Comment: A week to show the Royal County at its best

Meath plays host to a galaxy of star events from golf to proms

This coming week is set to be a busy one across Co Meath as many domestic and international visitors can be expected to arrive into the area to attend the numerous summer festivals and sporting events taking place.

Chief amongst these will be Mel Gibson, flying in to attend the 30th anniversary celebrations of the filming of his Academy Award-winning movie, ‘Braveheart’, which drew global attention on the town of Trim following its release three decades ago. Eric Lawlor, whose late brother Sean was a member of the cast of the film, has spearheaded the King John Summer Prom Festival as the town finally begins to harness the potential of the film's success.

With almost 300 performers from Ireland and beyond, it is set to be the largest orchestral festival on the island of Ireland, “a landmark cultural celebration bringing together world-class musicians, film legends, local talent and thousands of visitors for an unforgettable summer spectacle” over three days from Friday to Sunday.

Over at another castle, Killeen in Dunsany from Thursday, the HotelPlanner Tour Irish Challenge takes place, the fourth of six events on the 2025 Road to Mallorca which will see 156 of the world’s top emerging golfers compete over four days in a 72-hole Strokeplay format. The leading Irishman will earn both the Christy O’Connor Jnr Memorial Trophy and a spot in the 2025 Amgen Irish Open at The K Club. There are several Irishmen enjoying an impressive 2025 campaign that will be vying to add their name to that list, including Liam Nolan and Max Kennedy. Killeen Castle features a fan village where there will be a range of food trucks, a kids' zone, entertainment for all the family and a chance to meet the golfers.

Moynalty sees the 50th Steam Threshing Festival taking place, with a weekend of celebrations over Saturday evening and Sunday. The main festival day on Sunday will feature a full programme of traditional farming demonstrations, rural crafts, and family entertainment. The centrepiece will be the steam-powered threshing demonstrations — the festival’s founding tradition — where visitors can witness working threshing mills in action, driven by over 50 operational steam engines.

The inaugural International Farrier Competition, featuring over 50 skilled farriers from across the globe, will take place, and a large craft and trade fair will span the festival grounds, while Derek Ryan will head up a star-studded music line-up.

In Oldcastle on Saturday evening, the Loughcrew Estate hosts the opera, 'Carmen', with leading Irish performers and narration by actor Mary McEvoy, in a revival of the tradition of Loughcrew Opera open air event that has always been so popular in the past.

It is weekends such as this that makes the efforts of agencies and event managers in the Royal County worthwhile, providing our tourism and hospitality sectors with a great boost, as well as making Meath a destination that can be enjoyed by locals and visitors alike. Best wishes to all involved.