Drogheda

Drogheda Droichead Átha
Town
Drogheda from the South
Flag Coat of arms of Drogheda Coat of arms
Motto(s):  Deus praesidium, mercatura decus  (Latin) "God our strength, merchandise our glory"
Country	Ireland
Province	Leinster
County	County Louth/County Meath
Municipal district	Drogheda Borough District
Dáil Éireann	Louth
EU Parliament	Midlands–North-West
Founded	991AD
First Charter	1194AD
Highest elevation	23 m (75 ft)
Lowest elevation	1 m (3 ft)
Population	38,578
• Rank	6th
Demonym	Droghedean
Time zone	UTC0 (WET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+1 (IST)
Irish Grid Reference	O088754
Dialing code	+353 41
Website	www.drogheda.ie

Drogheda (/ˈdrɒhədə/; /ˈdrɔːdə/; Irish: Droichead Átha, meaning 'bridge of the ford' Latin: Pontana Civitas) is a town located in the north east of Ireland. Siting on both banks of the River Boyne the town straddles both County Louth and County Meath but is predominantly situated in County Louth. It is the largest town and sixth most populous area overall in Ireland with a population of 38,578 recorded in the 2011 Census.

The earliest notices of Drogheda come from Roman times when the area was called Inver Colpa. The Viking Danes established a fortified settlement at Drogheda in 911AD. In the 12th century, after the Norman invasion, Drogheda was divided into two separate towns on opposing side of the River Boyne, Drogheda-in-Meath on the south bank received its town charter in 1194AD and Drogheda-in-Uriel on the northern bank received its town charter in 1229AD. Although they immediately bordered one another, the two towns were in different church dioceses, had separate corporations, taxes, tariffs and landing charges. It wasn't until 1412AD that a new Charter was granted, unifying the two towns and thus becoming a county in its own right know as the "County of the Town of Drogheda".

Drogheda has played a significant role in Irish history; key events include the visit of King John in 1210, the Black Death in 1348, the holding of Parliament at various times over the years 1441 – 1493, the effects of the Plague in 1479, the passing of Poynings Law in 1494, the swearing of allegiance to the Crown by the defeated Ulster Chiefs at the Dominican Friary in 1603, the failed Siege of Drogheda in 1641, the attack by Oliver Cromwell in 1649, and the Battle of the Boyne outside Drogheda in 1690. In the Twentieth Century Drogheda played its role in the momentous events which shaped the modern nation including the 1916 Easter Rising, the War of Independence and the Civil War during the years 1919 – 1923 which saw the shelling of Millmount Fort by Irish Free State forces.

Today Drogheda is at the centre of the densely populated South Louth/East Meath region, which has a population of around 70,000 people. The Electoral (Amendment) Act 2009 merged areas of East Meath with Louth for Dáil Éireann elections which allowed the town of Drogheda and its hinterland areas to form a single constituency. As of 2014, Drogheda forms part of the Drogheda Borough District for local government purposes, a subsidiary of Louth County Council. There is a strong City Status campaign in the town headed by the Drogheda City Status Group.

Location and Function

Drogheda is situated in the east of Ireland approximately 47 km (29 mi.) north of Dublin, 35 km (22 mi.) south of Dundalk, 122 km (76 mi.) south of Belfast and 28 km (17 mi.) east of Navan. The town centre clusters around the narrow river Boyne Basin and is confined on both north and south sides by sharp hills. Drogheda’s central area is punctuated by a number of notable church spires and buildings which when combined with local topography, give a unique sense of place to the town. Drogheda is the largest town in Ireland and acts as the major industrial, service and commercial centre for South County Louth, East and North County Meath. Drogheda’s Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital acts as the acute medical provider for the entire North East Region whilst Drogheda Port acts as a major import and export centre fore much of the Eastern Irish Seaboard. The town forms the natural eastern gateway to the Boyne Valley, an area well endowed with a wide range of natural and built resources and a rich heritage including archaeological monuments of international significance including the world heritage, UNESCO designated, Bru na Boinne site. The Boyne Valley forms the southernmost extremity of County Louth and marks the border with County Meath to the south on which Drogheda stands.

Toponymy

Drogheda, in the Irish structure of the word, Droichead Átha signifies "the bridge of the ford". Drogheda has been accordingly, by the historians of the early centuries, rendered in Latin "Pons Vadi" and "Pontana Civitas" while, by the English, it was more vernacularly styled "Droheda", "Drocheda", "Drohed" and sometimes "Treoid" and "Tredagh".

History

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±%
1813	16,123	—
1821	18,118	+12.4%
1831	17,365	−4.2%
1841	17,300	−0.4%
1851	16,810	−2.8%
1861	14,722	−12.4%
1871	13,510	−8.2%
1881	12,297	−9.0%
1891	11,873	−3.4%
1901	12,760	+7.5%
1911	12,501	−2.0%
1926	12,716	+1.7%
1936	14,494	+14.0%
1946	15,715	+8.4%
1951	16,779	+6.8%
1956	17,008	+1.4%
1961	17,085	+0.5%
1966	17,908	+4.8%
1971	20,095	+12.2%
1981	23,615	+17.5%
1986	24,681	+4.5%
1991	24,656	−0.1%
1996	25,282	+2.5%
2002	31,020	+22.7%
2006	35,090	+13.1%
2011	38,578	+9.9%

Town beginnings

Signature page from the Annals of the Four Masters.

According to legend, St. Patrick in 443AD, walked to Drogheda, where he took a boat along the River Boyne to the village of Slane.

The Danish raider Turgesius, or Thorgestr took Drogheda in 911AD and established a permanent settlement.

The Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland (Irish: Annála Ríoghachta Éireann) or the Annals of the Four Masters (Annála na gCeithre Máistrí) are chronicles of medieval Irish history, within the Annals the first account of the Drogheda area comes in the form of Inbhear Colptha (Inver Copla) on the Meath side of the Boyne in 'The first year of Conaire Mor, son of Ederscel, in the sovereignty of Ireland. The Age of the World, 5160.'

It was in the reign of Conaire that the sea annually cast its produce ashore, at Inbhear Colptha (Inver Colpa). Great abundance of nuts were annually found upon the Boyne and the Buais during his time.

— - Four Masters, Annals of the Four Masters, 160 AD.

The Annals of the Four Masters first recorded Drogheda (Droichead-atha) in 'The Age of Christ, 1039.'

An army was led by Donnchadh Mac Gillaphadraig and the Osraighi into Meath; and they burned as far as Cnoghbha and Droichead-atha.

— - Four Masters, Annals of the Four Masters, 1039 AD.

Founded originally as two separate towns on opposing side of the River Boyne by Anglo-Normans knights, Drogheda-in-Meath on the south bank was founded by Hugh De Lacy and received its town charter in 1194AD from Richard the Lionheart and Drogheda-in-Uriel on the northern bank was founded by Bertram de Verdun and received its town charter in 1229AD. The two towns were collectively knows in Latin as Drogheda ex Utraque Parte Aquce(Drogheda on both side of the water). Although they immediately bordered one another, separated by the River Boyne the two towns were in different church dioceses, had separate corporations, taxes, tariffs and landing charges. This last difference in particular was to lead to intense rivalry and even bloodshed as each town sought to undercut the other in order to gain a greater share of maritime trade.

In 1412, Father Philip Bennet, a friar of the Dominican Friary who, in the aftermath of a particularly 'sanguinary engagement' invited both sides to hear him preach. On the feast of Corpus Christi outside St. Peters Church he appealed to warring townsfolk to 'be united in the body of Christ' and encouraged them to instead petition the king for the unification of Drogheda. It is said that William Symcock, called out in the name of all 'We will' and it was then agreed to make a joint application to the King.

A charter of Union was granted by Henry IV at Westminster on 1 November and provided for the union of the towns of Drogheda on either side of the Boyne into a single town and county know as 'The County of the Town of Drogheda' to be governed by a mayor and two sheriffs chosen by the community. The reasons given for this constitutional change included 'the harm caused by existing arrangements to Drogheda’s trading forces, and the dissensions and debates that they had given rise to among its inhabitants.' On 15 December 1412, Robert Ball came to Drogheda with the charter of union and William Symcock was elected as the first may of a united Drogheda. See :Mayors of Drogheda

Historical events

In 1180, at Lungangreen in Northern Drogheda, Norman John de Courcy battled O’Hanlon, Chief of Armagh. There was no clear winner and both sides retreated with heavy losses.

By 1186 a motte and bailey had been built at Millmount which overlooks the town from a bluff on the south bank of the River Boyne. The first town defenses which enclosed the settlements date to the 1190s. They may have been deep ditches with internal earthen banks and wooden palisades fronted by deep ditches. In the early and middle decades of the thirteenth century the construction of stone walls began. However, it wasn't until the fourteenth century that murage grants were used to build walls of stone. Despite this, the defences were strong enough to repulse an attack in 1315-16 by Edward Bruse's Scottish army. The eventual area enclosed on the south side was 33 acres. On the north side 80 acres was walled. The total walled area makes Drogheda one of the largest walled towns in medieval Ireland. It was comparable in size to Dublin, Kilkenny, Bristol and Oxford.

In 1395, O'Neill and the other Ulster chiefs submitted to England’s Richard II in the Magdalen monastery in Drogheda.

View of Drogheda by William Van Der Hagen, 1718.

Drogheda was arguably the most important walled town in the English Pale during the medieval period. It frequently hosted meetings of the Irish Parliament at various times over the years 1441 – 1493. In a spill-over from the War of the Roses, the Earl of Desmond and his two youngest sons (still children) were executed in Drogheda on Valentine's Day, 1468, on orders of the Earl of Worcester, the Lord Deputy of Ireland. It later came to light that the Queen herself was implicated in the orders given.

In 1494 Parliament was moved to the Drogheda. Sir Edward Poynings, in his position as Lord Deputy of Ireland, as appointed by King Henry VII of England, called together an assembly of the parliament. Coming in the aftermath of the divisive Wars of the Roses, Poynings' intention was to make Ireland once again obedient to the English monarchy. Assembling the Parliament in 1495 Poynings' Law was passed which subordinated the Irish Parliament's legislative powers to the King and his English Council and declared that the Parliament of Ireland was thereafter to be placed under the authority of the Parliament of England. Poynings' Law was a major rallying point for groups seeking self-government for Ireland, particularly the Confederate Catholics in the 1640s. It was also a major grievance for Henry Grattan's Patriot Party in the late 18th century, who consistently sought a repeal of Poynings' Law. The Act remained in place until the Constitution of 1782 gave the Irish parliament legislative independence.

The town was besieged twice during the Irish Confederate Wars.

Main articles: Siege of Drogheda (1641) and Siege of Drogheda

Drogheda in 1641 during the Irish Rebellion of 1641, a Catholic force under Phelim O'Neill laid siege to Drogheda. The rebels tried three assaults on the town. On the first occasion they simply tried to rush the walls. In their second attempt, a small party of 500 men broke into the town at night through dilapidated sections of the walls, with the aim of opening the gates for a storming party of 700 men outside. However, the initial incursion was repulsed in confused fighting and in the morning, the garrison opened the gates to rebels outside, only to take them prisoner once they entered the town. The rebels tried for a final time in March 1642, when a relief of the town was imminent, attacking the walls with scaling ladders, but were again repulsed. Shortly afterwards, the rebel siege was broken by English reinforcements from Dublin, under Colonel Moore. Colonel Moore was later created the Earl of Drogheda was created in the Peerage of Ireland in 1661.

The second and more widely known Siege of Drogheda took place on 3–11 September 1649 at the outset of the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland. The town of Drogheda was held by the Confederate Ireland and Royalist when it was besieged and stormed by English Parliamentarian forces under Oliver Cromwell.

Oliver Cromwell arrived at Drogheda on 3 September and his siege guns, brought up by sea, arrived two days later. His total force was about 12,000 men and eleven heavy, 48-pounder, siege artillery pieces. On Monday 10 September Cromwell had a letter delivered to the governor, the English Royalist Sir Arthur Aston, which read:

A 19th century representation of the Massacre at Drogheda, 1649.

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"Sir, having brought the army of the Parliament of England before this place, to reduce it to obedience, to the end that the effusion of blood may be prevented, I thought fit to summon you to deliver the same into my hands to their use. If this be refused, you will have no cause to blame me. I expect your answer and remain your servant."

— - O. Cromwell

Arthur Aston, the Royalist commander in Drogheda, refused to surrender and at 5PM on 11 September, Cromwell ordered simultaneous assaults on the southern and eastern breaches in the walls of Drogheda. The volume of Parliamentarian forces streaming into the breaches, the Royalist resistance at the walls collapsed. The surviving defenders tried to flee across the River Boyne into the northern part of the town, while Arthur Aston and 250 others took refuge in Millmount Fort overlooking Drogheda's southern defenses. A drawbridge crossed the River Boyne that would have stopped the attackers reaching the northern part of the town, but the defenders had no time to pull it up behind them and the killing continued in the northern part of Drogheda. With up to 6,000 Parliamentary troops now inside the town, Drogheda had been taken.

Cromwell listed the dead as including "many inhabitants" of Drogheda in his report to Parliament. In his own words after the siege of Drogheda,

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"When they submitted, their officers were knocked on the head, and every tenth man of the soldiers killed and the rest shipped to Barbados."

— - Letter from O. Cromwell to William Lenthall.

View of Drogheda by Gabriele Ricciardelli c. 1750 - 1755.

Hugh Peter, an officer on Cromwell's council of war, gave the total loss of life as 3,552, of whom about 2,800 were soldiers, meaning that between 700–800 civilians were killed. The week after the storming of Drogheda, the Royalist press in England claimed that 2,000 of the 3,000 dead were civilians-a theme that was taken up both in English Royalist and in Irish Catholic accounts. Irish clerical sources in the 1660's claimed that 4,000 civilians had died at Drogheda, denouncing the sack as "unparalleled savagery and treachery beyond any slaughterhouse"

The Battle of the Boyne was fought in on 1 July 1690 between two rival claimants of the English, Scottish, and Irish thrones – the Catholic James VII & II and the Protestant William III and II across the River Boyne some 6 km (3.7 mi) west of the town of Drogheda. The battle, won by William, was a turning point in James's unsuccessful attempt to regain the crown and ultimately helped ensure the continuation of Protestant ascendancy in Ireland. Drogheda held for James II under Lord Iveagh but surrendered the day after the battle of the Boyne.

Main article: Battle of the Boyne

Ravell's Map of Drogheda, 1749.

King William (III) of Orange, presented the then Corporation of Drogheda with a mace and sword of state shortly after his victory at the Battle of the Boyne, to replace the previous mace, which James II of England had melted down to enhance his depleted exchequer. They are two very fine objects, some of the most impressive of their sort in Ireland.

The mace is one of the biggest in Ireland and also one of the finest. It is solid silver, weighs 108 ounces, and is five foot five inches long, mounted on the original wooden pole. It is constructed in eight parts which are laced onto a central shaft and secured at the base by a nut. It is decorated in repoussé and chasing on the shaft, with floral and foliate motifs. Around the head are a crowned rose, thistle, fleur-de-lis and harp, each of them between the letters WR and within the laurel wreaths linked by foliate female busts. Above, on the cap, is the royal arms of William III. The words Honi soit qui mal y pense meaning ‘shame on him who thinketh evil’, the motto of the English chivalrous Order of the Garter, are also engraved on the head. The sword is 3 foot 6 inches long, and the scabbard bears a decoration with the letters CR, meaning Carolus Rex, or King Charles I, suggesting that even if the sword was presented by William, the scabbard may have been reused from an earlier sword from the the reign of Charles I. The Mace, sword and Scabbard are precious heirlooms of Drogheda, a reminder of the towns past, they are on show in The Highlanes Gallery in Drogheda.

In 1790 Drogheda Harbour Commissioners was established, later renamed Drogheda Port Company.

Irish Free State Forces after the shelling of Millmount, 1922

In 1825 the Drogheda Steam Packet Company was formed in the town, providing shipping services to Liverpool.

In 1844 the Dublin and Drogheda Railway was completed.

Drogheda during the Famine years was the second largest port of departure for over one million people who were forced to emigrate. Some travelled only as far as Britain while others became known as ‘two boaters’ – travelling onwards from Britain to North America. In 1847 alone, some 70,000 people left Ireland through Drogheda Port, mainly bound for Liverpool on steam ships.

In 1855 The Boyne Viaduct Designed by the Irish civil engineer Sir John MacNeill it was the seventh bridge of its kind in the world when built and considered one of the wonders of the age.

In 1921 the preserved severed head of Saint Oliver Plunkett, who was executed in London in 1681, was put on display in St. Peter's Church, where it remains today. The church is located on West Street, which is the main street in the town.

In 1922, during the Irish Civil War, Millmount Fort was occupied by Anti-Treaty forces and on July 4th 1922, it became the target of shelling by the army of the Irish Free State. The Free State Forces under Michael Collins had been given extensive support by the British Army at the express wish of Winston Churchill who insisted that the Republican Forces be crushed. Using the same British Army 18 pounder artillery piece which had shelled the Republican H.Q. in the Four Courts in Dublin some days earlier the Free State Forces bombarded Millmount Fort for several hours before the Republican garrison retreated.

In September 1979 Pope John Paul II visited Killineer, Drogheda where he spoke to a crowd of over 300,000 pledging the people of Ireland particularly those involved in the troubles to turn to peace.

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"I wish to speak to all men and women engaged in violence, I appeal to you, in language of passionate pleading. On my knees I beg you, to turn away from the path of violence and to return to the ways of peace.."

Historical Landmarks

St Mary Magdalene Friary.

St. Laurence's Gate

• 1206 Abbey of St. Mary d’Urso (Old Abbey)
• 1224 Dominican Friary (The Magdalene Tower)
• 1280c St. Laurence's Gate
• 1280c Buttergate
• 1734 Barlow House
• 1752 St, Peter's Church of Ireland
• 1763 Mayoralty House
• 1770 Tholsel
• 1770 Richmond Barracks
• 1796 Corn Exchange (Borough District offices)
• 1801 Millmount Martello Tower
• 1807 St. Mary's Church of Ireland (Former)
• 1811 Wesleyan Methodist Church (Former)
• 1827 Presbyterian Church
• 1829 Franciscan Church, currently The Highlanes Gallery
• 1830 Merchant's Quay
• 1852 Drogheda Railway Station (McBride Station)
• 1865 Whitworth Hall
• 1866 Augustinian Friary
• 1874 Cord Church and Burial Gorund
• 1878 St. Mary Magdalen's Dominican Church
• 1879 St. Mary's Sunday School
• 1880 St. Peter's RC Church
• 1892 St. Mary's RC Church

Town arms

File:Drogheda Coat of Arms.gif

Drogheda coat of arms

The Drogheda coat of arms mounted on a blue shield, shows a crenelled St. Laurence's Gate, with battlements and loopholes, of two towers, surmounted by red pennants, tapering flags, with a lowered portcullis at the gate’s entrance gate signifying the security of the walled town.

On the right side of the gate, a ship appears to sail, having St George’s white ensign displayed on the stern. This represents the trade which the town supported from earliest times. To the left of the gate is the three lions of England taken from the Royal Arms of England.

The Crest, on the wreath on top of the Arms is the unusual one of the Star and Crescent, taken from the arms of Richard The Lionheart's who presented Drogheda with its first charter in 1194AD. The star is an eight pointed star between the two ends of a crescent moon. The football club Drogheda United uses the Star and Crescent as its emblem.

The commerce and trade of Drogheda, and its premier importance, is exemplified in the town's motto Deus praesidium, mercatura decus translates as "God our strength, merchandise our glory".

Vernacular narrative

A local narrative has it that the star and crescent were included in the town arms after the Ottoman Empire (predecessor to the Republic of Turkey) sent financial aid and ships laden with food to Drogheda during the Great Famine. There are no records of this with the Drogheda Port nor the Irish National Library, due to the fire that occurred in the 20th century. However, newspaper articles from the period refer to three foreign ships sailing up the River Boyne in May 1847. In addition, a letter found in Ottoman archives, written by Irish notables, explicitly thanks Sultan Abdülmecid I for his help during the famine. A film is being shot regarding the subject. The event has no connection to the Star and Crescent on the Drogheda coat of arms.

Governance

Drogheda is a part of Louth County Council. Under the Local Government Reform Act 2014, County Louth is subdivided into municipal districts for which Drogheda is part of the Drogheda Borough District.

Drogheda Borough District

Main article: Drogheda Borough District

Drogheda Borough District members from the 2014 local elections
Local electoral area	Name	Party
Drogheda	Imelda Munster		Sinn Féin
	Paul Bell		Labour
	Alan Cassidy		Sinn Féin
	Tommy Byrne		Fianna Fáil
	Kevin Callan		Fine Gael
	Oliver Tully		Fine Gael
	Frank Godfrey		Independent
	Richie Culhane		Fine Gael
	Pio Smith		Labour
	Kenneth Flood		Sinn Féin

Drogheda Borough District (Irish: Ceantar Buirge Droichead Átha)is a second-level local government area in Ireland which came into being on 1 June 2014, ten days after the local elections.

The district is associated with the borough of Drogheda which has been in existence since 1412AD and is termed 'Drogheda Borough District' respectively. The 'Drogheda Local Electoral Area' is an electoral area for local government purposes. The Drogheda Borough District corresponds to The Drogheda LEA.

Under the Local Government Reform Act 2014, the Local Electoral Area of Drogheda returns ten Councillors. Those elected in the LEA serves on Louth County Council, and simultaneously on the Borough District executive. The Borough District executive is headed by a Mayor. The current mayor is Kevin Callan (Fine Gael).

Louth Dáil Éireann constituency

Main article: Louth (Dáil Éireann constituency)

For elections to Dáil Éireann, Drogheda is represented by the five member Louth constituency which takes in the entire county of Louth and two electoral divisions in County Meath.

The Electoral (Amendment) Act 2009 merged the electoral divisions of St.Mary's (Part) and Julianstown (collectively know as East Meath) in County Meath with County Louth to form one Dáil Éireann constituency. The Report on Dáil and European Parliament Constituencies 2007 outlined "by extending the constituency southwards from, and in the environs of, Drogheda and taking in electoral divisions which have extensive linkages with the town. This will allow the inclusion of the town of Drogheda and hinterland areas in a single constituency." This merger allowed the areas of the Greater Drogheda area in County Meath and their combined population of 20,375 to be merged with Drogheda and County Louth. Following the 2011 general election, the constituency elected two TDs for the Fine Gael party (centre right), and one TD each for Fianna Fáil (centre to centre-right), the Labour Party (centre left) and Sinn Féin (left wing).

Transport Infrastructure

Road

The Drogheda bypass section of M1 approaching the Boyne Cable bridge.

Main article: M1 motorway (Republic of Ireland)

The Drogheda Bypass is located 3 km west of the town and forms part of the M1 motorway(E1 Euro Route 1) (main Dublin – Belfast motorway). The Mary McAleese Boyne Valley Bridge know locally as the Boyne Cable Bridge carries traffic from the M1, across the River Boyne. It was opened on 9 June 2003 and is the second longest cable stayed bridge in Ireland.

The Belfast - Dublin Enterprise pulling into Drogheda station.

Rail

Drogheda railway station opened on 25 May 1844 which has since provided rail links to Dublin. Drogheda acquired further rail links to Navan in 1850 and Belfast in 1852. Passenger services between Drogheda and Navan were ended in 1958, however the line remains open for freight (Tara Mines/Platin Cement) traffic. In 1966 Drogheda station was renamed MacBride Station.

Bus

Drogheda's bus station is located on the Donore Road and a comprises waiting area, information office and toilets. It replaces an earlier facility on the Bull Ring.

As well as a town service, route 173, several local routes radiate from Drogheda and a number of these have had their frequency increased in recent years. Local routes include: 100 (Newry/Dundalk via Dunleer), 100X (Dundalk-Dublin Airport-Dublin), 101 (Julianstown-Balbriggan-Dublin), 163 (Brú na Bóinne via Donore), 182/A (Monaghan via Ardee and Tullyallen), 189/A (Ashbourne via Duleek and Clogherhead/Grangebellew via Baltray & Termonfeckin), 190/A (Laytown via Mornington & Bettystown and Trim/Athboy via Slane & Navan).

On Friday and Saturday nights there is also a Night bus service, route 101N operated by Bus Éireann (Dublin-Dublin Airport-Balbriggan-Drogheda) and return.

Matthews Coaches operate a Drogheda to Dublin route and an East Meath to Dublin route which both serve different areas of the town.

Past Bus Éireann routes included the 184 to Garristown and 185 to Bellewstown but have since been discontinued.

Port

The coaster "Pelikan" moving downstream in the River Boyne, Drogheda, after discharging a part cargo at the quays..

The management of the port began a new era in 1997 when The Drogheda Harbour Commissioners was established in 1790 were dissolved after over 200 years and the port became a new commercial semi-state company, Drogheda Port Company.

Drogheda Port Company is a highly successful commercial state port which handles over 1 million tonnes of cargo annually in addition to over 700 vessel calls. The Port has a wide product base and a balance of trade at approximately 75% import and 25% export. A new deepwater terminal has been constructed at Tom Roes Point which will be capable of handling larger vessels than the inner port was capable of. Vessels carrying up to 5,000 tonnes of cargo and up to 120 metres in length will use the new facility. New short sea shipping routes have developed from the terminal particularly in unitised trade. As ships have been getting larger there has been a slow progression for the port seaward. Up to the 1800’s ships were unloaded as far up the river as St Mary’s bridge. The main working quays gradually moved to the Ballast, Welshmans and Steampacket quays and now new berths are operating at Tom Roes Point Terminal.

Drogheda Port has always been an integral part of the town economy and played a major role in its outward looking nature. The industrial base of the town was established through the port and it will continue to be a vital element in the town’s future growth.

Air

Drogheda is severed by Dublin International Airport which is located approximately 40 km, 25 minutes travelling time.

Bridges

Defined by its location as the last crossing point on the Boyne before it reaches the sea, Drogheda has eight bridges in its vicinity. From east to west they include,

The Boyne Viaduct

Boyne Viaduct

Main article: Boyne Viaduct

The Boyne Viaduct is a 30 m (98 ft) high railway bridge wwith a 250 feet span. that crosses the River Boyne in Drogheda, carrying the main Dublin–Belfast railway line. Designed by the Irish civil engineer Sir John MacNeill. Completed in 1855, it was the seventh bridge of its kind in the world and considered one of the wonders of the age. Prior to its construction railway passengers had to make their way through the town, from the stations on either side of the river.

The De Lacy bridge.

During World War II, the viaduct was identified by the British as being of great strategic importance as part of the British plans for a counter-attack following a German invasion of Ireland, for which the British 1st Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment was to be moved into the State to defend the Drogheda viaduct under the joint military operation between Ireland and the United Kingdom.

De Lacy bridge

The De Lacy Bridge is the newst of Drogheda one of two pedestrian bridges in Drogheda. It is part of Scotch Hall phase one. It was named after Hugh De Lacy who founded the town in 1194AD.

The Boyne Cable Bridge is part of the Drogheda bypass and carries M1 traffic across the Boyne.

St. Mary's Bridge

St. Mary's Bridge is the main bridge to the centre of Drogheda, sitting just to the north of the Bullring. It was, for hundreds of years, the site of the 'only' bridge at Drogheda. It is at the meeting of the two major south side roads the N51 and the Marsh Road.

Haymarket Bridge

The Haymarket bridge serves as an access point to the town centre from the Donore Road, one of the main thoroughfares in the town carrying traffic from junction 9 of the M1 into the centre of Drogheda. It is flanked on the south side by two developments, the Waterfront development which contains a McDonald's restaurant, a petrol station and a 24 hour shop, The Haymarket development containing anXtra-vision store and a health center. On the north side the bridge is flanked by the Haymarket car park and a block of apartments.

Vie of the Obelisk Bridge c.1890 - 1900

Saint Dominic's Bridge

The oldest bridge crossing the Boyne River within the town of Drogheda or indeed its vicinity; erected in the year 1863 by the great Thomas Grendon’s Foundry of Drogheda. The bridge, formerly called the Western Bridge, is constructed of iron with limestone piers and buttresses at either end; the engineer of the works was a Mr. John Neville. The bridge is now used by pedestrians only and is located 200 metres west of the Drogheda Bus Depot. It was renamed Dominic’s Bridge after the erection of St. Dominic’s Catholic Church, which was completed in 1878.

Bridge of Peace

The Bridge of Peace is a dual carriage bridge in Drogheda. It was built as a part of an inner by-pass of the town in the 1970s for whihc much of the historic south side of Drogheda was demolished. It carries the R132 through the town. The bridge is famous for the graffiti on its undersides. The words longest graffiti festival called "The Bridge Jam" takes place there every summer.

Boyne River Bridge

Main article: Boyne River Bridge

The Boyne River Bridge is Ireland’s longest cable-stayed bridge, located 3.1 kilometres west of Drogheda.

Obelisk Bridge

The Obelisk Bridge is of lattice iron, built by Grendon’s Foundry in Drogheda and placed in position in 1869. It superseded a wooden bridge which was built at the ford sometime after the Battle of the Boyne. Just north of this bridge is an ivy covered rock about 30 feet high from the water’s edge, on which an obelisk was raised in 1736, which gives the place its name.

Retail

Scotch Hall Shopping Centre

Traditionally shopping took place in the central business district of the town centre. The main shopping streets being West Street, Shop Street, Peter Street, and Laurence Street. There are five shopping centres,

• Scotch Hall Shopping Centre
• Laurence Town Centre
• Drogheda Town Shopping Centre
• Abbey shopping Centre
• Boyne shopping Centre.

A number of retail parks have developed around Drogheda since the year 2000, mainly on the southern and western side of the town.

• M1 Drogheda Retail Park, Waterunder, Drogheda, County Louth.
• Drogheda Retail Park, Donore Road, Drogheda, County Meath.

Media

Print

The local newspapers for Drogheda and district are,

Main article: Drogheda Independent

The Drogheda Independent has been in print since 1884 and serves the people Drogheda, East Meath and mid-Louth. The headquarters of The Drogheda Independent are on Shop Street

Drogheda Leader.

Main article: The Drogheda Leader

The Drogheda Leader, has been in print since 1995 and is free of charge, it serves the people of Drogheda, East Meath and Mid-Louth with 70,000 readers each week. There is an online edition of the paper. The papers headquarters are on Laurence Street in Drogheda.

Radio

Main article: LMFM

The local radio station is LMFM, broadcasting on 95.8 FM. The headquarters of LMFM are on Marley's Lane on the south side of Drogheda.

Online

Droghedalife.com is an On Line news and advertising service for Drogheda.

Sport

Soccer

Drogheda United Crest

In December 2005 the town's soccer team, Drogheda United, won the FAI Cup for the first time. In 2006 Drogheda United won the Setanta Cup. In 2007, Drogheda United won the League of Ireland for the first time in the club's history. Drogheda United FC's brother team is Trabzonspor from Turkey. Both of two team's colours are claret red and blue. Drogheda United's home ground is United Park.

Rugby

Local team Boyne RFC was formed in 1997 from the amalgamation of Delvin RFC and Drogheda RFC. As of 2010, the Men's 1st XV team plays in the Leinster J1 1st division. Drogheda is also home to many rugby playing schools, including St.Mary's who are the under 14 Leinster rugby champions.

Karate

The Drogheda School of Karate was founded in February 1969 and has been providing continued services to the town & surrounding areas for over 40 years.

Water Polo

Drogheda Water Polo Club has been in existence since 1983. The clubs boasts male and female teams from U12 to senior level competing at provincial and national league level.

Scuba Diving

The Drogheda Sub Aqua Club is a local non-profit scuba diving club founded in 1974 and affiliated with Comhairle Fó-Thuinn (CFT) and Confédération Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques (CMAS).

Basketball

The "Drogheda Bullets" are a basketball team based in the town.

Cycling

Drogheda Wheelers was founded in 1985 when membership in two existing clubs St. Mary's and Na Boinne were getting small, so an amalgamation was the natural route to go. Drogheda Wheelers [mark 1] had been in existence in the forties and fifties but ceased to exist round about the late fifties. So with this amalgamation Drogheda Wheelers [mark 2] was born. The club has gone on to enjoy success at various levels since and on the promotion front is one of the hardest working clubs in the country.

Tennis

the Nearest Tennis club to Drogheda is the Laytown & Bettystown Lawn Tennis Club which is located on the Golf Links Road just outside Bettystown, in East Meath. Originally part of Laytown & Bettystown Golf Club the club was established over 100 years ago. All standards of tennis are played in the club and each year teams participate in the Dublin Lawn Tennis Association league matches. The club has a very good record of success in these leagues, amongst others.

American Football

Drogheda Lightning is an Irish American Football team based in Drogheda. They play in the second tier of Ireland's american football league system. Founded in 2010, Drogheda Lightning competed in the IAFL DV8s Division (now defunct) in 2011 and 2012. Following the restructuring of the Irish American Football League structure ahead of the 2013 season, they now compete in the newly created IAFL-1 Division created in 2013.

Local economy

The local economy of Drogheda, like that of many other towns in Ireland, is changing rapidly. The old industries based around linen and textiles, brewing, shipping and manufacturing have now disappeared or are in decline. In recent times, business has slowed because of the recession and Drogheda faces an increase in unemployment.

There are still a number of large employers in the town, including: Drogheda Port Company, the oldest indigenous employer since 1790

• Glanbia, dairy products factory. (Glanbia Dairies, Drogheda was founded as Ryan Dairies (1957), becoming DDD (Drogheda & Dundalk Dairies) in 1959. Taken over by Avommore Dairies in 1986, which merged with Waterford to form Glanbia in 1997).
• Premier RHI AG, or Premier Periclase, produces Seawater Magnesia products at its plant – 115 employees
• Flogas, a national gas distributor
• Natures Best, a fresh food processor
• Hilton Foods, a meat processor
• Boyne Valley Foods, a producer and distributor of olive oil, jams and honey
• Irish Cement, Ireland's largest cement works at Platin.
• International Flavours & Fragrances (IFF), a producer of perfumes and food fragrances (plant closed 2010)
• Becton Dickinson (BD), a manufacturer of medical syringes and associated equipment
• The d hotel, Hospitality

Recent additions to the local economy include:

• IDA Business and Technology Park: a 25 hectares (62 acres) area with direct access onto the Dublin-Belfast motorway, developed and landscaped for the needs of both the IT, financial and internationally traded services sectors.
• International Fund Services, a leading provider of fund accounting and administration services to the hedge fund industry globally, is to establish a hedge fund administration operation in Drogheda, Co. Louth, with the creation of up to 235 jobs.
• Eight enterprise incubation units for high tech startup companies are provided in the Milmount complex.

The opening of the Drogheda bypass has led to the development of two large retail parks adjacent to the motorway, either side of the Boyne cable bridge. On the northside, is the M1 Retail Park and on the southside is the Drogheda Retail Park.

Unfortunately due to the recession and economic crash, a multitude of business and factories have closed down in Drogheda. As a result of this, Drogheda has a serious unemployment problem, which has in turn led to a serious rise in social problems, including crime (organised, violent and petty), poverty, lack of affordable housing, homelessness, and various substance abuse. As a result large parts of Drogheda have been designated RAPID areas, which means that areas have been identified by the Government as urban areas of concentrated disadvantage.

Culture

Festivals

Irish Maritime Festival is held annually in Drogheda during the month of June. A feast of maritime fun including full-scale pirate ships battling on the River Boyne, a coastal rowing race, show-stopping watersports, a Boyne swim, a Maritime Pavilion plus a host of cultural and family entertainment was accompanied by the arrival of five beautifully restored schooners to Drogheda port. Complete with fun fairs’ boat and canoe trips on the river, stunning water-sport displays, the real food village, boat-building workshops, a stand-up paddle boarding race, an urban beach, art and photography zones and a maritime history pavilion

The Drogheda Arts Festival is a 6 day festival of theatre, music, spectacle, visual arts, dance, puppetry, comedy, literature and street performances. It is a multi – disciplinary programme of both national and international acts including artists from all around the world.The Festival takes place over the May Bank Holiday in Drogheda.

The Drogheda Samba Festival began in 1994 as part of the Drogheda 800 celebrations and proved such a hit that it became an annual event. It has become the get-together for Irish samba groups who are joined by others from abroad for a 3-day party of Samba, Latin and African music and dance. There are pub and street gigs, workshops and concerts. Highlights are the 5-hour non stop samba session in the main street and the carnival parade and there is also a special Samba Mass. Bands from as far as Singapore and Sao Paulo and famous percussionists such as Dudu Tucci and Mestre Esteve have played and conducted workshops at the festival. The festival is run by a completely voluntary committee and is operated on a relatively small budget. Community bands are offered bed and breakfast in exchange for performances during the festival and usually pay their own transport costs.

The Oldbridge County Fair is an annual fair that takes place during the May Bank Holiday weekend at the Battle of the Boyne Visitor Centre at Oldbridge.

Bridge Jam is the premiere event in Ireland’s graffiti Calender. The Bridge events began in the summer of 1994 with a small gathering of 6 visiting writers from the UK who painted together with their Irish counterparts to produce the first of many murals on the now famous Bridge of Peace site. The event has now been running solidly every summer for each of the following years.

Theatre and performing arts

Drogheda is home to a number of theatres and performing art societies and companies which include,

The TLT is a purpose built, state of the art 900 seater theatre. Located in Drogheda, we stage a variety of performing arts and commercial events. We also have a school of music and rehearsal rooms to nurture the talents of our local upcoming artists.

The Barbican Centre caters for small to medium scale shows, dance classes, meetings, rehearsals, workshops, business seminars, training days and conferences.

The Droichead Arts Centre was origionally founded in 1989 and has bases in the Municipal Centre on Stockwell Street and Barlow House on West Street which established itself as significant venue for theatre, live music, visual arts and community arts in Drogheda and the entire North East.

The Calipo Theatre Company specialises in multi-media productions and has achieved considerable success in Ireland and abroad. It founded in 1994 in Drogheda by Darren and Colin Thornton, former members of Droichead Youth Theatre.

The Droichead Youth Theatre Upstate Theatre Project is a performing arts organisation located in Drogheda. The organisation was founded in 1997, by Declan Mallon, also co-founder of Droichead Youth Theatre.

The Little Duke Theatre Company (Drogheda School of Performing Arts) in Duke Street, in the old Julian Blinds building.

The Drogheda Pantomime Society hold a pantomime in January/February of each year. These productions have been going for roughly 60 years. Many locations have been used for staging productions, most notably the Barbican Theatre.

Music

Contemporary music

Drogheda has also been the scene for some of the most important contemporary music events in Ireland. Louth Contemporary Music Society invited the US composer Terry Riley to perform in Drogheda in 2007. Arvo Pärt's first Irish commission and visit to the country was in Drogheda in February 2008. Michael Nyman performed in Drogheda in May 2008. John Tavener's Temenos festival was held in October 2008, and the Russian composer Alexander Knaifel was the focus of a portrait concert as part of the Drogheda Arts Festival on 1 May 2009.

Drogheda composers

The composer and Aosdána member, Michael Holohan, has lived in Drogheda since 1983. His compositions have been performed and broadcast both at home and abroad. Career highlights in Drogheda include 'Cromwell' 1994 (RTECO), 'The Mass of Fire' 1995 (RTÉ live broadcast) and 'No Sanctuary' 1997 (in the Augustinian Church with Nobel Laureate and poet Seamus Heaney). Fields of Blue and White, a CD of his piano music was launched in the National Concert Hall in 2009 and the concert pianist, Therese Fahy, was the recording artist. A keen supporter of the arts, he is also a former chairman of the Droichead Arts Centre.

Live music

Drogheda has a thriving live music scene.

Brass bands

Drogheda has a number of brass bands and is home to the Drogheda Brass Band, National Brass Band Champions of Ireland 2007–12, and the Lourdes Brass Band.

Visual arts

October 2006 saw the opening of the town's first dedicated Municipal Art Gallery and visual arts centre, the Highlanes Gallery, housed in the former Franciscan Friary on St. Laurence Street. The Highlanes Gallery houses Drogheda's important municipal art collection, which dates from the 17th century, as well as visiting exhibitions in a venue which meets key international museum and gallery standards. Drogheda's most famous visual artist was the abstract expressionist painter Nano Reid (1900–1981).

Literature

Drogheda and its hinterland has always had a very strong literary tradition. Oisín McGann is an award-winning writer of children's literature. Angela Greene (deceased) was the first Drogheda poet to win The Patrick Kavanagh Poetry Award in 1988 for her collection Silence and the Blue Night. The poet Susan Connolly has been widely published and broadcast. She was awarded The Patrick and Katherine Kavanagh Fellowship in Poetry in 2001 for her life's work. The poet, writer and occasional broadcaster Marie MacSweeney has received the Francis MacManus Short Story Award for her short story "Dipping into the Darkness".

Screen appearances

• Drogheda served as the stand-in location for many scenes in the 1984 film Cal. A drama set during The Troubles in Northern Ireland, it starred John Lynch and Helen Mirren. For her role in the film Mirren was voted Best Actress at both the 1984 Cannes Film Festival and the 1985 Evening Standard British Film Awards.
• It served as the setting for the five-part drama series Love Is the Drug filmed and broadcast in 2004. It was directed by Drogheda local Darren Thornton.
• In 2011 Feargal Quinn fronted RTÉ's Local Heroes campaign in Drogheda, which assembled a team of experts to kick-start the local economy. It aired as RTÉ 1's six-part television series, Local Heroes – A Town Fights Back.

Town twinning

– Bronte, Italy

People

Soccer players

• Nick Colgan, goalkeeper for Sunderland and the Republic of Ireland.
• Ian Harte, full-back for Reading F.C. former Blackpool F.C, Leeds United, Levante (Spain) & Sunderland player and the Republic of Ireland.
• Gary Kelly, football player and charity campaigner.
• Sean Thornton, midfielder Leyton Orient in England and former Republic of Ireland under 21 national team.
• Kevin Thornton, midfielder Coventry City F.C. and former Republic of Ireland under 21.
• Tommy Breen, Manchester United goalkeeper
• Steve Staunton, former Liverpool F.C and Aston Villa player was born there.
• Gavin Brennan, Drogheda United Midfielder
• Killian Brennan, St. Patricks Athletic Midfielder

Others

• Yasmine Akram, Comedian and actress in Sherlock (TV series)
• Colm Judge, Gaelic footballer for Louth.
• Tommy Byrne, former racing driver, raced briefly in Formula 1 in 1982
• Tony Byrne, bronze medal winner for Ireland 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne in the lightweight division.
• James Cullen, mathematician who discovered what are now known as the Cullen numbers.
• Pierce Brosnan actor, film producer and environmentalist.
• Deaghlan Wolfe tone Finn-Kelly Author, Political activist, Ordained in 2003, Holds a Divinity Degree, Born in Yellow Batter area of Drogheda, suffered injuries to spine after being hit by a plastic bullet (circa 1985) Attended St Marys School in Drogheda before moving to Bolton and attending St Thomas of Canterbury,
• Deirdre Gogarty, 1997 Women's International Boxing Federation (WIBF) Featherweight Title Champion.
• Angela Greene, poet, Patrick Kavanagh Award 1988, Salmon Press.
• Shane Horgan, Leinster Rugby team, former international rugby player, Ireland national rugby union team.
• Sharon Horgan, actress, writer and comedienne.
• Jonathan Kelly, singer-songwriter.
• William Kenny, recipient of the Victoria Cross
• Evanna Lynch, actress who starred in Harry Potter as Luna Lovegood is from nearby Termonfeckin.
• Tony Martin, Canadian social democratic legislator.
• Colin O'Donoghue, actor.
• Deirdre O'Kane, award-winning comedian.
• Eliza O'Neill (1791–1872), actress.
• John Boyle O'Reilly poet and novelist, member of the Irish Republican Brotherhood.
• Nano Reid, artist (1900–1981), Irish painter of landscapes particularly Drogheda, the Boyne Valley and surrounding areas.
• Michael Scott, architect who designed Busáras and the Abbey Theatre.
• Alexander Williams, artist (1846-1930), Irish painter of landscapes, raised in Drogheda.
• Des Smyth, Professional golfer, vice-captain on the winning Ryder Cup team in 2006.
• T.K. Whitaker, former Irish economist who wrote the Programme for Economic Expansion went to school in Drogheda.
• Henry Singleton (1682–1759), the eminent judge and friend of Jonathan Swift, was a lifelong resident of Drogheda.
• Thomas Lancaster, bishop, buried at St. Peter's Church.

Freedom of Drogheda

This is a list of people who has been gifted with the Freedom of Drogheda,

• Fr. Iggy O’Donovan (2013)
• Sgt. Patrick J. Morrissey (2013)
• Dr. T.K. Whitaker (1999)(31st Freeman of Drogheda)
• President Mary Robinson (1993)
• Cardinal Daly (1992)
• President Dr Patrick J Hillary (1990)
• Bishop Lennon (1980)
• Cardinal O’Fiach (1980)
• Pope John Paul II (1979)
• Rev Mother Mary Martin (1966)
• Charles Stewart Parnell (1884)
• Eamon De Valera
• Theobald Wolfe Tone(1790)

• James Napper Tandy. “Disenfranchised (1798) having landed off the coast of Ireland with the enemy”

Gallery

• 
  View from Millmount of the west of the town and the River Boyne
• 
  Saint Laurence's Gate
• 
  Saint Laurence Gate as seen from the Chord Road
• 
  View of St. Peter's Drogheda from West Street
• 
  The Magdalene tower
• 
  The Old Abbey
• 
  Cannon fires from Millmount
• 
  Commeration of the first official charter in 1194
• 
  Saint Laurence Street with the reconstructed Clarke and Singleton houses
• 
  Cannons at Millmount overlook the town
• 
  Shrine of Saint Oliver Plunkett
• 
  Saint Mary's Church of Ireland
• 
  Drogheda Train Station
• 
  Statue of Joey Maher
• 
  Drogheda seen from the International Space Station
• 
  Scotch Hall Shopping Centre
• 
  Boyne Cable Bridge
• 
  De Lacy bridge
• 
  Richmond Barracks
• 
  86th Regiment of Foot at Millmount
• 
  Royal Artillery at Millmount

See also

• List of abbeys and priories in Ireland (County Louth)
• List of towns and villages in Ireland

External links

• Drogheda Borough Council
• Drogheda Port
• Drogheda on the Boyne – Official Tourism Website
• Drogheda & District Chamber of Commerce