Drogheda Droichead Átha (Irish) | |
|---|---|
 Clockwise from top: Drogheda viewed from the south;Millmount Fort; West Street, Drogheda | |
 Flag  Coat of arms | |
| Motto: "God Our Strength, Merchandise Our Glory." | |
  Drogheda Location in Ireland Show map of Ireland Drogheda Drogheda (Europe) Show map of Europe | |
| Coordinates:53°42′54″N6°21′09″W / 53.7150°N 6.3525°W /53.7150; -6.3525 | |
| Country | Ireland |
| Province | Leinster |
| County | County Louth andCounty Meath |
| Municipal district | Drogheda Borough District |
| Founded | 911 AD |
| First Charter | 1194 |
| County Status | 1412[1] (Abolished 1898) |
| Government | |
| • Dáil constituency | Louth |
| • EU Parliament | Midlands–North-West |
| Area | |
• Total | 14.8 km2 (5.7 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 27 m (89 ft) |
| Lowest elevation | 1 m (3.3 ft) |
| Population | |
• Total | 44,135 |
| • Rank | 6th |
| • Density | 2,776.6/km2 (7,191/sq mi) |
| • Greater area | 83,000[3] |
| Demonyms | Droghedean, Boynesider |
| Time zone | UTC±0 (WET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+1 (IST) |
| Eircode routing key | A92 |
| Telephone area code | +353(0)41 |
Drogheda (/ˈdrɒhədə,ˈdrɔːdə/DRO-həd-ə,DRAW-də;Irish:Droichead Átha[ˈd̪ˠɾˠɛhəd̪ˠˈaːhə]ⓘ, meaning "bridge at the ford") is an industrial and port town in County Louth on the east coast of Ireland, 43 km (27 mi) north ofDublin. It is located on theDublin–Belfast corridor on the east coast of Ireland, mostly inCounty Louth but with the south fringes of the town inCounty Meath, 40 km (25 mi) north of Dublin city centre. Drogheda had a population of 44,135 inhabitants in 2022, making it theeleventh largest settlement by population in all ofIreland, and the largesttown in theRepublic of Ireland,[a] by both population and area.[4] It is the second largest in County Louth with 35,990 and sixth largest in County Meath with 8,145. It is the last bridging point on theRiver Boyne before it enters theIrish Sea. TheUNESCOWorld Heritage Site ofNewgrange is located 8 km (5.0 mi) west of the town.
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Drogheda was founded as two separately administered towns in two different territories: Drogheda-in-Meath (i.e. theLordship and Liberty of Meath, from which a charter was granted in 1194) and Drogheda-in-Oriel (or 'Uriel', as County Louth was then known). The division came from the twelfth-century boundary between two Irish kingdoms, colonised by different Norman interests, just as the River Boyne continues to divide the town between the dioceses of Armagh andMeath. In1412, these two towns were united, and Drogheda became acounty corporate, styled as "the County of the Town of Drogheda". Drogheda continued as a county borough until the establishment of county councils under theLocal Government (Ireland) Act 1898, 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 withNavan.
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| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1811 | 15,590 | — |
| 1813 | 16,123 | +3.4% |
| 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% |
| 2016 | 40,956 | +6.2% |
| 2022 | 44,135 | +7.8% |
| [5][6][4] | ||
The town is situated in an area which contains a number of archaeological monuments dating from the Neolithic period onwards, of which the largepassage tombs ofNewgrange,Knowth, andDowth are probably the best known.[7] The density of archaeological sites of the prehistoric and early Christian periods uncovered in the course of ongoing developments, (including during construction of the Northern Motorway or 'Drogheda Bypass'), has shown that the hinterland of Drogheda has been a settled landscape for millennia.[8][9]
Despite local tradition linkingMillmount toAmergin Glúingel, in his 1978 study of the history and archaeology of the town, John Bradley 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".[10] The results of a number of often large-scale excavations carried out within the area of the medieval town appear to confirm this statement.[11]
One of the earliest structures in the town is themotte-and-bailey castle, now known asMillmount Fort, which overlooks the town from a bluff on the south bank of the Boyne and which was probably erected by theNorman Lord of Meath,Hugh de Lacy, sometime before 1186. The wall on the east side of Rosemary Lane, a back-lane which runs from St. Laurence Street towards the Augustinian Church, is the oldest stone structure in Drogheda.[12] It was completed in 1234 as the west wall of the first castle guarding access to the northern crossing point of the Boyne. A later castle, circa 1600, calledLaundy's Castle stood at the junction of West Street and Peter's Street. On Meathside, theCastle of Drogheda orThe Castle of Comfort was a tower house castle on the south side of the Bull Ring. It served as a prison, and as a sitting of the Irish parliament in 1494.[13] The earliest known town charter is that granted to Drogheda-in-Meath by Walter de Lacy in 1194.[14] In the 1600s, the name of the town was also spelled "Tredagh" in keeping with the common pronunciation, as documented byGerard Boate in his workIrelands' Natural History. Inc. 1655 it was spelled "Droghedagh" on a map by William Farriland.[15]
Drogheda was an important walled town in theEnglish Pale in the medieval period. It frequently hosted meetings of theIrish Parliament at that time. According toR.J. Mitchell inJohn Tiptoft, Earl of Worcester, in a spill-over from theWar of the Roses theEarl of Desmond and his two youngest sons (still children) were executed there on Valentine's Day 1468 on orders of theEarl of Worcester, theLord Deputy of Ireland. It later came to light (for example in Robert Fabyan'sThe New Chronicles of England and France), thatElizabeth Woodville, the queen consort, was implicated in the orders given.[16] The parliament was moved to the town in 1494 and passedPoynings' Law, the most significant legislation in Irish history, a year later. This effectively subordinated the Irish Parliament'slegislative powers to the King and hisEnglish Council.
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The town wasbesieged twice during theIrish Confederate Wars.
In the secondsiege of Drogheda, an assault was made on the town from the south, the tall walls breached, and the town was taken byOliver Cromwell on 11 September 1649,[17] as part of theCromwellian conquest of Ireland and it was the site of amassacre of theRoyalist defenders. In Cromwell's own words after the siege of Drogheda, "When they submitted, their officers were knocked on the head, andevery tenth man of the soldiers killed and the rest shipped toBarbados."[18]
In 1661,Henry Moore, 3rd Viscount Moore was created theEarl of Drogheda in thePeerage of Ireland.
TheBattle of the Boyne, 1690, occurred some 6 km (3.7 mi) west of the town, on the banks of theRiver Boyne, at Oldbridge.The Tholsel in West Street was completed in 1770.[19]
In 1790, Drogheda Harbour Commissioners were established by thePort of Drogheda Act 1790.[20] They remained in place until 1997 when a commercial enterprise, the Drogheda Port Company, replaced them.
In 1825, theDrogheda Steam Packet Company was formed in the town, providing shipping services toLiverpool.
In 1837, the population of Drogheda area was 17,365 people, of whom 15,138 lived in the town.[21]
Drogheda's coat of arms featuresSt. Laurence's Gate with three lions, and a ship emerging from either side of thebarbican. It isblazoned asAzureper paledimidiated, on the dexter side three lionspassant guardantin paleor, on the sinister as many hulls of ships in pale of the last, surmounted by a castle with two towers triple-toweredargent.[22] The town's mottoDeus praesidium, mercatura decus translates as "God our strength, merchandise our glory".
Thestar and crescent emblem in the crest of the coat of arms is mentioned as part of the mayor's seal byD'Alton (1844).[23] In 2010, Irish presidentMary McAleese, in a speech delivered during an official visit toTurkey, stated that the star and crescent had been added in the aftermath of theGreat Famine as gratitude for food supplies donated by theOttoman SultanAbdülmecid I, which had arrived at Drogheda by ship. Irish press quickly pointed out the story was a myth, with a local historian calling it 'nothing short of sheer nonsense,' and the star and crescent dating back toKing John.[24][25] Later evidence, including a letter displayed at the office of the European Commission, showed that the Sultan did send aid during the 1845–1852 famine.[26][27]
In 1921, the preserved severed head ofSaint Oliver Plunkett, who was executed in London in 1681, was put on display inSt. Peter's (Catholic) Church, where it remains today. The church is located on West Street, which is the main street in the town.
In 1979,Pope John Paul II visited Drogheda as part of hisfive-stop tour of Ireland. He arrived less than a month after the IRA assassination ofLord Mountbatten,Queen Elizabeth's cousin, inMullaghmore. On 29 September 1979, he arrived in Dublin, where he gave his first mass. He then addressed 300,000 people in Drogheda, where he appealed "on his knees" to paramilitaries to end theviolence in Ireland:[28][29][30]
"Now 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 paths of violence and to return to the ways of peace. You may claim to seek justice. I too believe in justice and seek justice. But violence only delays the day of justice. Violence destroys the work of justice. Further violence in Ireland will only drag down to ruin the land you claim to love and the values you claim to cherish."[31]
Two decades into the 21st century some of the historic core of Drogheda town has suffered urban decline. Some of the buildings have been derelict for some years and are in danger of collapse.[32] There was a 2006 traffic plan for pedestrianisation of West Street. It was rejected at a vote of the elected councillors. They had come under pressure from traders in the area concerned about a potential further decline in customer footfall. But the issue has come up for debate again.[33] When asked, Drogheda residents point out that a combination of expensive car-parking and high commercial rates had a push-pull effect on the town's centre. Shops were forced to close and at the same time shoppers brought their business to retail parks such as the Boyne Shopping Centre on Bolton Street.[34] A substantial root-and-branch approach to renewal of the locality was proposed in "Westgate Vision: A Townscape Recovery Guide". The Westgate area of Drogheda is to be subject to a 10-year regeneration by Louth County Council.[35]
Drogheda has a hinterland of 70,000+ within a 15 km (9.3 mi) radius. According to the2022 census, there were 44,135 people living in Drogheda town at that time.[4]
As of the2011 census, non-Irish nationals accounted for 16.1% of the population, compared with a national average of 12%. Polish nationals (1,127) were the largest group, followed by Lithuanian nationals (1,044 people).[36] As of the2016 census, 17.4% of the population were non-Irish nationals, with 676 people from the UK, 1,324 Polish nationals, 1,014 Lithuanians, 1,798 people from elsewhere in the EU, and 1,400 with other (non-EU) nationalities.[37]
As of the 2022 census,[38] the ethnic makeup of the town was 80.65%white total, including 67.81% white Irish and 12.57% other white people, 7.48% not stated, 5.7% Asian, 2.44% other and 3.73%black.
The town was selected to hostFleadh Cheoil na hÉireann for two years in 2018 and 2019.[39]
Drogheda is home to two brass bands: Drogheda Brass Band and Lourdes Brass Band. In 2014, the town hosted the international summerSamba festival in which samba bands from around the world came to the town for three days of drumming and parades.[40]
The composer and member ofAosdána,Michael Holohan, has lived in Drogheda since 1983. His compositions have been performed and broadcast both at home and internationally. Career highlights in Drogheda includeCromwell 1994, 'Drogheda 800' (RTECO, Lourdes Church);The Mass of Fire 1995, 'Augustinian 700' (RTÉ TV live broadcast);No Sanctuary 1997 withNobel Laureate and poetSeamus Heaney (Augustinian Church);Remembrance Sunday Service andDrogheda Unification 600 (RTE TV live broadcast, St Peter's Church of Ireland) and two major concerts with The Boyne Valley Chamber Orchestra atFleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in 2018 and 2019.
Drogheda regularly hosts "Music at the Gate", a community-run event led byuilleann piper Darragh Ó Heiligh, next to Saint Laurence's Gate in the centre of Drogheda.[41]
Drogheda Arts Festival, a mix of music, live performance and street entertainment, is held over the May Bank Holiday weekend.[citation needed]
October 2006 saw the opening of theHighlanes Gallery, the town's first dedicated municipal art gallery. It is located in the former Franciscan Church and Friary on St. Laurence Street. The gallery houses Drogheda's municipal art collection, which dates from the 17th century.
Drogheda is an ancient town that has a growing tourism industry.[42] It has aUNESCO World Heritage site,Newgrange, located 8 km (5.0 mi) to the west of the town centre. Other tourist sites in the area include:
There are several international companies based in the Drogheda area. Local employers includeCoca-Cola International Services,State Street International Services, Natures Best, Yapstone Inc,[44][45] the Drogheda Port Company,Glanbia and Flogas (only Flogas Terminals since 2025)
Drogheda also has a history of brewing and distilling, with companiesJameson Whiskey,Coca-Cola,Guinness,Jack Daniel's all having previously produced (or still producing) their products in or near the town. These include the Boann distillery and brewery, Slane Whiskey (a Jack Daniel's-owned company), Listoke House, Dan Kellys (cider), and Jack Codys. The town formerly distilled Prestons whiskey, a Jameson Whiskey brand; Cairnes Beer,[46] founded locally and sold to Guinness; and Coca-Cola concentrate.
Drogheda in recent years has seen growth in the construction of apartments, commercial property and houses. Drogheda in 2024 is expected to receive over 1000 newly constructed homes varying between housing types and prices.[citation needed]
Drogheda is located close to the M1 (E1 Euro Route 1) (mainDublin –Belfast motorway). TheMary McAleese Boyne Valley Bridge carries traffic from the M1, across theRiver Boyne, three km (1.9 mi) west of the town. It was opened on 9 June 2003 and is the longestcable-stayed bridge in Ireland. The town's postcode, oreircode, is A92.
Drogheda acquired rail links toDublin in 1844,Navan in 1850 andBelfast in 1852. Passenger services between Drogheda andNavan were ended in 1958, however the line remains open for freight (Tara Mines/Platin Cement) traffic. In 1966 Drogheda station was renamed "MacBride".Drogheda railway station opened on 26 May 1844.[47]
The station has direct trains on theEnterprise northbound toDundalk,Newry,Portadown andBelfast Grand Central, and southbound toDublin Connolly. 1 Train a day to Belfast skips Drogheda.
A wide variety ofIarnród Éireann commuter services connect southbound toBalbriggan,Malahide,Howth Junction,Dublin Connolly,Tara Street,Dublin Pearse,Dún Laoghaire,Bray,Greystones,Wicklow, andWexford. TheDART is planned to be extended to Drogheda in the late 2020s or 30s as part of theDART+ program.
Drogheda's bus station is located on Donore Road. PastBus Éireann routes included the 184 toGarristown and 185 toBellewstown. Currently there are buses toMonaghan andDublin.
Drogheda was one of ten boroughs retained under theMunicipal Corporations (Ireland) Act 1840. Under theLocal Government (Ireland) Act 1898, the area became anurban district,[48] while retaining the style of a borough corporation.[49]
Drogheda Borough Corporation became a borough council in 2002.[50] On 1 June 2014, the borough council was dissolved and the administration of the town was amalgamated withLouth County Council.[51][52] It retains the right to be described as a borough.[53] The chair of the borough district uses the title of mayor, rather than Cathaoirleach.[54]
As of the2019 Louth County Council election, the borough district of Drogheda contains thelocal electoral areas of Drogheda Urban (6 seats) and Drogheda Rural (4 seats), electing 10 seats to the council.[55]
Theparliamentary borough of Drogheda returned two MPs to theIrish House of Commons until 1801. Under theAct of Union, theparliamentary borough returned one MP to theUnited Kingdom House of Commons, until its abolition under theRedistribution of Seats Act 1885. It was thereafter represented by theSouth Louth from 1885 to 1918, byCounty Louth from 1918 to 1922, byLouth–Meath from 1921 to 1923, and by theDáil constituency ofLouth from 1923 to the present.
The local newspapers are theDrogheda Leader and theDrogheda Independent and known locally asThe Leader andD.I.. Both newspapers are published weekly. The office of The Drogheda Independent is at 9 Shop Street andThe Drogheda Leader's offices are at 13/14 West Street.
The local radio station isLMFM, broadcasting on 95.8 FM. The headquarters of LMFM is on Marley's Lane on the south side of the town.
Drogheda is a regional centre for medical care. Its main hospital isOur Lady of Lourdes Hospital, a public hospital located in the town. and is part of theLouth Meath Hospital Group. Facilities include a 24-hour emergency department for the populations of County Louth, County Meath and the North-East of Ireland. The hospital provides 340 beds, of which 30 are reserved for acute day cases.[56]
There are seven secondary schools situated in Drogheda. St. Joseph's secondary school in Newfoundwell is an all-boys school, as is St. Marys Diocesan School on Beamore Rd. The Sacred Heart School,[57] situated in Sunnyside Drogheda, is an all-girls school. The Drogheda Grammar school, located on Mornington Road,St. Oliver's Community College,[58] on Rathmullen Road, and Ballymakenny College, on the Ballymakenny Road, aremixed schools. Our Lady's College,[59] in Greenhills is an all-girls school. There is also Drogheda Institute for Further Education (DIFE), a third-level college situated inMoneymore townland.
Drogheda has anoceanic climate (Köppen:Cfb).
| Climate data for Drogheda | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 8.1 (46.6) | 8.6 (47.5) | 9.9 (49.8) | 12.0 (53.6) | 14.9 (58.8) | 17.5 (63.5) | 18.9 (66.0) | 18.6 (65.5) | 16.9 (62.4) | 13.8 (56.8) | 10.5 (50.9) | 8.6 (47.5) | 13.2 (55.7) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 6.1 (43.0) | 6.3 (43.3) | 7.2 (45.0) | 9.0 (48.2) | 11.8 (53.2) | 14.5 (58.1) | 15.9 (60.6) | 15.7 (60.3) | 14.0 (57.2) | 11.4 (52.5) | 8.4 (47.1) | 6.6 (43.9) | 10.6 (51.0) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 4.0 (39.2) | 4.0 (39.2) | 4.5 (40.1) | 6.0 (42.8) | 8.6 (47.5) | 11.3 (52.3) | 13.0 (55.4) | 12.9 (55.2) | 11.3 (52.3) | 9.0 (48.2) | 6.2 (43.2) | 4.6 (40.3) | 8.0 (46.3) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 62.3 (2.45) | 54.2 (2.13) | 55.6 (2.19) | 53.6 (2.11) | 65.4 (2.57) | 68.1 (2.68) | 73.3 (2.89) | 77.1 (3.04) | 68.2 (2.69) | 83.8 (3.30) | 80.9 (3.19) | 74.4 (2.93) | 816.9 (32.17) |
| Source: Weather.Directory[60] | |||||||||||||
The town'sassociation football team,Drogheda United, was formed in 1919, and their home matches are played atHead In The Game Park. Nicknamed "The Drogs", they currently compete in theLeague of Ireland Premier Division, which they won for the first time in2007. The club achieved success by winning theFAI Cup in2005 and2024, and back to backSetanta Sports Cup successes in2006 and2007, along with the2012 EA Sports Cup. The Drogs came close toUEFA Champions League qualification on 2 occasions, in2008 and2013. They also narrowly missed out on aUEFA Cup place twice, in2006 and2007. Since their formation, the club have won 12 major honours. In 2011, Drogheda became the sister club of Turkish clubTrabzonspor due to their matching colours, and the town's history of Ottoman assistance during theGreat Famine. They are also the sister club of English clubWalsall and Danish club Silkeborg through their shared ownership through Trivela Group. As cup winners, the Drogs will compete in the preliminary rounds of theUEFA Conference League in July 2025.
Inrugby union, the localBoyne RFC team was formed in 1997 from the amalgamation of Delvin RFC and Drogheda RFC. As of 2010[update], the men's 1st XV team were playing in the Leinster J1 1st division.
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The following people have received theFreedom of the Town of Drogheda.
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