ACTIVITIES IN LOUTH

Cycling

Fishing

Horseriding

Golf

By Orla Rapple

Orla Rapple visited Drogheda and discovered a town steeped in ancient history and monuments but with plenty to offer the golfer or angler close at hand.

Lying just 28 miles northeast of Dublin lies one of the most charming and historic towns in Ireland.

Drogheda offers visitors both a base for exploring the many interests within the town as well as a gateway to the ancient and enticing sites that can be found in the Boyne Valley.

It is believed that a Norse Chieftain founded the town of Drogheda in 911. Normans settled in 1172 and within two centuries the town was bridged and walled. Reminders of Norman settlement are still visible in Drogheda and have become some of the most visited areas of the town.

One of the most impressive buildings in Drogheda is the large, twin-towered St. Laurence’s Gate.

Built in the 13th century as an outer defence gate to the town walls. St. Laurence’s Gate is probably the best-preserved medieval gate in Ireland and continues to preside over the passage of people and vehicles 700 years after it was erected.

Near Saint Laurence’s Gates are the remains of part of the town walls. In medieval times Drogheda consisted of two towns, one on the Co. Meath side of the Boyne, the other on the Co. Louth side. Both had a semicircle of defensive walls and a fortified bridge linked the two sides.

Another building worth a visit is the Gothic structure of St. Peter’s Church on West Street, which was erected as a memorial to Oliver Plunkett, Archbishop of Armagh. Plunkett was executed at Tyburn in London in 1681 and his decapitated head is preserved at St. Peter’s Church in a special shrine.

On high ground south of the river stands the imposing Millmount, a structure that is shrouded in Irish mythology and contemporary history. It is believed that the mound was a burial site for Armegin, a member of a Celtic tribe who were thought to have arrived from Spain almost 1500 years Before Christ.

The mound and the structure on it has a varied history, from attacks by Oliver Cromwell’s army in 1649 to the fact that the original building was destroyed in 1922 when it was taken over by Republican rebels and shelled by the Free State Army.

Today, the Millmount complex, which incorporates the old British army barracks, houses the offices of the Old Drogheda Society and The Millmount Museum, which in turn houses a varied collection of artifacts relating to Drogheda.

Whatever your pleasure when exploring Ireland, Drogheda and its surrounding area almost has it all. The Boyne Valley offers a great selection of historic monuments. Throughout the valley there is evidence of Norman conquests.

Millifont Abbey, for example, is just four miles north west of Drogheda and was once the mother house of the Cistercians in Ireland. In 1690 the site was also used as headquarters for William of Orange during the famous Battle of the Boyne. The walls that remain at Millifont Abbey illustrate the layout of the Cistercian Abbey, which include a chapter-house, church and refectory.

No visit to the Boyne Valley is complete without experiencing Newgrange, one of the most famous prehistoric monuments in Western Europe. Built in around 3200 BC, Newgrange is situated on high ground on a bend of the River Boyne. Ancient Irish folklore suggests that Newgrange was a burial chamber for the High Kings of Tara.

The main burial chamber has a tunnel length of 19 metres and there is a steady rise of two metres in floor level from the entrance to the chamber. Above the entrance door, there is a roof box that allows the sun to illuminate the chamber and as a result, on the morning of the winter solstice the chamber becomes filled with the dawn sunlight for one memorable moment. At all other times of the year the tomb is shrouded in darkness.

All visits to Newgrange are organised by the Brú na Boinne visitor centre, located near the village of Donore in Co. Meath, which was designed to protect the archeological heritage of the Boyne valley. Not only does this centre organise the tours to Newgrange but it has comprehensive exhibitions and information as well. Also, as Brú na Boinne visitor centre is on the south bank of the River Boyne visitors are given the chance to cross the river by a pedestrian bridge and take in the beautiful views that surround the River Boyne before being taken by bus to Newgrange.

If history and monuments are not your thing then there are lots of other activities on offer in Drogheda and the Boyne Valley. The River Boyne itself for example is one of Ireland’s premier game fisheries and offers a wide range of angling, from spring salmon to sea trout and brown trout fishing. Note, however that there is virtually no free fishing on the Boyne River but day tickets are available on many of the waters.

There are three golf courses within a five mile radius of Drogheda, the most impressive being Baltray golf course. Situated on the coastline in the fishing village of Baltray, this golf course is one of Ireland’s great championship links.

Add the fact that Drogheda is full of great pubs, restaurants and hotels and you have all the ingredients for an entertaining, comfortable and informative visit to the town and the Boyne Valley.