Drogheda
The port came first here, and the town still faces the river that made it. Drogheda stands on the River Boyne in County Louth.
Best sites to see in Drogheda
St Laurence's Gate
The surviving medieval barbican gate of Drogheda's town walls, one of the finest town gates remaining in Ireland.
St Peter's Church, West Street
The 19th-century Gothic church holding the shrine of St Oliver Plunkett, including his preserved head, a major pilgrimage draw.
Millmount Museum and Tower
The museum complex on a mound south of the Boyne, with a Martello tower and views over the whole town.
Magdalene Tower
The surviving bell tower of the medieval Dominican friary, standing on a hill above the town's northern streets.
Where to stand, and when
- Millmount mound: The elevated view over Drogheda, the Boyne and the railway viaduct is best in clear morning light.
- St Laurence's Gate: Photograph the twin-towered gate from the street below in late afternoon light.
- The Boyne Viaduct from the riverbank: The great 1850s railway viaduct spanning the Boyne photographs well from the south bank at low tide.
Drogheda through history
Drogheda grew as a Norman town in the 12th century, developing as two settlements on either side of the River Boyne that were later united.
In 1649 Oliver Cromwell's forces stormed Drogheda after a siege, killing many of its garrison and townspeople, one of the most notorious episodes of the Cromwellian conquest.
St Oliver Plunkett, Archbishop of Armagh, was executed in London in 1681 and canonised in 1975; his head is preserved at St Peter's Church in Drogheda.
The Battle of the Boyne was fought in 1690 at Oldbridge, just west of Drogheda, where a visitor centre now stands.
Practical tips
- Drogheda straddles the Boyne, with the historic town centre north of the river and Millmount on the south side; allow time to walk both.
- The Battle of the Boyne visitor centre at Oldbridge is a short drive west; check OPW seasonal hours before going.
- Combine St Laurence's Gate, St Peter's Church and the Magdalene Tower in one walking loop of the old town.
What's on
No anchor festival is based here, but the Irish year is full: next up nationally is TradFest (20–24 Jan 2027, Temple Bar, Dublin). See the full events calendar