There has been a mill on this site on the River Blackwater since the 1640s and the Tallon family has owned the mill since 1859. At this point, grain runs deep in the blood of the current owner, James Tallon, a fourth-generation miller, and his love of everything to do with milling is infectious.
It’s a truly local operation, using locally sourced grain and the stoneground wholemeal flour is only sold and supplied in the local area in and around County Meath, so do snap up a 2kg bag – or two or three! – when you spot it if you’re not from the area.
One of only a handful of waterwheel mills still operating commercially in Ireland, the mill has been powered by an electric motor instead of the waterwheel since the late 1970s, when the Boyne Drainage Scheme meant the weir and mill-race had to be rebuilt at a lower level and power shifted from the wheel to the mill machinery, since the River Blackwater could no longer power the waterwheel.
In 2012, carrying on a tradition of restoration that his father started, James hired four German engineers to completely rebuild the wheel to make it operational again. One thing that hasn’t changed, though, are the stones that grind the flour – they’ve been going strong for 200 years.
This mill is a little gem and you shouldn’t miss a chance to visit. Keep an eye on their website or Facebook page for updates of occasional open days throughout the year or you can contact James to arrange a tour for your group or your school.
