OUR TOWN

DUNDALK

Dundalk is a historic town whose roots can be traced back twelve hundred years. It is referred to as the "New Town of Dundalk", on the original Norman Charter, granted to the town by De Verdon, in the year 1189, (over 800 years ago). 1200 years, however, seems young in the context of the archaeological heritages of the region: Newgrange , for example (2500 B.C), and Knowth and Dowth (3500 B.C).

Castle Roche, which is a few miles north of Dundalk, off the Casteblaney Road, was built about the beginning of the 13th century by Rohesia de Verdon as part of the Anglo Norman defence system for the Pale against attacks from natives-principally the O'Neills. Dundalk takes it name from Dun Dealgan (Dealgan's Fort), the mound of the famous mythical Irish warrior, Cuchullain.

The town, or village, or whatever form of settlement it was, has an even more ancient name, Traigh Baile (Baile Strand) in memory of an Ulster Prince said to have died here of a broken heart around 150 B.C.

The town has seen the coming and going of all sorts of armies from its earliest days - Celts, Danes, Normans, Jacobites and Williamites. It has been besieged and burned numerous times, but always surviving and reviving, increasing in size and population. Dundalk also seems to be the constant meeting point for North / South negotiations, an assembly point for expeditionary armies against Ulster, right up until the beginning of the seventeenth century with the flight of Earls to the continent, and the dissipation of the old Irish clan system. Dundalk continued to enjoy, or suffer, its fair share of trade, war and peace, through the Rebellion of 1798, the land war evictions and the famous meeting of Daniel O'Connell when 300,000 people gathered to hear him at Castletown. The building of the first railway brought new prosperity to Dundalk. The Enniskillen Railway Company was formed in 1845, then the Dundalk to Drogheda line and in 1873 the Dundalk - Greenore - Newry line. Dundalk flourished into an industrial town. It is now the seventh largest urban centre in Ireland with population of almost 26,000 within the urban boundaries.

PLACES OF INTEREST
Castletown Mount A Norman motte and bailey castle constructed circa 1185 situated on the site of the original home of the warrior hero Cuchullain of the Tain Bo cuailgne and other first millennium stories of the Ulster Cycle The Courthhouse Square The Courthouse Square is situated in the centre of town, modelled on the exact dimensions and features of the temple of Theseus in Athens. This building was completed about 1818. The whole square has been re-styled and made much more attractive with the removal of forbidding railings. Town Square Presbyterian Church The Presbyterian community of Dundalk is one of the oldest outside Ulster. Tracing origins to the seventeenth century. This church was built in 1839 by the Architect Thomas Duff. Seatown Windmill Seven stories high, this was once one of the largest windmills in Ireland. Built in the early 19th century on the site of a former brewery, it ceased production in 1885. As a result, its wooden parts were taken down in 1890. Seatown was also the birthplace of the great Arctic explorer Sir Francis Leopold McClintock (1819 - 1907). He was born at Kincora House Seatown Place. Burns Memorial (The 18th century Scottish Poet). This memorial commerates Agnes Galt, eldest sister of the poet Robert Burns. Its inscription reads "Erected by the contributions of the poet's numerous admirers in Dundalk and its vicinity -25th of January 1859". It is situated in St. Nicholas Cemetery, Church Street. The Kelly Monument The Kelly Monument was erected in front of St.Patricks Cathedal in memory of Captain James Joseph Kelly, Gerald Hughes, James Crosby and James Murphy, who lost their lives in a noble and humane effort to rescue the crew of the barque Mary Stoddard wrecked in violent storms in Dundalk Bay on the 9th April 1858. The Mary Stoddard from Scarborough had been driven aground off Blackrock in a storm that lasted four days. Captain Kelly and his crew, in an open boat had attempted, with another boat manned by Captain Hinds, to rescue the remains of the Mary Stoddard but Captain Kelly's boat was capsized and he and his crew were lost.	County Library Louth County Library was originally an old distillery building of Malcom Brown & Co. which was reopened after refurbishment as headquarters of Louth County Library/Dundalk branch. This building was also restored in the same style as its former glory, retaining all old character and architectural beauty. County library Garda barracks Built as a goal in the period 1845 - 1853, this Italianate building of grey granite ashlar stands above a sloping semi-circular green in a commanding position at the junction of the Ardee and Carrickmacross Road. Harp Brewery Roden Place A late Georgian square of 18th and 19th century dwelling houses. Seatown Castle St Joseph's Redemptorist Monastery and Church One of the three churches of religious Orders in the town, St Josephs was built in 1890. St Patricks Pro-Cathedal This Gothic church built in the years 1837 -1848 to a design by Thomas Duff was modelled on the King's College Chapel Cambridge and Bath Abbey in England . St. Patrick’s Cathedral Kelly’s Monument	County Museum In 1994 an old tobacco warehouse donated by P.J.Carroll & Co., was refurbished and became the newly established County Museum. The original old style decor was kept intact allowing the Museum to retain its distinct architectural quality. Now the beautiful restored 18th century warehouse houses an exhibition which give an insight into Louth's rich heritage. County Museum Harp Brewery The Great Northern Brewery was established in 1897 for the brewing of ale and stout. Harp Lager, the largest lager brand owned by Guinness Ireland Group, is brewed in the great Northern brewery, Dundalk. Guinness Ireland Group have two plants in Dundalk - The Great Northern Brewery and Dundalk Packing. Since the Brewery was bought and transformed into a lager brewery by Guinness in 1960 it has played a vital role in the economy of the town and surrounding area. Visits to the brewery are by prior arrangement only. Seatown Castle This is one of the oldest landmarks in Dundalk. It is located at the junction of Castle Road and Mill Street. A complete misnomer, for the castle is in fact the bell tower and only remaining feature of a Franciscan Monastery which was founded in 1240 by John De Verdon.  St. Nicholas Church Founded in the 13th century and has been a place of worship ever since. The stained glass in the east window is 16th century Flemish, presented to the church by the Earl of Roden in 1812. The Town Hall The Town Hall situated in Roden Place was built in 1859 as a corn exchange and was then taken over in 1865 as Municipal quarters Castletown, Dundalk Situated a mile to the west of Dundalk town, this is the original Dun Dealgan from which the town takes its name. This was Delca Muirthemhne, the home of mythical Cuchulainn and his burial place. In its present condition it is the remains of a massive late 12th century motte-castle with the ruins of an 18th century mansion house on top of the motte. Nearby in the grounds of St.Louis Secondary School stands a late 15th century tower house built by the Bellew family. In the adjoining graveyard are the remains of a medieval church in which an altar stone dated January 1631 is dedicated by "Father Walter Bellew" in "honour of St John the Baptist" the patron of the parish