The name An Móta is derived from the term motte-and-bailey, as the Normans built an example of this type of fortification in Moate. The earthwork is still visible behind the buildings on the main street.
Moate later became an important marketplace and Quaker village adding both wealth and power to the area. There are several examples of Quaker houses on the main street, which itself is typical of an Irish marketplace.
The
Old Rail Trail is a 43km Greenway from Athlone to Mullingar via Moate and traces the historic Midlands Great Western Railway line, past restored station houses and under pretty stone arched bridges. Linking Athlone Castle and the River Shannon with the Royal Canal in Mullingar, it passes through areas of unique biodiversity and heritage along the way.
Also located on the outskirts of Moate is
Dún na Sí Amenity & Heritage Park which is a fantastic 27 acre parkland, just off the Old Rail Trail Greenway. Features include a Scéal Exhibition in the Comhaltas Teach Cheoil, Heritage Trail and Vintage Museum, Pet Farm, Walking Trails, Native Irish Woodland, Turlough, Playground and Tea Rooms. You can also trace your
Westmeath Roots in the Genealogy Centre.
Moate Golf Club is mature golf course directly accessible from the greenway and town itself, and offers a unique challenge for golfers of all abilities. The Par 3 restaurant at Moate Golf Club is family friendly, providing home-cooked food. The course can be accessed conveniently from the Main Street of Moate, just beside the entrance to the Greenway and the old Railway Station.
Moate Museum
So many towns and villages across Ireland hold deep secrets and a fascinating history. But so often the secrets are so well kept that stories remain untold. Which is why the museum in Moate provides a rare glimpse into the past of the town, the stories of its people and the folklore that’s engrained within its land. Housed in an old gaol behind what was the courthouse (now the library), the Moate Museum holds over a thousand artefacts dating all the way back to the 1700s, with exhibitions depicting an old farm kitchen, a chapel and school, as well as a blacksmiths forge and tradesman’s workshops. It’s open by appointment only, so plan ahead for a fascinating insight into the history of Moate.
Moate town offers a visitor everything needed from Cafes, Restaurants, and Accomodation in the town and the surrounding areas.