Drogheda is one of Ireland's oldest and most historical towns. Situated only 28 miles (45K) from Dublin. It is very accessible from Dublin and Belfast, Air and Seaports. Chartered in 1194 AD by the Norman King John, the history of the townland extends further back into the folklore of arrival of the Celts in Ireland.

Known as the "Gateway to the Boyne Valley" Drogheda is associated with an extraordinary number of significant events in the history of Ireland - The Battle of the Boyne, St Oliver Plunkett, Poynings Law, Cromwell's Siege and the surrender of the Irish Chieftains to the English King.

Whatever your reason to visit Drogheda you will find many excellent things to see and do.You are sure to enjoy a friendly welcome and famed Irish hospitality.

We look forward very much to your visit and bidding you .........

Céad Míle Fáilte.

Interesting Facts About Drogheda

1. The town of Drogheda was founded by the Normans and given its coat of arms by King John, Robin Hood's arch enemy.

2. St.Patrick landed at the mouth of the river Boyne, near Drogheda when he arrived in Ireland to introduce Christianity.

3. Oliver Cromwell did most of his killing in Drogheda on September 11th 1649, so the 9-11 date had a significance long before 2001.

4. King James who lost the Battle of the Boyne, was in his younger days "Duke of York and Albany" and when the British took New Amsterdam from the Dutch, they renamed the city New York in his honour and also named the city of Albany in his honour.

5. The Battle of the Boyne was fought 3 miles up stream Drogheda in July 1st 1690, It is now celebrated on the 12th due to the change in the calendar, brought in by Pope Gregory.

6. Edward Bruce, brother of Robert was the last man crowned High King of Ireland, he attacked Drogheda in 1317 and was later killed at the Battle of Fraughart by Drogheda man John Malpas.

7. In 1494 Poynings Law was passed in Drogheda, which ment that the Irish Parliament could no longer pass a law without the expressed permission of the English Privy Council.

8. Hugh O'Neill and Hugh O'Donnell spent the night in a premises on Peter Street, before signing the Treaty of Mellifont in 1603. O'Neill was a Louth man born in Dundalk.

9. Famous people born in Drogheda include actor Pierce Brosnan, footballers Steve Staunton, Gary Kelly and Ian Harte, former Ryder Cup golfer Des Smyth, Eamonn Campbell of internationally famous folk group the Dubliners and Comedienne Deirdre o'Kane.

10. Three time Eurovision singer Johnny Logan lived and went to school in Drogheda and played gaelic football for Louth at minor level.

11. Mother Mary Martin founded the Medical Missionaries of Mary and based their first hospital in Drogheda. She is buried in St Peters Cemetry.

12. Captain William Blyth of Mutiny on The Bounty fame designed the beacons in the Boyne river to guide ships into port.

13. United Irishman John Napper Tandy, who is recalled in at least two songs "The Wearing Of The Green" and "The Spanish Lady" was a freeman of Drogheda, his brother Burton Tandy was Mayor of the town in 1800.

14. Ben Dunne, founder of the Dunnes Stores retai chain, served his time as an apprentice in Anderson's of West Street now one of Dunnes Store's branches.

15. Pope John Paul the Second visited Drogheda in 1979 when he addressed over a quarter of a million at Killineer, just north of the town.

16. The famous Tara Broach, now in the National Museum, was found on the beach in Bettystown, 5 miles east of the town.

17. A horse named "Drogheda"won the famous Aintree Grand National in 1898.

18. John Boyle O'Reilly, poet, newspaper owner and patriot was born at Dowth, 4 miles from the town in 1844.

19. Paul Espinasse, killed as a result of a fall from a horse near the Black Bull in Drogheda, was the previous tenant of the St James Gate Brewery in Dublin, which was taken over by Arthur Guinness.

20. Many of the top acts of the sixties played in the Abbey Ballroom including The Kinks, The Searchers, The Seekers, The Troggs, Roy Orbison, The Everly Brothers, Sandy Shaw, Marieann Faithful and Adam Faith. Many of todays top names have played in Slane Castle 8 miles from Drogheda. 

21.Laytown Races is the only official race meeting run on a beach while Bellewstown Races are one of the oldest recforded meetings in the British Isles.