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Clogherhead

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See also: Clogher (disambiguation)
Clogherhead
Ceann Chlochair
Village
Beach at Clogherhead
Beach at Clogherhead
CountryIreland
ProvinceLeinster
CountyCounty Louth
Population
 (2011)[1]
 • Urban
1,993
Irish Grid ReferenceO157840
Clogherhead Beach in Autumn

Clogherhead (Irish: Ceann Chlochair, meaning rocky headland[2]) is a fishing village in County Louth, Ireland. Located in a picturesque natural bay on the East Coast it is bordered by the villages of Annagassan to the north and Termonfeckin to the south. with an administrative population per the 2011 Census of 3026, it is in the townlands of Clogher and Callystown, about 12 km (7 mi) northeast of Drogheda. As a seaside village its main industries are fishing and farming. In keeping with its links to the sea there has been an RNLI lifeboat stationed in the village for over 100 years. The current boat is a Mersey class lifeboat, the RNLB Doris Bleasedale, and is unique in Ireland being beach-launched. Following intensive lobbying by the local residents, fishermen and political representatives, Clogherhead now has one of the finest piers in Ireland which was opened following an investment in excess of €2 million.

Name

Historically, the village was known simply as Clogher (Clochair) or Killclogher (Cill Chlochair)[3][4] while the headland was called Clogher Head. Today the headland remains Clogher Head, the village is called Clogherhead and the townland they are in is called Clogher.

The area boasts some of the finest countryside in East Coast and the headland has magnificent walk from the village along steep sea cliffs to the nearby picturesque harbour called Port Oriel (Port Oirialla). Standing on the headland and at the harbour offers breathtaking views of Ireland's east coast from the Mourne and Cooley Mountains in the north as far south as Lambay Island and the Rockabill Lighthouse.

The headland is also the sight of the Red Mans Cave, where Cromwellian soldiers are reputed to have put to death a number of Catholic Priests during the time of the Cromwellian Wars of 1649. The inside of the Cave has until recent times been repainted red to commemorate the event. However time and the forces of nature have made the cave largely inaccessible from land.

Public transport

Bus Éireann route 189 serves Clogherhead several times a day (but not Sundays) linking it to Drogheda, Duleek and Ashbourne. Most buses operate via Termonfeckin and Baltray though a few go via Grangebellew and Ballymakenny.[5] Drogheda railway station is approximately 13 km distant.

Economy

  • Clogherhead is a popular tourist destination. The village is also notable for its sandy Blue Flag beach[6] which extends from near the lifeboat station and on to the Boyne estuary. The beach boasts excellent water sports conditions which are catered for year round and prove extremely popular during the summer months.
  • The last two years have seen the revival of the popular Clogherhead Prawn Festival[7] which attracts significant crowds to the village to partake in the weekend of varied and family oriented events.
  • Port Oriel is a fishing port boasting one of the largest fleets in the country.
  • Port Oriel is also being used as a base for the construction of the offshore Oriel Wind Farm.[8]

Local Amenities

The village boasts two spectacular beaches. Port Beach in the center of the village is a Blue Flag beach with the Neptune watersports centre which is run by the local Council. In addition it is the location for the local RNLI lifeboat station which houses a Mersey class lifeboat, the Doris Bleasdale. The other beach is on the north of the village and is known as the 'Big Strand'. Both offer safe bathing facilities with a lifeguard on duty at the village beach during summer months.

There are three public houses in the village offering comfortable surroundings in which to while away the day and night. Music is available at weekends. The village offers a number of restaurants including La Pizzeria (Italian), the Little Strand Restaurant (Seafood and meat dishes), Great Wall Chinese Restaurant and Roberto's Take Away. All are located in the center of the village within easy walk of the village's other facilities.

Film location

Clogherhead has been used as a film location[9] for:

Education

Callystown National School

Callystown National School (a Catholic School under the Trusteeship of the Archbishop of Armagh) has been in "official" existence since 1832. Located on the north side of the village with access through the estate of John Kirk Park, it has an interesting and colourful history.[13] It now has over 300 pupils and has been extended a number of times to cater for the population growth in the village and an influx of pupils from the surrounding areas.

Music

  • Songs featuring this town include "Is Clogherhead Like it Used to Be".(see www.callystownnationalschool.i.e. and source podcast 9)

Notable people

  • Albert Cashier (otherwise Jennie Irene Hodgers) – born in Clogherhead he/she was a soldier in the Union Army during the American Civil War.
  • At some point before his final incarceration, Saint Oliver Plunkett took refuge in a church that once stood in the townland of Killartry in the parish of Clogherhead.
  • Richard Fahey, leading UK-based racehorse trainer

Sport

Dreadnots GFC are currently Louth Intermediate Champions having beaten Na Piarsaigh by a single point in the final held in Ardee on 5 October.


  • Port Oriel
  • Port sign & plaque
    Port sign & plaque
  • Pier, Port Oriel
    Pier, Port Oriel
  • Vessel used in the construction of the offshore Oriel Wind Farm
    Vessel used in the construction of the offshore Oriel Wind Farm
  • Fishermen's Co-op Auction Hall
    Fishermen's Co-op Auction Hall
  • Coast Guard
    Coast Guard
  • Queen of the sea memorial to those lost at sea
    Queen of the sea memorial to those lost at sea
  • Clogher Head Lifeboat
  • Lifeboat - bow
    Lifeboat - bow
  • Lifeboat - stern
    Lifeboat - stern
  • Twin Caterpillar engines
    Twin Caterpillar engines
  • Clogher Head shown on lifeboat positioning system
    Clogher Head shown on lifeboat positioning system
  • Lifeboat Station
    Lifeboat Station
  • Celebrating 100 years of the Lifeboat Station
    Celebrating 100 years of the Lifeboat Station

See also

References

  1. ^ http://cso.ie/en/media/csoie/census/documents/census2011vol1andprofile1/Table%205.pdf
  2. ^ [1]
  3. ^ CLOGHER, or KILCLOGHER in Lewis Topographical Dictionary of Ireland (1837)
  4. ^ Placenames Database of Ireland (see archival records)
  5. ^ http://buseireann.ie/news.php?id=1395&month=Nov
  6. ^ Clogherhead beach regains Blue Flag status (retrieved 5 June 2009)
  7. ^ [2]
  8. ^ Offshore Oriel Wind Farm project
  9. ^ Movie Locations in Ireland
  10. ^ Locals get in character
  11. ^ The Devil's Own at IMDb
  12. ^ Captain Lightfoot at the Internet Movie Database
  13. ^ Historyof Callystown National School
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