County Westmeath (Irish: Contae na hIarmhí) is a county situated in the Irish midlands, also popularly called the "Lake county" in the western part of the province of Leinster. Area: 1,764 km². The county was once part of the ancient province of Meath and later of County Meath which ended in 1543 when County Westmeath was created under the Counties of Meath and Westmeath Act.