeath-enterprise.ie)
• Westmeath Examiner (Local Newspaper) (http://www.unison.ie/westmeath_examiner)
• Elán Homepage (http://www.elan.com)