Failte Ireland aims to transform the Táin Trail

Tourism in Meath could be in line for a massive boost as Failte Ireland aims to transform the Táin Trail, which passes through Meath, into an "internationally iconic" route.

Fáilte Ireland has initiated a review of the Táin Trail Walking/Hiking, Cycling and Driving Route for Louth, Meath, Westmeath, Longford and Roscommon, to establish it as an important tourism trail within Ireland’s Ancient East and Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands.

The purpose of the review is to transform the trail, which stretches from Rathcroghan in Roscommon to the Cooley Peninsula in Louth, into an international tourist route.

Kells, Crossakiel, Kilskyre and Teltown are among the locations named in the legendary tale of Queen Maeve's cattle raid on Cooley.

The Táin Trail is an existing 500km touring and cycling route that follows the story of the Táin, but Failte Ireland aims to reimagine it into "an internationally compelling experiential route that engages local communities and visitors."

Failte Ireland has appointed a multi-disciplinary team to review the current route and provide recommendations on opportunities for the various towns and attraction along its length.

A public consultation process kicked off online last week and runs for two weeks up and until Friday 20th October. A drop-in consultation event took place in the Kells Courthouse Tourism and Cultural Hub on Friday.

Cllr Sean Drew said he was delighted the review was taking place as he felt the Táin Trail was an untapped resource that could, with the right marketing, become an internationally renowned tourist attraction.

"Tourists and visitors are becoming very interested in following trails or routes. If this is marketed in the right way, particularly with the heritage involved, it will vastly increase footfall in all towns across the route.

"A concerted effort will be needed across all the counties and not only will local history, tourism and community groups need to get on board, but the local authorities as well," he said. "I welcome the fact that Failte Ireland wants to promote the route, it could be a huge attraction - look at the success of the Wild Atlantic Way."

Deputy Johnny Guirke, vice chairman of the Kingdom of Meath tourism group also welcomed the proposals, pointing out that it would have major benefits for the area.

"Meath features strongly in the story of the Táin and we have a wealth of heritage sites in the county that can add to the attraction of the route."

At 365 miles in length the Táin Trail is a circular route which runs from County Roscommon, to the Cooley Peninsula and back again. It is fully signposted with distinctive Brown Bull finger post signs, as well as striking pictorial maps located in key towns along the route.

The Táin saga begins when Queen Maeve and her husband, Ailill, decide to compare their wealth and discover that the King had one thing that his Queen did not – a stud bull with a pedigree so rich that people travelled from across the world to avail of its power.

Maeve was infuriated but she knew of a bull which would make her even wealthier than her husband.

When diplomatic efforts failed to acquire the bull Maeve decided to go to war to seize the bull, assembled a fierce army from across Ireland and they set out from Roscommon bound for Cooley to take the bull by force, but met fierce resistance from Cú Chulainn, whose first encounter with the army from Connaught was at Crossakiel.

The advancing army cut down a great forest of trees to make way for their chariot at Kilskyre and spent the night in Kells, then proceeded through Navan, Slane and north of Drogheda to Cooley, where most of the fighting took place.

As Maeve's armies retreated, another huge battle took place at Teltown, one of the great gathering places of ancient Ireland.