Drogheda is an industrial and port town in
County LouthCounty Louth is a county of Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Louth. Louth County Council is the local authority for the county...
on the east coast of
IrelandIreland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
, 56 km (35 mi) north of
Dublin. It is the last bridging point on the
River BoyneThe River Boyne is a river in Leinster, Ireland, the course of which is about long. It rises at Trinity Well, Newbury Hall, near Carbury, County Kildare, and flows towards the Northeast through County Meath to reach the Irish Sea between Mornington, County Meath and Baltray, County Louth. Salmon...
before it enters the
Irish SeaThe Irish Sea separates the islands of Ireland and Great Britain. It is connected to the Celtic Sea in the south by St George's Channel, and to the Atlantic Ocean in the north by the North Channel. Anglesey is the largest island within the Irish Sea, followed by the Isle of Man...
.
As the River Boyne divides the dioceses of Armagh and
MeathCounty Meath is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the ancient Kingdom of Mide . Meath County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Drogheda was founded as two separate towns, Drogheda-in-Meath (for which a charter was granted in 1194) and Drogheda-in-Oriel (or 'Uriel') as
County LouthCounty Louth is a county of Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Louth. Louth County Council is the local authority for the county...
was then known. In 1412 these two towns were united and Drogheda became a 'County Corporate', styled as 'the County of the Town of Drogheda'. Drogheda continued as a County Borough until the setting up of County Councils, through the enactment of the
Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898The Local Government Act 1898 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that established a system of local government in Ireland similar to that already created for England, Wales and Scotland by legislation in 1888 and 1889...
, which saw all of Drogheda, including a large area south of the Boyne, become part of an extended County Louth. With the passing of the County of Louth and Borough of Drogheda (Boundaries) Provisional Order, 1976, County Louth again grew larger at the expense of County Meath. The boundary was further altered in 1994 by the Local Government (Boundaries) (Town Elections) Regulations 1994. The 2007-2013 Meath County Development Plan recognises the Meath environs of Drogheda as a primary growth centre on a par with
Navan-People:Navan was the childhood home of Pierce Brosnan, who appeared in the television series Remington Steele and was the fifth film actor to play James Bond. TV personality Hector Ó hEochagáin, and comedians Dylan Moran and Tommy Tiernan also hail from Navan....
.
In recent years Drogheda's economy has diversified from its traditional industries, with an increasing number of people employed in the retail, services and technology sectors. The town also has a community of independent artists and musicians who have been looking to the local economy rather than Dublin for employment.
Hinterland
The town is situated in an area with an abundance of archaeological monuments dating from the Neolithic period onwards, of which the large Passage Tombs of
NewgrangeNewgrange is a prehistoric monument located in County Meath, on the eastern side of Ireland, about one kilometre north of the River Boyne. It was built around 3200 BC , during the Neolithic period...
, Knowth and Dowth are probably the best known. The remarkable density of archaeological sites of the prehistoric and Early Christian periods uncovered in recent years in the course of development, notably during construction of the Northern Motorway: Gormanston to
MonasterboiceThe historic ruins of Monasterboice are of an early Christian settlement in County Louth in Ireland, north of Drogheda. It was founded in the late 5th century by Saint Buithe who died around 521, and was an important centre of religion and learning until the founding of nearby Mellifont Abbey in...
, or 'Drogheda Bypass', have shown that the hinterland of Drogheda has been a settled landscape for millennia.
Town beginnings
However, Bradley, in his 1978 study of the history and archaeology of the town, stated that "neither the documentary nor the archaeological evidence indicates that there was any settlement at the town prior to the coming of the Normans". The results of the numerous and often large-scale excavations carried out within the area of the medieval town in the past ten years appear to have confirmed this statement.
The earliest monument in the town is the motte-and-bailey castle, now known as
Millmount FortMillmount Fort, is a large 19th century Martello tower located in Drogheda in County Louth, Ireland. Built in 1808, it is one of a series of Martello towers erected by the British in expectation of a possible invasion of Ireland by Napoleon. Built upon a huge mound, it is visible from most parts...
, which overlooks the town from a bluff on the south bank of the Boyne, and which was probably erected by the
NormanThe Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
Lord of Meath,
Hugh de LacyHugh de Lacy, Lord of Meath was an Anglo-Norman magnate granted the lands of the Kingdom of Meath by Henry II in 1172, during the Norman Invasion of Ireland.-Early life:Hugh de Lacy was born before 1135...
sometime before 1186. The earliest known town charter is that granted to Drogheda-in-Meath by Walter de lacy in 1194. Sometimes it was also spelled "Tredagh".
Drogheda was an important walled town in the
English PaleThe Pale or the English Pale , was the part of Ireland that was directly under the control of the English government in the late Middle Ages. It had reduced by the late 15th century to an area along the east coast stretching from Dalkey, south of Dublin, to the garrison town of Dundalk...
in the medieval period. It frequently hosted meetings of the
Irish ParliamentThe Parliament of Ireland was a legislature that existed in Dublin from 1297 until 1800. In its early mediaeval period during the Lordship of Ireland it consisted of either two or three chambers: the House of Commons, elected by a very restricted suffrage, the House of Lords in which the lords...
at that time. In a spill-over from the War of the Roses, according to R.J.Mitchell in John Tiptoft, Earl of Worcester, the
Earl of DesmondThomas FitzJames FitzGerald, 7th Earl of Desmond , called 'Thomas of Drogheda', was the son of James FitzGerald, 6th Earl of Desmond and Mary de Burgh....
and his two youngest sons (still children) were executed there on Valentine's Day, 1468, on orders of the
Earl of WorcesterJohn Tiptoft, 1st Earl of Worcester KG , English nobleman and scholar, was the son of John Tiptoft, 1st Baron Tiptoft and Joyce Cherleton, co-heiress of Edward Charleton, 5th Baron Cherleton. He was also known as the Butcher of England...
, the
Lord Deputy of IrelandThe Lord Deputy was the King's representative and head of the Irish executive under English rule, during the Lordship of Ireland and later the Kingdom of Ireland...
. It later came to light (see Robert Fabyan, "The New Chronicles of England and France"), that
the QueenElizabeth Woodville was Queen consort of England as the spouse of King Edward IV from 1464 until his death in 1483. Elizabeth was a key figure in the series of dynastic civil wars known as the Wars of the Roses. Her first husband, Sir John Grey of Groby was killed at the Second Battle of St Albans...
herself was implicated in the orders given. The parliament was moved to the town in
1494-Events:*1 December - Sir Edward Poynings assembled the Irish Parliament in Drogheda to tell them that the Irish Parliament was thereafter to be placed under the authority of the English Parliament.*Poynings' Parliament lasted into 1495....
and passed Poynings' Law, the most significant legislation in Irish history, a year later. This effectively subordinated the Irish Parliament's
legislative powersA legislature is a kind of deliberative assembly with the power to pass, amend, and repeal laws. The law created by a legislature is called legislation or statutory law. In addition to enacting laws, legislatures usually have exclusive authority to raise or lower taxes and adopt the budget and...
to the King and his
English CouncilThe Privy Council of England, also known as His Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, was a body of advisers to the sovereign of the Kingdom of England...
.
The town was
besiegedThe siege of Drogheda at the outset of the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland. The town of Drogheda in eastern Ireland was held by a combined English Royalist and Irish Catholic garrison when it was besieged and stormed by English Parliamentarian forces under Oliver Cromwell...
twice during the
Irish Confederate WarsThis article is concerned with the military history of Ireland from 1641-53. For the political context of this conflict, see Confederate Ireland....
. On the second occasion it was taken by
Oliver CromwellOliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth, and served as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland....
in September
1649-Events:* January 30** King Charles I of England, Scotland and Ireland is beheaded in London.** Prince Charles Stuart declares himself King Charles II of England, Scotland and Ireland...
, as part of the
Cromwellian conquest of IrelandThe Cromwellian conquest of Ireland refers to the conquest of Ireland by the forces of the English Parliament, led by Oliver Cromwell during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. Cromwell landed in Ireland with his New Model Army on behalf of England's Rump Parliament in 1649...
and it was the site of an infamous massacre of the
RoyalistCavalier was the name used by Parliamentarians for a Royalist supporter of King Charles I and son Charles II during the English Civil War, the Interregnum, and the Restoration...
defenders. In his own words after the siege of Drogheda, "When they submitted, their officers were knocked on the head, and
every tenth man of the soldiers killedDecimation |ten]]") was a form of military discipline used by officers in the Roman Army to punish mutinous or cowardly soldiers. The word decimation is derived from Latin meaning "removal of a tenth".-Procedure:...
and the rest shipped to
BarbadosBarbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is in length and as much as in width, amounting to . It is situated in the western area of the North Atlantic and 100 kilometres east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea; therein, it is about east of the islands of Saint...
." In a colourful aside, from 1655 runaway slaves, both Irish
RedlegsRedlegs is a term used to refer to the class of poor whites that live on Barbados, St. Vincent, Grenada and a few other Caribbean islands. Their forebears came from Ireland, Scotland and the West of England. Many of their ancestors were transported by Oliver Cromwell. Others had originally...
and African
MaroonsMaroons were runaway slaves in the West Indies, Central America, South America, and North America, who formed independent settlements together...
began attacking local militia forces, killing plantation-owners and destroying crops in Barbados. It took the authorities the best part of two years to suppress the disorder .
Later events
The Earldom of Drogheda was created in the
Peerage of IrelandThe Peerage of Ireland is the term used for those titles of nobility created by the English and later British monarchs of Ireland in their capacity as Lord or King of Ireland. The creation of such titles came to an end in the 19th century. The ranks of the Irish peerage are Duke, Marquess, Earl,...
in
1661-Events:*The Earldom of Drogheda was created in the Peerage of Ireland*April 23 - King Charles II of Ireland, England and Scotland crowned in Westminster Abbey. This is his second crowning....
.
The
Battle of the BoyneThe Battle of the Boyne was fought in 1690 between two rival claimants of the English, Scottish and Irish thronesthe Catholic King James and the Protestant King William across the River Boyne near Drogheda on the east coast of Ireland...
, 1690, occurred some 6 km (4 mi) west of the town, on the banks of the
River BoyneThe River Boyne is a river in Leinster, Ireland, the course of which is about long. It rises at Trinity Well, Newbury Hall, near Carbury, County Kildare, and flows towards the Northeast through County Meath to reach the Irish Sea between Mornington, County Meath and Baltray, County Louth. Salmon...
, at Oldbridge.
In 1825 the
Drogheda Steam Packet CompanyThe Drogheda Steam Packet Company was founded in 1826 as the Drogheda Paddle Steamship Co. It provided shipping services between Drogheda and Liverpool from 1825 to 1902, in which year it was taken over by the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway.-History:...
was formed in the town, providing shipping services to
LiverpoolLiverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
.
In
1837-Events:* Shaw's Bank merges with the Royal Bank of Ireland .* August - Following a very cold summer there is widespread failure of the potato crop, as in 1836, leading to famine later in the year.-Births:...
the population of Drogheda area was 17,365 of whom 15,138 lived in the town.
Town arms
A
NormanThe Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
element on Drogheda's coat of arms is its centrepiece,
St. Laurence's GateLaurence's Gate is a barbican which was built in the 13th century as part of the walled fortifications of the medieval town of Drogheda, County Louth, in Ireland. The original names for Laurence St and Laurence's Gate were East St and East Gate, respectively. In the 14th century, the street and...
. The three lions which flank the Norman
barbicanA barbican, from medieval Latin barbecana, signifying the "outer fortification of a city or castle," with cognates in the Romance languages A barbican, from medieval Latin barbecana, signifying the "outer fortification of a city or castle," with cognates in the Romance languages A barbican, from...
and the star and
crescentIn art and symbolism, a crescent is generally the shape produced when a circular disk has a segment of another circle removed from its edge, so that what remains is a shape enclosed by two circular arcs of different diameters which intersect at two points .In astronomy, a crescent...
, similar to those on the coat of arms of
PortsmouthPortsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
, are taken from
Richard The Lionheart'sRichard I was King of England from 6 July 1189 until his death. He also ruled as Duke of Normandy, Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Gascony, Lord of Cyprus, Count of Anjou, Count of Maine, Count of Nantes, and Overlord of Brittany at various times during the same period...
coat of arms who gave both towns their
chartersA royal charter is a formal document issued by a monarch as letters patent, granting a right or power to an individual or a body corporate. They were, and are still, used to establish significant organizations such as cities or universities. Charters should be distinguished from warrants and...
. On the other side of the barbican is a ship denoting Drogheda's status as an important port. The town's motto Deus praesidium, mercatura decus translates as "God our strength, merchandise our glory".
A local myth has it that the star and crescent were included in the town arms after the
Ottoman EmpireThe Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
(predecessor to the Republic of Turkey) sent ships laden with food to Drogheda during the Irish famine. However, there are no records of this with the Drogheda Port, and the star and crescent predate the famine.
20th century
In 1921 the shrunken head of
Saint Oliver PlunkettSaint Oliver Plunkett was the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland....
, who was executed in London in 1681, was put on display in
St. Peter's ChurchSt. Peter's Roman Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic church located in Drogheda, Ireland.The first Church on the site was built in 1791 to a design by Francis Johnston and was partly incorporated into the present building one hundred years later. The facade is an imposing structure in the Gothic...
, where it remains today. The church is located on West Street, which is the main street in the town.
Theatre and performing arts
The town hosts the annual
SambaSamba is a Brazilian dance and musical genre originating in Bahia and with its roots in Brazil and Africa via the West African slave trade and African religious traditions. It is recognized around the world as a symbol of Brazil and the Brazilian Carnival...
festival every summer, where Samba bands from around the world converge on the town for a week of drumming and parades. It is also home to the Calipo theatre company which specialises in multi-media productions and has achieved considerable success in Ireland and abroad.
Drogheda also hosts the worlds longest-running annual graffiti art event on the undercrofts of the Bridge of Peace every August. This event has seen some of the worlds top artists visit the site since the walls were first painted in 1993.
The town also supports one of the largest and most successful youth theatres in Ireland (Droichead Youth Theatre) which has toured to
BelfastBelfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
,
LondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
,
ItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, and
SwedenSweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
. The addition of the Little Duke Theatre company in Duke Street, in the old Julian Blinds building, adds to this scene. The Municipal Centre in Stockwell Street acts as a base for most of the town's artists, under the umbrella of the Droichead Arts Centre, and featuring a gallery space and a theatre. The former
Garda, more commonly referred to as the Gardaí , is the police force of Ireland. The service is headed by the Commissioner who is appointed by the Irish Government. Its headquarters are located in the Phoenix Park in Dublin.- Terminology :...
(Police) station in West Street is now a satellite site of the Droichead Arts Centre. This site is called Barlow House.
Drogheda also boasts a long tradition of its very own pantomime, which is usually held in January/February of each year. These productions have been going for roughly 60 years and are considered a great source of recreaction for the town. Many locations have been used for staging productions (most notably the old Parochial Centre) although the Pantomime Society have found a new and more permanent home in the form of the T.L.T. (Tommy Leddy Theatre), located beside the Sound Shop in the East Coast Business Park.
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.
http://www.louthcms.org
Drogheda composers
The composer and
AosdánaAosdána is an Irish association of Artists. It was created in 1981 on the initiative of a group of writers and with support from the Arts Council of Ireland. Membership, which is by invitation from current members, is limited to 250 individuals; before 2005 it was limited to 200...
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 (RTE live broadcast) and 'No Sanctuary' 1997 (in the Augustinian Church with Nobel Laureate and poet
Seamus HeaneySeamus Heaney is an Irish poet, writer and lecturer. He lives in Dublin. Heaney has received the Nobel Prize in Literature , the Golden Wreath of Poetry , T. S. Eliot Prize and two Whitbread prizes...
). '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.
Brass Bands
Drogheda has a number of brass bands and is home to the Drogheda Brass Band, National Brass Band Champions of Ireland 2007–11, and the Lourdes Brass Band, South Of Ireland Band Champions 2006–8.
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 ReidNano Reid was an Irish painter. - Biography :The Irish landscape artist, figure painter and portraitist Nano Reid was born in Drogheda, County Louth in 1905. In 1920, she won a scholarship to study fine art painting and drawing at the Dublin Metropolitan School of Art - now the National College of...
(d.1981). Artists working today in the town and its environs include Raphael Hynes, Richard Moore, Liam O'Broin, Teddy Doyle, Padhraic Murphy, John Moloney and Paul McCann.
Literature
Drogheda experienced a renaissance in literature in the 1980s. National award-winning poets include the late Angela Greene, Susan Connolly, Marie MacSweeney, Joseph Woods and Barbara Smith. Other published poets and writers include John O'Rourke, Roger Hudson, Stephen Downes, Dixie Nugent, Shane Fagan and Terry McHugh. There are many published writers on academic and local history subjects and these include Anthony Murphy, Gabriel Cooney, John McCullen, Geraldine Stout, Ricky Gerrard, Ned McHugh and Deirdre Russell.
Oisín McGannOisín McGann is an Irish author and illustrator. He writes in a range of genres for children and teenagers, mainly science fiction and fantasy, and has illustrated many of his own short story books for younger readers....
is one of the best known writers of children's literature in the country. Noted playwrights include Darren Thornton (Calipo Theatre Co.) and Declan Gorman (Upstate Theatre Co.).
Popular culture
The estate in the famous novel and mini-series
The Thorn BirdsThe Thorn Birds is a 1977 best-selling novel by Colleen McCullough, an Australian author.In 1983 it was adapted as a television mini-series that, during its television run 27–30 March, became the United States' second highest rated mini-series of all time behind Roots; both series were produced by...
was named after the town of Drogheda.
Drogheda today
With the expansion of the Irish economy in the 1990s, during the "
Celtic TigerCeltic Tiger is a term used to describe the economy of Ireland during a period of rapid economic growth between 1995 and 2007. The expansion underwent a dramatic reversal from 2008, with GDP contracting by 14% and unemployment levels rising to 14% by 2010...
" years, Drogheda became one of the main secondary locations for people who work in Dublin to buy a house, as property prices in the capital became prohibitive for many first-time home buyers. This was aided by the expansion of transport infrastructure in the direction of Drogheda i.e. the
SwordsSwords is the county town of Fingal in Ireland. It is about 13 km north of Dublin city centre and is part of its commuter belt.- History :...
and
BalbrigganBalbriggan is a town in the northern part of the administrative county of Fingal, within County Dublin, Ireland. The 2006 census population was 15,559 for Balbriggan and its environs.- Name :...
bypasses, the
Boyne River BridgeThe Boyne River Bridge is a cable-stayed bridge in County Meath, Ireland. It spans the Boyne River west of Drogheda on the county boundary between County Meath and County Louth and is part of the M1 Northern Motorway...
and the increased number of commuter trains serving the town. Partly as a result, the downtown area of Drogheda has redeveloped, and two large shopping centres have opened, while several national and international retailers have opened stores. In 2007 the partial pedestrianisation of the town's main street, West Street, was completed. This was not a success from a business point of view and West Street has become a ghost street.
On the south quay in the space of the former Lakeland Dairies premises (an old industrial area), the Scotch Hall Shopping Centre and the D Hotel was completed in November 2005. A new pedestrian bridge extends from the north quay, at Mayoralty Street, into the complex. Phase Two of the development, which will shortly commence construction, will extend further down along the river front, on the site of the former Irish Oil Cake works. It will have an extension to the shopping centre and hotel, new apartments, cinema, and a riverside plaza.
Transport, communications and amenities
Drogheda is located close to the M1 (E1 Euro Route 1) (main
Dublin -
BelfastBelfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
motorway). The
Boyne River BridgeThe Boyne River Bridge is a cable-stayed bridge in County Meath, Ireland. It spans the Boyne River west of Drogheda on the county boundary between County Meath and County Louth and is part of the M1 Northern Motorway...
carries traffic from the M1, across the
River BoyneThe River Boyne is a river in Leinster, Ireland, the course of which is about long. It rises at Trinity Well, Newbury Hall, near Carbury, County Kildare, and flows towards the Northeast through County Meath to reach the Irish Sea between Mornington, County Meath and Baltray, County Louth. Salmon...
, 3 km west of the town. It was opened on June 9, 2003 and is the longest cable stayed bridge in
IrelandIreland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
.
Drogheda acquired rail links to
Dublin in 1844,
Navan-People:Navan was the childhood home of Pierce Brosnan, who appeared in the television series Remington Steele and was the fifth film actor to play James Bond. TV personality Hector Ó hEochagáin, and comedians Dylan Moran and Tommy Tiernan also hail from Navan....
in 1850 and
BelfastBelfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
in 1852. Passenger services between Drogheda and
Navan-People:Navan was the childhood home of Pierce Brosnan, who appeared in the television series Remington Steele and was the fifth film actor to play James Bond. TV personality Hector Ó hEochagáin, and comedians Dylan Moran and Tommy Tiernan also hail from Navan....
were ended in 1958, however the line remains open for freight (Tara Mines/Platin Cement) traffic. In 1966 Drogheda station was renamed "McBride".
Drogheda railway stationDrogheda MacBride railway station serves Drogheda in County Louth, Ireland. There is a railcar servicing depot for commuter trains here.The original Drogheda station opened on 25 May 1844 about a quarter mile southeast. The passenger station was resited when the first temporary Boyne Viaduct...
opened on 25 May
1844-Events:*29 March - Official opening of the Dalkey Atmospheric Railway.*15 December - Saint Malachy's Church, Belfast is dedicated by Dr William Crolly, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland....
.
Defined by its location as the last crossing point on the Boyne before it reaches the sea, Drogheda has
seven bridges-Boyne River Bridge:The Boyne River Bridge is Ireland’s longest cable-stayed bridge, located 3.1 kilometres west of Drogheda.-Boyne Viaduct:The Boyne Viaduct is a railway bridge that crosses the River Boyne in Drogheda, carrying the main Dublin–Belfast railway line.- Bridge Of Peace :The Bridge of...
in its vicinity.
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:
- Coca Cola International, over 200 employees
- Glanbia, dairy products factory.
- Permier CRH - 100 employess
- Flogas, a national gas distributor
- Natures Best, a fresh food processor
- Hilton Foods, a meat processor
- Boyne Valley Foods, a producer and distributor of jams and honey
- Irish Cement, Ireland's largest cement works
- International Flavours & Fragrances (IFF), a producer of perfumes and food fragrances
- Becton Dickinson (BD), a manufacturer of medical syringes and associated equipment
- Gina G, curtain manufacture and exporter
- Sofa Company, a manufacturer and retailer of hand-crafted sofas and furniture
- Omni Signs - High quality signage, popup banners, posters etc.
- Beulah Print - Flyers, business stationery, Web an logo design, etc.
Recently additions to the local economy include:
- IDA Business and Technology Park: a 25 hectare (63 acre) 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.
Shopping
Traditionally shopping took place in the central business district of the town centre. The main shopping streets being West Street, Shop Street, Peter Street, Laurence Street.
There are five shopping centres, Scotch Hall, Laurence Town Centre, Drogheda shopping Centre, Abbey shoppong 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.
Media
The local newspapers are
The Drogheda LeaderThe Drogheda Leader is a regional newspaper published in Drogheda County Louth.The newspaper was established in 1995 with a initial circulation of 12,000. it expanded rapidly into one of the North East of Ireland's largest newspapers with a circulation of 29,000 newspapers weekly...
and
The Drogheda IndependentThe Drogheda Independent is a newspaper for the Drogheda area, Louth and the Meath coast. It covers many thing's including its own database of records, and near Halloween, a paranormal section. It is Drogheda only non-free newspaper. It also publishes a smaller preview paper called the Drogheda...
, known locally as The D.I. and The Leader. Both newspapers are published every Wednesday. The Leader a free-of-charge newspaper has a circulation of 28,000 newspapers and the independent's circulation is 7,000. The headquarters of The Drogheda Independent are on Shop Street and The Drogheda Leaders offices are on Laurence Street.
The local radio station is
LMFMLMFM is an independent Local Radio station in Ireland. It is also the largest Local radio station outside of Dublin and Cork broadcasting to a population in excess of 300,000 adults. Media group UTV bought the station in a deal worth about €10 million in 2005.LMFM broadcasts on a number of...
, broadcasting on 95.8 FM. The headquarters of LM-FM are on Marley's Lane on the south side of the town.
Sport
- Soccer: In December 2005 the town's soccer team, Drogheda United
Drogheda United Football Club is an Irish football club currently playing in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland. The club hails from Drogheda, Ireland and, since 1979, plays its home matches at Hunky Dorys Park....
, won the FAI CupThe Football Association of Ireland Challenge Cup, known as the FAI Ford Cup for sponsorship reasons, is a knock-out association football competition contested annually by teams from the Republic of Ireland...
for the first time. In 2006 Drogheda United won the Setanta Cup. In 2007-Incumbents:* President – Mary McAleese* Taoiseach – Bertie Ahern* Tánaiste – Michael McDowell , Brian Cowen* Secretary of State for Northern Ireland – Peter Hain , Shaun Woodward* First Minister – office suspended , Ian Paisley...
, Drogheda United won the League of IrelandThe League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
for the first time in the club's history. Drogheda United FC's brother team is TrabzonsporTrabzonspor is a professional Turkish football club located in the city of Trabzon, Turkey. Formed in 1967 through a merger of several local clubs, Trabzonspor won six championships in Turkish Super League. The Club won their first Championship title in 1975 which is also the Club's initiation year...
from TurkeyTurkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. Both of two team's colours are claret red and blueBlue is a colour, the perception of which is evoked by light having a spectrum dominated by energy with a wavelength of roughly 440–490 nm. It is considered one of the additive primary colours. On the HSV Colour Wheel, the complement of blue is yellow; that is, a colour corresponding to an equal...
.
- Rugby: Local team Boyne RFC
- History :The club was formed in 1997 by the amalgamation of Drogheda RFC and Delvin RFC.The 2008–2009 season saw the Boyne 1st team claim Ireland's oldest trophy – the Leinster Towns Cup. The final was held in Ashbourne RFC on 19 April 2009 and Boyne beat their opponents on the day,...
was formed in 1997 from the amalgamation of Delvin RFC and Drogheda RFC. , 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.
Football players
- Nick Colgan
Nicholas Vincent "Nick" Colgan is an Irish footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Football League One side Huddersfield Town...
, goalkeeper for SunderlandSunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
and the Republic of Ireland men's national teamThe Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010....
.
- Ian Harte
Ian Patrick Harte is an Irish international footballer who plays for Reading in the Football League Championship. Best known for his spell at Leeds United and also his ability to score goals from long range, including being a free kick specialist...
, full-back for Blackpool F.C former Leeds United (UK), LevanteLevante Unión Deportiva, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Valencia, in the namesake community.Founded in 1909, it plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadi Ciutat de València.-Early years:...
(Spain) & SunderlandSunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
(UK) player and the Republic of Ireland national team.
- Gary Kelly, football player and charity campaigner.
- Sean Thornton
Sean Thornton is a professional footballer currently playing for Welsh Premier League side Aberystwyth Town, after a year out of the game following his release by Leyton Orient...
, midfielder Leyton Orient in EnglandEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and former Republic Of Ireland under 21 national teamThe Republic of Ireland national under-21 football team, is the national under-21 football team of the Republic of Ireland and is controlled by the Football Association of Ireland and competes in the biennial European Under-21 Football Championship and has competed since 1978.-Competition...
.
- Kevin Thornton
Kevin Anthony Thornton is an Irish footballer who was released by former club Northampton Town on the 31st August-Career:...
, midfielder Coventry City F.C.Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
in EnglandEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and former Republic Of Ireland under 21 national teamThe Republic of Ireland national under-21 football team, is the national under-21 football team of the Republic of Ireland and is controlled by the Football Association of Ireland and competes in the biennial European Under-21 Football Championship and has competed since 1978.-Competition...
.
- Colm Judge
Colm Judge is an Irish sportsperson. He plays Gaelic football with his local club Newtown Blues and has been a member of the Louth senior inter-county team since 2006. Judge is regarded as one of Louth's top GAA players...
, Gaelic footballer for LouthThe Louth County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Louth GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Louth. The county board is also responsible for the Louth inter-county teams....
.
- Toomy Breen Manchester United goalkeeper
- Megan Campbell, Ireland U17 / U19 Women's International.
Others
- Adam Fergus
Adam Fergus is an Irish film, television and stage actor. Born in Drogheda, County Louth and raised in the nearby village of Laytown, his film and television credits include roles in the television series Proof, The Clinic, Trouble in Paradise and Being Erica, and the films Inside I'm Dancing and...
, Actor/Director.
- Deaghlan Fionn (Author, Political activist) wrote theological books, holds a Doctor of Divinity degree and was ordained in 2006 born 1965 Marian Park Drogheda as Gabriel Declan Finn.
- Tommy Byrne, former racing driver, raced briefly in Formula 1 in 1982
- Tony Byrne, bronze medal winner for Ireland 1956 Summer Olympics
The 1956 Melbourne Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in Melbourne, Australia, in 1956, with the exception of the equestrian events, which could not be held in Australia due to quarantine regulations...
in MelbourneMelbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, AustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in the lightweight division.
- Eamonn Campbell
Eamonn Campbell in Drogheda, County Louth, Ireland, has been a member of The Dubliners since 1987. He was also in the Dubliners when they recorded their 25th anniversary show on The Late Late Show hosted by Gay Byrne. He is known as a guitarist and has a very rough voice very similar to the former...
, member of The DublinersThe Dubliners are an Irish folk band founded in 1962.-Formation and history:The Dubliners, initially known as "The Ronnie Drew Ballad Group", formed in 1962 and made a name for themselves playing regularly in O'Donoghue's Pub in Dublin...
, Guitarist and Music Producer.
- David Swan Montgomery, Vocalist, Composer/Producer, vocalist for international tribute band Led Zepagain http://www.zepagain.com and solo artist http://www.davidswanmontgomery.com.
- Susan Connolly, Poet. Dedalus Press and Shearsman Books.
- James Cullen
Father James Cullen, S.J. was born at Drogheda, County Louth, Ireland.He studied mathematics at the Trinity College, Dublin for a while, but eventually turned to theology and was ordained as a Jesuit on 1 July 1901....
, mathematician who discovered what are now known as the Cullen numberIn mathematics, a Cullen number is a natural number of the form n · 2n + 1 . Cullen numbers were first studied by Fr. James Cullen in 1905...
s.
- Pierce Brosnan
Pierce Brendan Brosnan, OBE is an Irish actor, film producer and environmentalist. After leaving school at 16, Brosnan began training in commercial illustration, but trained at the Drama Centre in London for three years...
actor, film producer and environmentalist.
- Deirdre Gogarty
Deirdre Gogarty is a female boxer who was born in Drogheda, Ireland.Due to legal issues regarding Women's Boxing in Ireland at the time, Gogarty could not engage in competition there. She currently fights out of New Orleans, Louisiana...
, 1997 Women's International Boxing FederationThe WIBF is, along with the WIBA, IWBF and others, one of the more recognized world championship fight sanctioning organizations in women's boxing. The organization is based in Miami, Florida, and is not associated with male boxing's IBF.The WIBF was formed in the middle 1990s. It is presided by...
(WIBF) Featherweight Title Champion.
- Angela Greene
Alice Norah Gertrude Greene was a female English tennis player from the United Kingdom. She won a silver medal playing tennis at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London. Sometimes referred to as Angela Greene in some references.-Early life:Greene was born at Upton, Northamptonshire on 15 October 1879,...
, Poet. Patrick Kavanagh Award. Salmon Press.
- Ronan Halpin, Sculptor. National and International Exhibitions.
- Michael Holohan, Composer and member of Aosdana.
- Shane Horgan
Shane Patrick Horgan born 18 July 1978 in Bellewstown, County Meath is a rugby union player who plays wing or centre for Leinster and Ireland. He is tall. While he was young he played for Boyne RFC. He also played Gaelic football at Minor level with Meath.Horgan joined Lansdowne on leaving...
, Leinster RugbyLeinster Rugby, usually referred to simply as Leinster, is an Irish professional rugby union team based in Dublin, representing the Irish province of Leinster, that competes in the RaboDirect Pro 12 and also competes in the Heineken Cup...
team, former international rugby player, Ireland national rugby union teamThe Ireland national rugby union team represents the island of Ireland in rugby union. The team competes annually in the Six Nations Championship and every four years in the Rugby World Cup, where they reached the quarter-final stage in all but two competitions The Ireland national rugby union...
- Sharon Horgan
Sharon Horgan is an Irish actress, writer and comedienne.Horgan was born in London and moved to Dublin at age seven. She grew up in Bellewstown, Co. Meath, Ireland. She went to school in the Sacred Heart Secondary School in Drogheda. Later she went on to an English degree at Brunel University...
, Actress, writer and comedienne.
- Raphael Hynes. Artist, National Award R.H.A.
- Jonathan Kelly, singer-songwriter.
- Frank Kelly, Film writer and director.
- Evanna Lynch
Evanna Patricia Lynch is an Irish actress who rose to prominence playing Luna Lovegood, a supporting role in the Harry Potter film series adapted from the book series of the same name. Lynch was cast as Luna at the age of 14, having previously acted only in school plays...
, actress, starred in Harry Potter as Luna Lovegood.
- Tony Martin
Anthony A. "Tony" Martin is a Canadian politician. He was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1990 to 2003, representing the riding of Sault Ste. Marie for the Ontario New Democratic Party . He was elected to the Canadian House of Commons for the federal NDP in 2004, again...
, Canadian social democratic legislator.
- Richard Moore, Artist.
- Anthony Murphy, Journalist and Writer. The Liffey Press.
- Colin O'Donoghue
-Early life:O'Donoghue was born and raised in Drogheda, County Louth, in a Roman Catholic family. He initally attended Dundalk Grammar School, and then the Gaiety School of Acting in Dublin. When he was 16, O'Donoghue went to Paris for a month to learn French....
, actor.
- Deirdre O'Kane
Deirdre O'Kane originally from Drogheda, County Louth, Ireland, became a stand-up comic in 1996 and got into the finals of the BBC New Comedy Awards of that year. She has played at the Edinburgh Festival every year since including 2001 where she not only performed her own solo show, Deirdre O'Kane...
, award-winning comedian.
- Eliza O'Neill
Eliza O'Neill was an Irish actress, later baronetess.Born in Drogheda, she was the daughter of an actor and stage manager...
(1791–1872), actress.
- John Boyle O'Reilly
John Boyle O'Reilly was an Irish-born poet, journalist and fiction writer. As a youth in Ireland, he was a member of the Irish Republican Brotherhood, or Fenians, for which he was transported to Western Australia...
poetA poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
and novelist, member of the Irish Republican BrotherhoodThe Irish Republican Brotherhood was a secret oath-bound fraternal organisation dedicated to the establishment of an "independent democratic republic" in Ireland during the second half of the 19th century and the start of the 20th century...
.
- Nano Reid
Nano Reid was an Irish painter. - Biography :The Irish landscape artist, figure painter and portraitist Nano Reid was born in Drogheda, County Louth in 1905. In 1920, she won a scholarship to study fine art painting and drawing at the Dublin Metropolitan School of Art - now the National College of...
Artist (1900–1981),famous Irish painter of landscapes particularly Drogheda, the Boyne Valley and surrounding areas.
- Michael Scott
Michael Scott was an Irish architect whose buildings included the Busáras building in Dublin, the Abbey Theatre, and Tullamore Hospital....
, architect who designed BusárasBusáras is the central bus station in Dublin, Ireland for intercity and regional bus services operated by Bus Éireann. Busáras is also a stop on the Red Line of the Luas system, just before the terminus at Dublin Connolly railway station. Áras Mhic Dhiarmada is the official name of the...
and the Abbey TheatreThe Abbey Theatre , also known as the National Theatre of Ireland , is a theatre located in Dublin, Ireland. The Abbey first opened its doors to the public on 27 December 1904. Despite losing its original building to a fire in 1951, it has remained active to the present day...
.
- Des Smyth
Desmond John Smyth is an Irish professional golfer.Smyth was born in Drogheda, County Louth. He turned professional in 1974 and was a member of the European Tour for over a quarter of a century. His best finish on the European Tour Order of Merit was seventh in 1988...
, Professional golferIn golf the distinction between amateurs and professionals is rigorously maintained. An amateur who breaches the rules of amateur status may lose his or her amateur status. A golfer who has lost his or her amateur status may not play in amateur competitions until amateur status has been reinstated;...
, Vice-captain on the winning Ryder CupThe Ryder Cup is a biennial golf competition between teams from Europe and the United States. The competition is jointly administered by the PGA of America and the PGA European Tour, and is contested every two years, the venue alternating between courses in the United States and Europe...
team in 2006.
- Geraldine Stout, Archaeologist and Writer. Cork University Press.
- T.K. Whitaker, former Irish economist who wrote the Programme for Economic Expansion went to school in Drogheda.
- Henry Singleton
Henry Singleton was an Irish judge, remembered now mainly for his friendship with Jonathan Swift.He was born in Drogheda, son of John Singleton, Member of Parliament for the town. He went to school in Drogheda, graduated from the University of Dublin and was called to the Bar in 1707...
( 1682–1759 ) the eminent judge and friend of Jonathan SwiftJonathan Swift was an Irish satirist, essayist, political pamphleteer , poet and cleric who became Dean of St...
, was a lifelong resident of Drogheda.
- Thomas Lancaster
Thomas Lancaster was an English Protestant clergyman, Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh from 1568.-Life:He was perhaps a native of Cumberland, probably educated at Oxford. In July 1549 he was consecrated Bishop of Kildare by George Browne, Archbishop of Dublin...
, Bishop - buried at St. Peter's Church
- Henry Boylan (1912-2007), civil servant and biographer.(http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/2007/aug/22/guardianobituaries.booksobituaries)
See also
- List of abbeys and priories in Ireland (County Louth)
- List of towns and villages in Ireland
External links