Drogheda

Understand

thumb | 300px | Cromwell's troops enter Drogheda The fertile Boyne valley has been settled since prehistory, with nearby Brú na Bóinne the best known Neolithic site. The town developed from Norman times as two towns either side of a ford, then from 1412 as a single town with a bridge. Hence it became Droichead Átha, "bridge at the ford." The Normans made Drogheda a bastion of their rule in Leinster, with town walls and a castle, and the Irish parliament met there. In 1498 this passed the infamous Poyning's Law, that no legislation could be passed in Ireland, indeed the Irish parliament couldn't even meet, unless the English crown and parliament first approved it; the law wasn't repealed until 1878.

The town walls withstood a siege by the rebels of 1641, but in Sep 1649 Oliver Cromwell arrived. Drogheda was held by the Royalists, who reckoned to hold out until the onset of winter forced Cromwell to withdraw. He knew he had to seize a port for supply, and quickly, so he blasted two breaches in the walls and called on the Royalists to surrender. They refused so the breaches were stormed, Drogheda was taken, and a massacre followed. Casualties may have been 2800 Royalist defenders, though there's no reliable account. It was intended to send a chilling message to anyone in Ireland minded to resist Cromwell, and it succeeded.

The town was undamaged in the Battle of the Boyne: James' forces moved up the valley to check the advance of William, and after their retreat William moved…

Get in

thumb | 300px | View of Drogheda

Get around

Walk for all the sights within town. Taxis: the town has several firms, look for them by the bus or railway stations. Fares are nationally regulated and taxis must use the meter.

See

thumb|250px|Shrine with St Oliver Plunkett's head

Do

thumb | 300px | Monasterboice What's on? Listen to LMFM on 95.8 FM or read Drogheda Independent, Drogheda Leader or Drogheda Life. Gaelic games: the County GAA play Gaelic football and hurling. Until their new stadium is complete they play at St Mary's aka Páirc Mhuire in Ardee. Droichead Arts Centre have a gallery and theatre on Stockwell St. Their grand Barlow House on West St holds offices, rehearsal space and studios. Cinema: The Arc is on West St in town centre, and Omniplex is in Boyne Shopping Centre on Bolton St. Aura Leisure Centre is off Rathmullan Rd 1 km west of town centre. It has a pool, gym and fitness classes, and you can pay-as-you-go without membership. Beaches: long sandy beaches line the coast both sides of the Boyne estuary. To the south, Bettystown hosts the National Sandcastle and Sand-Sculpting Competition in late June. Beaches north start at Baltray and continue to Clogherhead and all the way to Dundalk. Yachts and other small craft can moor at Fiddle Case Quay. It's on the north bank near town centre, 400 m upstream from the railway viaduct. Commercial shipping uses the port downstream. is on Matthew's Lane on the retail park by Junction 9 of M1. Golf: several courses are within 5-10 km of town. Boyne Valley Country Club is southeast, Laytown and Bettytown is on the coast, Bellewstown GC is near the racecourse, and County Louth GC is at Baltray on the north bank of the Boyne estuary. There are also a few driving ranges and Pitch and Putts.