Our Hometown
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Nestled
between the 19th Century Boyne Viaduct to the East and the 21st Century Boyne
Bridge to the West, the town of Drogheda is indeed a meeting of old and new.
Situated only 28 miles north of Dublin, Drogheda has been one of the most
important towns in Leinster through the centuries. A thriving port and the
gateway to the Boyne Valley, Drogheda still largely follows the old medieval
town plan and remnants of its medieval walls still exist. Inside these walls
lie many historical landmarks and its streets have been home to an interesting
and often turbulent past. A walk through Drogheda and its environs is a route
followed by countless numbers of visitors and residents for almost a thousand
years. Drogheda continues to grow and develop, bringing with it new businesses,
new housing and new recreational facilities.
Due to its location on the River Boyne, the local area was an important part of life going back to Celtic times. Indeed, the Boyne itself played an important part of Irish mythology with well-known fables such as "the Salmon of Knowledge". Having received its first charter in 1194 by the Norman King John, it was during the Anglo-Norman period in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries that the town of Drogheda developed into the major town that it has been and continues to be in Ireland. Drogheda was founded by two English knights - Hugh de Lacy and Bertram de Verdon - with their own individual town on the Meath and Louth sides of the river respectively. It was during this era that the great monastic settlements of Drogheda were begun and the enclosure of the towns by means of a great wall was begun. These two towns were eventually formally re-united under one constitution in 1415.
This extended settlement quickly developed into a substantial and important trading centre. Links were established with French and English ports and trade became the primary element in Drogheda's medieval economy. At that time it encompassed 113 acres and was double the size of the walled city of Dublin.
As the centuries wore on Drogheda increasingly became the focus of important events in Irish history. Prince John visited here on his travels in Ireland to take homage from the Irish kings. In 1494 Poynings' Law was passed here, a very important measure in Irish parliamentary history, which further served to alienate the English and Irish races. In 1394 King Richard II visited Drogheda and stayed in the famous Augustinian Friary while he received the homage of local Irish kings.
The Middle Ages witnessed the heights of Drogheda's importance both nationwide and in the locality. The town is also remembered for other key events in history, notably the siege and slaying of townsfolk by Oliver Cromwell in 1649. Also, in 1690 a few miles from Drogheda was the location for the history-defining "Battle Of The Boyne" between King William of Orange & King James II.
Places to Visit
St.Laurence's Gate
St.
Laurence's Gate is a fine example of a thirteenth century barbican. Traffic
has passed through the gate for over eight hundred years and it has become
one of Drogheda's best-loved and most recognisable buildings. The gate
itself is in remarkable condition and its endurance is a credit to its
builders. At the time of its construction it was an integral part of the
towns walled defences and constituted an outer defence gate that was patrolled
by armed guards. As it stands it is one of the best examples of its kind
in western Europe. Of the 8 gates that once graced
the town, the only other one whose remains are visible is the Buttergate
on the southside of the river. There are also only a few remnants of
the walls that linked these gates to form the town's fortress. The best
examples are seen beside St. Laurence's Gate and on the southside at
the rear of St. Mary's Church of Ireland where Oliver Cromwell famously
entered the town. The walled area of medieval Drogheda enclosed 113
acres (45 hectares) making it one of the largest walled towns in medieval
Ireland.
Millmount
Situated
on the south side of the river Boyne is Millmount, an imposing structure
overlooking the town. It stands on the site of the first defensive structure
built in Drogheda by Hugh de Lacy, a motte and bailey. The mound that
you see today is a motte, an artificial mound of earth built by the Anglo-Normans.
The name Millmount comes from the later middle ages when a mill was situated
on the site. According to legend, the mound is the burial mound of the
famous druid and poet Amergin. The Martello tower on top of the mound
was built in 1808, destroyed during the Civil War of 1922 and was recently
restored to its former glory. It now houses the offices of the Old Drogheda
Society. The Millmount Museum houses a varied collection of artefacts
relating to Drogheda and beyond.
The Bridges
The
Viaduct Bridge is an incredible feat of nineteenth century engineering
spanning the River Boyne. Built between 1851 and 1855 it was completed
to ease the journey for goods and passengers on the Drogheda - Belfast
railway line. Mr. William Evans, a Welshman, was given the contract
to build the Viaduct and he was also contracted to build the Newfoundwell
bridge and an embankment, which he completed first. In 1853 the bridge
was almost ready and two piers remained to be completed to support the
iron lattice bridge, but an unforeseen pocket of soft mud entailed more
work and the builders had to dig down to find a solid base to support
the piers. Unfortunately, this caused the money to run out and Evans
gave up, declaring himself bankrupt. Mr. James Barton took over and
in October 1853 the foundations were laid 43 feet under the water.
The
Viaduct's original cost of £68,000 eventually ran to £123,000.
In 1932 the original iron was replaced with steel and the Boyne Viaduct
now stands as an impressive monument to Victorian engineering and ingenuity.
It stands 98 feet high and measures 17,000 feet across. When lit up
at night it appears spectacular against Drogheda's nighttime sky creating
an unforgettable gateway to Drogheda and an internationally recognisable
symbol of the town.
There are 3 road & pedestrian bridges inside the town boundary. St. Mary's Bridge stands on the site of the first bridge over the river at the point of the narrowest part of the river, hence the Irish name for Drogheda Droichead Átha" meaning "bridge of the ford". St. Dominic's Bridge was once a road bridge, but now serves as a pedestrian bridge since the opening of the Peace Bridge in the mid 1970s. Now just outside the town, is the fabulous new Boyne Bridge, which forms part of the M1 motorway leading from Dublin to Belfast.
Monastaries
The
Magdalene Tower is the only surviving piece from the Dominican Friary
established c. 1224 by Luke Netterville, Archbishop of Armagh. It was
in the Dominican Friary that King Richard II received the submission
of the powerful O'Neill of Ulster as well as various other chieftains.
The Hospital of St. Mary d'Urso was founded in 1206-14 by Ursus de Swemele and his wife Christina, it lay at the western end of the town. It was subsequently taken over by the Augustinians. In 1330 the flood of the Boyne did considerable damage to the monastery.The building was restored mainly thanks to the generosity of the Brandon family.
The religious life of Drogheda was utterly transformed by the measures taken to progress the Reformation in Ireland. The great abbeys, priories and hospitals all disappeared and their lands taken by the Crown.
Churches
St. Peter's Church of Ireland is situated at the top of Peter St. and dates back to 1749-52. The medieval church stood slightly to the east of the present building and possessed a famous spire, which fell in 1548 due to a great storm. This was replaced by a wooden tower. St. Mary's Church Of Ireland is situated on Mary St. This was not originally a parochial secular church but was founded originally by the townspeople for friars and was called St. Mary's of Mount Carmel. It is now the home of the Drogheda Heritage Centre.
St.
Peter's Roman Catholic Church stand proudly in the centre of the main
street and famously houses the head of St. Oliver Plunkett, who became
a martyr when hung, drawn & quartered at Tyburn in England. Also housed
in the church is the imposing oak door of the cell that incarcerated Oliver
Plunkett before his execution. There are a number of other churches in
the town, some with great traditions such as the Dominican, Augustinian and Franciscan brothers.
Local Attractions
Drogheda is known as the
"Gateway to the Boyne Valley" and is often the place where great
journeys begin. The Boyne Valley has many special attractions, the most
notable being the world-famous Megalithic Tombs at Newgrange, Knowth &
Dowth. These are best appreciated through a visit to the interpretative
centre "Bru na Boinne". Slane village,
as well as playing host to the almost annual Rock concerts at Lord Mountcharles'
famous castle is a most attractive village on the Boyne. Place worth
visiting here include the house of famous poet Francis Ledwith and the
Hill of Slane where St. Patrick lit the Pascal Fire.
There are a number of seaside resorts on the northside at Termonfeckin and Clogherhead and on the southside at Mornington and Bettystown - the latter now having a fabulous indoor theme park.
Things To Do
There is a wide range of accommodation available for tourists from B&B to Hostels & Hotels in Drogheda and the surrounding area. There is also plenty on the Entertainment front both day and night. It is a key shopping location with a number of Shopping Centres and bustling streets. There are also Cinemas and Theatres as well as a museum. Drogheda is also well known for its nightlife with an abundance of pubs and nightclubs. For the Sports enthusiast, there soccer and gaelic clubs, angling squash and tennis. There are also a number of top golf clubs within a 5-mile radius of the town. Drogheda is also home to a number of top class restaurants and cafes. Please review the links below for more detail on things to do.
Chronology
443 - St. Patrick entered the town and founded the Abbey (Old Abbey Lane)
720 - Environs were laid waste by King Cathal.
830 - The town was occupied by the Danes.
1185 - Prince John visited Drogheda during a tour of the Pale.
1194 - Charted by King John.
1210 - John visited Ireland again as king during which he again stayed in Drogheda.
1228 - certain customs were granted for one year as an aid for the better construction of the bridge
1289 - Master Mason, named William of Drogheda, was paid by Edward I for the making of the towers and turrets at Harlech Castle in Wales.
1314 - King grants to Drogheda a market and fair
1330 - the Boyne flooded causing extensive damage to Drogheda.
1348 - the Black Death hit Drogheda (carried by a trading ship from the east).
1394 - King Richard II visits Drogheda.
1412 - Union of the two Corporations of Drogheda.
1441 - Parliament held in Drogheda - subsidies were voted for the state.
1450 - Richard Plantagenet, the Duke of York and father of Edward IV convened his first Parliament in Drogheda.
1467 - Parliament held by the Earl of Desmond who backed a plan for a University in Drogheda. Accused of being a traitor by consorting and supporting the Irish he was found guilty and beheaded, according to tradition, on the north commons of Drogheda on the 15th February 1467. His head was sent to Dublin to be displayed on a pike and his body was supposedly interred in the Dominican Friary in Drogheda.
1475 - A mint was established at Drogheda by means of an Act of Parliament.
1479 - Drogheda was devastated by an attack of the plague
1494 - Poynings Law passed in Drogheda
1501 - The Market Cross (a notable landmark in Drogheda) was erected at his own expense by John Ball
1504 - A provincial synod called for Drogheda had to be adjourned on account of the plague (Black Death).
1531 - Representatives of Hugh O' Donnell (a great Ulster chief) swore fealty to the king on their master's behalf in Drogheda.
1538 - The Lord Deputy went after O' Neill who had burned the town of Drogheda.
1539 - The Battle of Bellahoa against O' Neill, after which the Mayor of Drogheda was knighted on the field for his bravery.
1548 - Steeple of St. Mary's church (now St. Mary's Church of Ireland) was blown down in a storm.
1603 - The northern chiefs are defeated by the Crown forces and go to Mellifont to swear allegiance. O' Neill then accompanied the Lord Deputy into Drogheda
1624 - Primate Hampton of Armagh died in Drogheda aged 73. He was succeeded by James Ussher who made Drogheda his principal home until 1641.
1642 - Drogheda repulsed the attack of the Confederate leader Sir Phelim O' Neill. The town walls were not breached.
1649 - Cromwell attacks the Royalist Garrison in Drogheda, which was commanded by Sir Arthur Aston. After sending to Dublin for heavy cannon to make a breach in the town walls, Cromwell took the town.
1664 - The Corporation draws up plans for a new wooden bridge over the Boyne.
1666 - The ancient town cross was removed.
1688 - King James II fleeing from England, visited Drogheda
1690 - The Battle of the Boyne took place only several miles outside Drogheda.
1723 - First stone bridge erected over the Boyne.
1724 - Night lamps introduced to the streets of Drogheda.
1785 - The Corporation ordered that the Blind Gate be taken down and the materials sold.
1790 - The centenary of the Battle of the Boyne was celebrated with much ceremony. West Gate and James Gate were ordered to be taken down.
1795 - Corporation ordered the destruction of Sunday's Gate.
1796 - A committee, devised to build a corn market, was empowered to take down whatever sections of the town wall they needed to in order to accomplish their task.
1839 - On January 6th a small hurricane hit Drogheda and the damage was widespread.
1844 - The Dublin and Drogheda Railway was completed.
1845/9 - Drogheda feels the effects of the Great Famine, which raged all over Ireland during these years.
1916 - Drogheda men play their part in the Easter Rising of 1916.
1919/23 - Drogheda is embroiled in the events of the War on Independence and Civil War.
Links
Here are some links to sites, which may be of interest to those visiting Drogheda.
www.droghedaguide.com
Excellent site on the history of Drogheda.
www.drogheda-tourism.com
This is the website of Drogheda-On-The-Boyne Tourism, a valuable tourist resource for Drogheda which organises events such as walking tours etc for visitors to Drogheda.
www.droghedaonthe.net
The Drogheda area on one website covering business, tourism and much more.
www.droghedaweb.ie
Information on Events, Accommodation, Entertainment, Food & Drink, Sports & Hobbies and many more items.
www.knowth.com/localinfo.htm
An excellent website for those interested in the wonders of the Boyne Valley, namely the megalithic tombs of Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth. There are some excellent photos of the tombs on this site.
www.mythicalireland.com
A sumptuous site with some excellent photography and information on the theme of Irish mythology and its legacy.
www.droichead.com
The website of the acclaimed Droichead Arts centre.
www.saintpetersdrogheda.ie
The website of Saint Peters Roman Catholic Church West St Drogheda.
