Drogheda

Beaulieu House is a 17th Century house and gardens.It is one of the first unfortified houses built in Ireland and designed around an old Plunkett property by Sir Henry Tichbourne, who was granted a Patent to the lands in 1666, by Charles II.

Situated on the north bank of the river Boyne between Drogheda and the Irish Sea, the estate was originally owned by the ‘St. Oliver' branch of the Plunkett family and was the Army in Ireland and Governor General of Drogheda at the time of the Restoration of Charles II.

Drogheda, on the Boyne is a medieval town just 20 minutes from Dublin Airport. Drogheda is the gateway to the world famous Boyne Valley region and the UNESCO World Heritage Site at Newgrange. Rich in heritage yet young at heart, the largest town in Ireland still has a village feel and a wealth of unique attractions within walking distance of each other. Drogheda derives its name from the Irish Droichead Átha meaning ‘Bridge of the Ford’. It is the largest town in Co. Louth – Ireland’s smallest county – which is named after Lugh, the great God of the Celts.

Please note, the website millmount.net is currently under construction so for any further information, please contact the Museum directly or refer to their social media channels -  Facebook: @DroghedaMuseumMillmount, Instagram: @droghedamuseum

A team of Drogheda locals came together to map four walks which highlight the natural beauty, built heritage and historical wealth of our town. The walks range in length from the 1.5km ‘Five Bridges’ walk, to the 6.5km ‘Steps’ walk.  The 4km historical ‘Walls’ walk and pretty ‘Spires and Towers’ walks traverse both sides of the river and reveal great views.

The walks are aimed at locals as much as visitors to enjoy, and you can share your photos on #droghedawalks

Sir Arthur Aston's golden leg: Drogheda was obviously an important defensive location as a bridging point and a port. This is evident in the walled town's history and none more so than when Oliver Cromwell and his forces laid siege to the town in 1649. The unfortunate Sir Arthur Aston had been made Governor of Drogheda a year earlier. It was supposed to be an easier assignment for the career soldier who had served military campaigns in Europe and the English Civil War. He had lost his leg in a riding accident and so he was appointed to Drogheda to ease into retirement.

Highlanes Municipal Art Gallery, is one of Ireland's most important visual art spaces.

Highlanes Municipal Art Gallery, which opened in 2006, is one of Ireland's most important visual art spaces. Serving the North East region, it presents a programme of national and international temporary exhibitions, as well as exhibitions drawn from the Drogheda Municipal Art Collection, a fascinating collection dating from the mid-18th century.

The Martello tower atop Millmount takes pride of place overlooking Drogheda, one of Ireland's most picturesque medieval towns. Millmount's history dates back much further however. Local folklore says that Amergin, the great poet and son Míl is buried at Millmount. He is said to be the first Milesian to set foot in Ireland, on the banks of the Boyne, upon which he recited his famous poem. Amergin then divided Ireland into two kingdoms for his brother's éremón and Eber, using Millmount to mark the border between north and south.

Mellifont Abbey was the first Cistercian monastery in Ireland. St Malachy of Armagh created it in 1142 with the help of a small number of monks sent by St Bernard from Clairvaux. The monks did not take well to Ireland and soon returned to France, but the abbey was completed anyway and duly consecrated with great pomp.

Despite its power and influence in the Early Medieval period, when Ireland was the 'Land of Saints and Scholars', Irish monasticism became questionable after the Anglo-Norman conquest and by the 12th century abbeys such as Monasterboice were in demise. Rome with reform in mind decided that the monasteries would be the vehicle for change in Ireland. Ireland`s first European style monastery came only a few miles down the road from Moansterboice at Old Mellifont Abbey where St.