Navan

Understand

Navan in Irish is An Uaimh, "the cave". This isn't cave country so it probably refers to a prehistoric souterrain — no-one knows where, but the area has many ancient remains. In 1848 there were reports of a souterrain found during construction of the railway viaduct, but it hasn't been re-discovered and was probably obliterated by the construction.

The town retained its medieval street pattern until the shopping centre was plonked in the middle. In 2022 Navan had a population of 34,000, so it's among the dozen largest towns in Ireland. Famous people from Navan include Sir Francis Beaufort (1774-1857) who devised the Beaufort wind scale, the actor Pierce Brosnan (b 1953), and the comedian Dylan Moran (b 1971).

Get in

thumb | 300px | Market Square in Navan Bus Éireann runs frequently from Dublin: - 109 from Dublin Busáras via Drumshaughlin to Navan (one hour) and Kells, hourly daily 7AM-11:30PM. At night use the 109A. - 109A from Dublin Airport via Ashbourne, Ratoath and Dunshaughlin to Navan and Kells. It runs hourly 24 hours, and 12:30AM-5:30AM it starts from city centre. - 109X from Dublin Busáras via Glasnevin to Navan, continuing to Kells, Carnaross, Virginia and Cavan Town. It runs hourly, daily. - NX from Dublin Beresford Place and other city stops to Blanchardstown and Navan, every 20-30 min daily from 5AM to 11:30PM.

Bus 107 runs four times a day from Kingscourt, taking 45 min.

Bus 190 runs hourly, daily from Drogheda (for trains from Dublin and Belfast), Slane, Navan and Trim.

There isn't a town bus station, but the buses from Dublin stop at Market Square.

By road from Dublin follow M3 and reckon an hour.

Navan lost its railway service in 1963 but the line remained in use for freight and the track is still there. There's clamour to re-instate trains to this large commuter town, and in 2010 the line from Dublin reopened as far as M3 Parkway near Dunboyne, 30 km south. But there's no onward public transport from there, and progress has stalled on extension to Navan.

Get around

The sights around town are within hiking distance, but you need wheels to reach Hill of Tara or Brú na Bóinne.

Three buses orbit town starting from the shopping centre: 110A to Blackcastle Estate and Clonmagadden Fort and back, 110B to the hospital and Commons Road and back, and 110C to Johnstown Wood and Bailis Downs and back. They're normally every hour or two but are all suspended in early 2021.