MCC ED Marketing Brochure

MEATH THE PLACE & SPACE TO THRIVE COMPILED BY MEATH COUNTY COUNCIL 2024

WWW.MEATH.IE

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MEATH

THE PLACE AND SPACE TO THRIVE

SUPPORTS / INITIATIVES / FORUMS ETC

KEY COUNTY HIGHLIGHTS 852 Hectares of Zoned Residential Land Average House Prices - 10% below Dublin Average Commercial Land - XX% below Dublin

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POPULATION

AGE

220,826

87.8% between 0-64

One of the fastest growing populations in Ireland between 2011 and 2024

193,767 current and future workforce THIRD LEVEL QUALIFICATIONS:

53,322 (38.5%) 122,000 University Students within 1 hour of Meath

Outbound Commuters

POPULATION AT WORK

42,729 (52%)

59.3%

Large highly qualified workforce available in Meath

Highest percentage in IReland

MONEY GOES FURTHER: Meath has the 6th highest disposable income and 3rd highest labour force participation rate in the state

POPULATION BY OCCUPATION Managers, Directors & Senior Officials 9.2% Process, Plant and Machine Operatives 7.6%

Professional 18.3%

Sales and Customers 6.3%

Caring, Leisure & Other Services 7.4% Skilled Trades 14.1%

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Associate Professional & Technical 12.2%

MEATH THE PLACE AND SPACE FOR PEOPLE POPULATION BY SECTOR OF WORK Other 12.8%

Building & Construction 8.3%

Manufacturing Industries 11.3%

Professional Services 23%

Transport & Communications 10%

Commerce & Trade 25%

SUPPORTS / INITIATIVES / FORUMS ETC

A YOUNG AND GROWING POPULATION: Second lowest average age in the state Second highest rate of population growth in the state POPULATION WITH 3RD LEVEL QUALIFICATION

7,203 31.5%

9,914 39.5% 8,280 35.1%

7,745 36%

8,435 40.7% 11,745 47.6%

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SUCCESSFUL INDIGENOUS BUSINESSES Meath is home to 8,544 local businesses and 36 new company formations per 10,000 population, in the 4th highest in the state CLUSTERING OF KEY INDUSTRIES Major employment industries include: Retail, trade/auto, health and social work, manufacturing, education and construction.

HIGHLY DESIREABLE PLACE TO DO BUSINESS 77% of businesses were happy or very happy that their business is located in Meath.

PROXIMITY TO NATIONAL AND GLOBAL MARKETS Dublin Airport within 30 mins.

Ferry ports in Dublin, Drogheda and Belfast.

Served by 4 motorways (M1,M2,M3 and M4) Bus routes operate throughout the county.

Rail via the Dublin - Belfast line, Dublin - Sligo line and the Dunboyne line.

Proposed new Navan rail line.

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MEATH THE PLACE AND SPACE TO WORK HIGHLY EDUCATED WORKFORCE 43.4% of Leaving Cert students are progressing to university, which is higher than the State average.

Proximity to Dublin gives a geographic advantage, enabling the county to play a major part in the development of the National Gateway, the nation’s most economically dynamic and progressive area.

Fertile soils provide the best location for a thriving agricultural, equine and food sector.

Meath is fast becoming a multinational Hub, Meta, MSD and Amazon have all invested in Meath business premises.

Government policy indicate large support for growth in sectors such as Agri-Food, Screen Content Creation, Equine, Tourism and recreation.

Meath is home to 8,544 local businesses

WHY MEATH? Meath possesses significant economic potential to prosper as a successful, diverse and vibrant social, civic, commercial and residential location that is recognised locally, nationally and internationally as a highly attractive and distinctive place in which to live and conduct business.

Meath has unparalleled and unique competitive advantage within Ireland, due to its geography, with a diverse low-lying topography, ranging from extensive rich pastures throughout the Boyne and Blackwater river valleys, drumlin hills in the north of the county, tracts of peatlands and raised bog in the southwest and a beautiful coastline of 12 kilometers in the east.

Meath experiences a maritime temperate oceanic climate, as per the Köppen climate classification

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TOURISM/HOSPITALITY Para on sector and strong reason for investing in Meath Quote from large company on why Meath EMERALD PARK

PHARMA/TECH “We feel very privileged to have one of our MSD sites located in beautiful Co. Meath. At the heart of everything we do, is an unshakable commitment to making a difference – for our employees, for our communities and for the people across the world who rely on our medicines. We are so delighted with our location, accessibility and amenities as we have continued to expand our campus in Dunboyne.”

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

“As a native of the county, I was delighted to establish our business eCOMM Merchant Solutions in County Meath. I am proud of the potential in this thriving County and we have further expanded our investments in Meath, through our involvement with Bective Stud, Tea Rooms & Apartments. This demonstrates my belief that Meath is the ideal place to work, live and play.”

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MEATH THE PLACE AND SPACE FOR BUSINESS AGRICULTURE/FOOD Para on sector and strong reason for investing in Meath Quote from large company on why Meath KEPAK OR BOYNE VALLEY FOODS

MANUFACTURING Para on sector and strong reason for investing in Meath Quote from large company on why Meath

LOGISTICS/TRANSPORT Para on sector and strong reason for investing in Meath Quote from large company on why Meath PRIMELINE

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STRATEGIC EMPLOY Kells Site 1 36ha (89Ac) Zoned E2 -General enterprise and employment

Navan Site 2 42ha (103 acres) Zoned E1 – Strategic Employment Zone (High Technology

Kells Site 1 36ha (89Ac) Zoned E2 -General enterprise and employment

Enfield 28ha (69 Acres) Zoned E1/E3 Strategic Employment Zone (High Technology)

Maynooth Environs 24.5 ha (61 Acres) Zoned E1 – Strategic Employment Zone (High Technology

Dunboyne 25ha (62 Acres) Zoned E1/E3 – Strategic Employment Zone (High Technology) / Warehousing & Distribution

MEATH THE PLACE AND SPACE TO LOCATE

OYMENT SITES Navan Site 1 102ha (252 acres)

South Drogheda 50ha (123 acres)

Zoned E1/E3 – Strategic Employment Zone (High Technology) / Warehousing & Distribution

Zoned E1 – Strategic Employment Zone (High Technology)

Laytown 13ha (33 acres) Zoned E1/E2 Strategic Employment Zone (High Technology)

Ashbourne 49ha (120 Acres) Zoned E1/E3 – Strategic Employment Zones (High Technology) / Warehousing & Distribution

Dunshaughlin 52 ha (128 Acres)

Ratoath 171ha (424 Acres)

Zoned E2 -General enterprise and employment

Zoned D1/WL Tourism/ Whiteland

ACTIVITIES Golf - 15 GUI Affiliated golf courses, including Co. Meath Golf Club in Trim, Killeen Castle Golf Club in Dunsany, Headfort Gold Club in Kells & Royal Tara Golf Club in Navan Parks, Gardens & Bogs – Porchfield’s Trim, Balrath Woods, Mullaghmeen Forest, Blackwater Park Navan, Girley Bog Eco Walk, Loughcrew Estate House & Gardens, Causey Farm Horse Racing – Fairyhouse, Bellewstown and Navan Racecourse Walking

&

Cycling

-

Boyne

Valley

to

Lakelands

Greenway, Royal Canal Greenway, Boyne Greenway, Loughcrew Waterways - Boyne Blueway, Angling, Boating Swimming – Multiple swimming pools and 12km of beaches Theme Park – Emerald Park

ARTS Solstice Arts Centre, Navan Swift Cultural Centre, Trim The Venue, Ratoath Toradh Galleries in Ashbourne Library & Kells Heritage Centre

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MEATH THE PLACE AND SPACE FOR LIVING

FESTIVALS & EVENTS Puca Festival, Trim & Athboy Hinterland Arts Festival, Kells Samhain Festival of Food & Culture, Kells Slane Castle Kells Type Trail O’Carolan Harp Festival, Nobber Moynalty Steam Threshing

ACTIVE & VIBRANT COMMUNITIES 400+ community, social, environmental & leisure groups 102 sports facilities 23 arts & culture venues

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MEATH

THE PLACE AND SPACE WITH A HISTORY

The Boyne Valley is renowned for its rich history with 3,000 monuments & heritage sites. Visit the majestic Anglo-Norman castle at Trim or the 5,000 year old UNESCO World Heritage Site of Brú na Bóinne. Roam through the monastic site at Kells in the footsteps of St Colmcille or visit historic Drogheda, Gateway to the Boyne Valley.

Battle of the Boyne Site The Battle of the Boyne Visitor Centre is located in the restored 18th century Oldbridge House, which is located on the battlesite. Free access to the battlesite, parklands and the formal gardens.

Bru na Boinne – Newgrange, Knowth & Dowth Ireland’s richest archaeological landscape.

Bective Abbey A medieval wonder and a star of Hollywood movies

Hill of Tara The centre of a ritual landscape in the heart of the Boyne Valley.

Loughcrew Cairns Loughcrew, with a concentration of around 30 passage tombs, is one of the most important prehistoric cemeteries in Ireland.

Spire of Lloyd The only inland lighthouse in Ireland

Trim Castle

Ireland's largest Anglo-Norman castle.

MEATH COUNTY COUNCIL ECONOMIC & ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT TEAM

KIERAN KEHOE Chief Executive

DARA MC GOWAN Director of Enterprise & Economic Development

MAJELLA FARRELL Head of Economc Development

JOE ENGLISH Head of Enterprise

Contact Us Economic Development & Planning, Meath County Council, Buvinda House, Dublin Road, Navan, Co. Meath C15 Y291

046 909 7065 economic@meathcoco.ie

www.meath.ie