Kells

Kells (Ceannas Mor) is a town in County Meath, about 65 km north of Dublin, with a population in 2022 of 6600. "Kil-" or "Kells" denotes the cell or abode of a monk, so it's a common placename, but this is the one that for 800 years housed the Book of Kells. The abbey remains are the chief reason to visit.

Get in
Kells is 25 km northwest of Dublin Airport. By road follow M3.

Kells lost its railway in 1963. Bus Éireann runs frequently from Dublin:
 * 109 from Dublin Busáras via Drumshaughlin and Navan to Kells, taking two hours, hourly daily 7AM-12:30PM. At night use the 109A.
 * 109A from Dublin Airport via Ashbourne, Ratoath, Dunshaughlin and Navan to Kells. It runs hourly 24 hours, and 12:30AM-0:30AM it starts from city centre.
 * 109X from Dublin Busáras via Glasnevin and Navan to Kells (90 min), continuing to Carnaross, Virginia and Cavan Town. It runs hourly, daily.

Bus 108 runs from Bailieborough via Mullagh and Moynalty, with 3 M-Sa, taking 30 min.

Bus 187 runs from Oldcastle via Mount Nugent, Ballyjamesduff and Virginia, with 4 M-Sa, taking just under an hour.

For route maps and stop locations enter the route number into the TFI route mapper.

Kells doesn't have a bus station. The main stop is called on timetables, east end of Kenlis Place. Most buses continue west to the retail strip along Cavan Road R147.

Get around
Walk, the town is compact.

Taxis in town are Lynch Taxis, John's Cabs +353 46 924 9353 and Kells Taxi Cabs.

See

 * has a walled graveyard on the site of an old monastery, with three High Crosses from the 9th century, plus a fourth cooling its heels in the river. They're specifically termon crosses, marking the boundaries of the inner sanctum; fairly plain but the bosky riverside setting is attractive. The ruined church has an Ogham stone, dedicated to "Cuana son of the people of Luigni", an 8th-century tribe hereabouts. On the main road by the turn-off, a little shrine marks St Ciaran's Well. There have been multiple Keerans or Ciarans but this one was Ciarán the Pious of Bealach-duin, died 770.
 * on R163 east of town is a fine Georgian multi-arched bridge. It was built in the late 18th century to grace the approach to Headfort House, which is now a school and you can't tour.
 * has a walled graveyard on the site of an old monastery, with three High Crosses from the 9th century, plus a fourth cooling its heels in the river. They're specifically termon crosses, marking the boundaries of the inner sanctum; fairly plain but the bosky riverside setting is attractive. The ruined church has an Ogham stone, dedicated to "Cuana son of the people of Luigni", an 8th-century tribe hereabouts. On the main road by the turn-off, a little shrine marks St Ciaran's Well. There have been multiple Keerans or Ciarans but this one was Ciarán the Pious of Bealach-duin, died 770.
 * on R163 east of town is a fine Georgian multi-arched bridge. It was built in the late 18th century to grace the approach to Headfort House, which is now a school and you can't tour.
 * has a walled graveyard on the site of an old monastery, with three High Crosses from the 9th century, plus a fourth cooling its heels in the river. They're specifically termon crosses, marking the boundaries of the inner sanctum; fairly plain but the bosky riverside setting is attractive. The ruined church has an Ogham stone, dedicated to "Cuana son of the people of Luigni", an 8th-century tribe hereabouts. On the main road by the turn-off, a little shrine marks St Ciaran's Well. There have been multiple Keerans or Ciarans but this one was Ciarán the Pious of Bealach-duin, died 770.
 * on R163 east of town is a fine Georgian multi-arched bridge. It was built in the late 18th century to grace the approach to Headfort House, which is now a school and you can't tour.

Do

 * Club Active on Church Lane has a gym with fitness classes. Minimum membership is one month.
 * 1 km east of town has two 18-hole courses.
 * 1 km east of town has two 18-hole courses.

Buy

 * The retail strip is along Cavan Rd R147 leading northwest, with Supervalu after 200 m (M-F 8AM-10PM, Sa 8AM-9PM, Su 9AM-8PM) and Aldi further along (M-F 9AM-10PM, Sa Su 9AM-9PM).

Eat

 * Vanilla Pod is within Headfort Arms Hotel, see Sleep; it gets good reviews for quality and selection. It's open M-Th 5-10PM, F Sa 5-11PM, Su 12:30-9:30PM.
 * Vanilla Pod is within Headfort Arms Hotel, see Sleep; it gets good reviews for quality and selection. It's open M-Th 5-10PM, F Sa 5-11PM, Su 12:30-9:30PM.

Drink

 * Cross St into Farrell St is the main pub strip, with Smith's, The Chaser, McGee's, The Sheeney, O'Connor's, Blackwater Inn and The West Way. JJ Maguire and The Carrick House are a little way west.

Sleep

 * Farrelly's Townhouse at 2 John St was renovated in 2021. Double (room only) €80.
 * Farrelly's Townhouse at 2 John St was renovated in 2021. Double (room only) €80.

Connect
As of April 2021, Kells has 5G from Eir and Three, and 4G from Vodafone.

Go next

 * Brú Na Bóinne Archaeological Park towards Drogheda is a collection of astronomically-aligned megaliths dating back to 3200 BC.
 * Oldcastle is surrounded by prehistoric sites, the best being Loughcrew Cairns.
 * Cavan Town to the north is in the drumlin country, with islet-studded lakes.