Drogheda

Drogheda is an industrial and port town in County Louth on the east coast of Ireland, 56 km (35 mi) north of Dublin. It is located on the Dublin–Belfast corridor on the east coast of Ireland, mostly in County Louth but with the south fringes of the town in County Meath, 49 km or 30 miles north of Dublin. Drogheda has a population of approximately 41,000 inhabitants (2016), making it the eleventh largest settlement by population in all of Ireland. It is the last bridging point on the River Boyne before it enters the Irish Sea. The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Newgrange is located 8 km west of the town.

Drogheda was founded as two separately administered towns in two different territories: Drogheda-in-Meath (i.e. the Lordship 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 and Meath. 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 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 with Navan.

The town was selected to host Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann for two years in 2018.

Places of interest

Drogheda is an ancient town that has a growing tourism industry.[36] It has a UNESCO World Heritage site, Newgrange, located 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) to the west of the town centre. Other tourist sites in the area include:

View of Drogheda from Millmount

Industry and economy

Drogheda has a growing industrial base with several international companies based in the town. Local employers include the Boyne Valley Group (food producers), Coca-Cola International Services, State Street International Services, Natures Best (a food processor employing 300 people),, Yapstone Inc,[38][39] the Drogheda Port Company (the oldest indigenous employer since 1790),[citation needed] Glanbia, Flogas, and CRH plc.[citation needed]

Drogheda also has a history of brewing and distilling, with companies Jameson WhiskeyCoca-ColaGuinnessJack Daniel’s all having previously produced (or are 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 (craft beers and stouts). The town formerly distilled Prestons whiskey, a Jameson Whiskey brand; Carines Beer, founded locally and sold to Guinness; and Coca-Cola concentrate, which has since moved to Ballina, County Mayo.

Contact

Drogheda
email
info@louthcoco.ie
address
Millennium Centre Dundalk A91 KFW6
phone
1890 202 303