Sights in Drogheda
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St Peter's Roman Catholic Church
Displayed in a glittering brass-and-glass case in the north transept, the shrivelled head of St Oliver Plunkett (1629–81) is this church's main draw (the rest of the martyr was separated at his hanging in 1681). Actually it's two churches in one: the first, designed by Francis Johnston in classical style and built in 1791; and the newer addition, built in the Gothic style visible today.
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St Laurence's Gate
Astride the eastwards extension of the town's main street is St Laurence's Gate, the finest surviving portion of the city walls. This imposing pile of stone is not in fact a gate but instead a barbican, a fortified structure used to defend the gate, which was further behind it.
Dating from the 13th century, the structure was named after St Laurence's Priory, which once stood outside the gate; no traces of it now remain. The barbican consists of two lofty towers, a connecting curtain wall and the entrance to the portcullis. When the town walls were completed in the 13th century, they ran for 3km around the town, enclosing 52 hectares.
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Millmount Museum
A section of the army barracks is now used as the Millmount Museum, which has interesting displays about the town and its history. Exhibits include three wonderful late-18th-century guild banners, perhaps the last in the country. There is also a room devoted to Cromwell’s brutal siege of Drogheda and the Battle of the Boyne. The pretty cobbled basement is full of gadgets and kitchen utensils from bygone times, including a cast-iron pressure cooker and an early model of a sofa bed. There’s also an excellent example of a coracle.
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St Peter’s Church of Ireland
North of the centre of town is St Peter’s Church of Ireland, containing the tombstone of Oliver Goldsmith’s uncle Isaac, as well as an image on the wall depicting two skeletal figures in shrouds, dubiously linked to the Black Death. This is the church whose spire was burned by Cromwell’s men, resulting in the death of 100 people seeking sanctuary inside. Today’s church (1748) is the second replacement of the original destroyed by Cromwell. It stands in an attractive close approached through lovely wrought-iron gates.
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Magdalene Tower
Topping the hill behind the main part of town is the 14th-century Magdalene Tower , the bell tower of a Dominican friary founded in 1224. Here, England's King Richard II, accompanied by a great army, accepted the submission of the Gaelic chiefs with suitable ceremony in 1395, but peace lasted only a few months and Richard's return to Ireland led to his overthrow in 1399.
The earl of Desmond was beheaded here in 1468 because of his treasonous connections with the Gaelic Irish; the tower is also reputed to be haunted by a nun.
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St Peter’s Roman Catholic Church
The shrivelled little head of the martyr St Oliver Plunkett (1629–81) is the main draw at the 19th-century Catholic church, which is actually two churches in one: the first, designed by Francis Johnston in classical style and built in 1791; and the newer addition, built in the Gothic style visible today. Plunkett’s head – from which the rest of him was separated at his hanging in 1681 – is in a glittering brass-and-glass case in the north transept.
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Highlanes Gallery
This impressive gallery is set in a beautifully converted 19th-century monastery. As well as a good permanent collection of paintings, there are regular temporary exhibitions. Attached is a shop featuring high-quality Louth craftwork, and a chic cafe, Andersons.
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Martello Tower
This tower played a dramatic role in the 1922 Civil War, when it was Drogheda’s chief defensive feature and suffered heavy shelling from Free State forces. It has recently been restored and offers great views over the town below.
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Butter Gate
The 13th-century Butter Gate, just northwest of Millmount, is the only surviving genuine town gate in Drogheda. This tower, with its arched passageway, predates the remains of St Laurence's Gate by about a century.
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Boyne Viaduct
You can't help but admire the 1855 Boyne Viaduct carrying trains over the river east of the centre. Each of the 18 beautiful stone arches has a 20m span; erecting the piers bankrupted one company.
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Courthouse
The restored 19th-century courthouse is home to the sword and mace presented to the town council by William of Orange after the Battle of the Boyne.
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Tholsel
Right in the centre of town is the Tholsel, an 18th-century limestone town hall, now occupied by the Bank of Ireland.
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Church of Our Lady of Lourdes
Off Hardmans Gardens is the rather charming Church of Our Lady of Lourdes.
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Other Structures
Right in the centre of town is the 1770-builtTholsel, an 18th-century limestone town hall, now occupied by the tourist office.
Heading northwest from here is the restored 19th-century former courthouse, home to the sword and mace presented to the town council by William of Orange after the Battle of the Boyne.
To the north is St Peter's Church of Ireland, not to be confused with St Peter's Roman Catholic Church. This is the church whose spire was burned by Cromwell's men, resulting in the death of 100 people seeking sanctuary inside. Today's church(1748) is the second replacement of the original destroyed by Cromwell. It stands in an attractive close approached through love…
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Millmount Museum & Tower
Across the river from town, in a villagelike enclave amid a sea of dull suburbia, is Millmount, an artificial hill overlooking the town. The mound may have been a prehistoric burial ground along the lines of Newgrange, but it has never been excavated. Legend has it that it is the burial place of Amergin, a warrior-poet who arrived in Ireland from Spain around 1500 BC.
The Normans constructed a motte-and-bailey fort on top of this convenient command post overlooking the bridge. It was followed by a castle, which in turn was replaced by a Martello tower in 1808. The tower played a dramatic role in the 1922 Civil War, when it was Drogheda's chief defensive feature and suffer…
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