Clogherhead

Clogherhead
Ceann Chlochair
Village
Beach at Clogherhead
Clogherhead
Location in Ireland
Coordinates: 53°47′31″N 6°14′17″W / 53.792°N 6.238°W / 53.792; -6.238Coordinates: 53°47′31″N 6°14′17″W / 53.792°N 6.238°W / 53.792; -6.238
Country Ireland
Province Leinster
County County Louth
Population (2011)[1]
 • Urban 1,993
Irish Grid Reference O157840
Clogherhead Beach in Autumn

Clogherhead (Irish: Ceann Chlochair, meaning rocky headland)[2] is a fishing village in County Louth, Ireland. Located in a natural bay on the East Coast it is bordered by the villages of Annagassan to the north and Termonfeckin to the south. With an administrative population per the 2011 Census of 3026, it is in the townlands of Clogher and Callystown, about 12 km (7 mi) northeast of Drogheda. As a seaside village its main industries are fishing and farming. In keeping with its links to the sea there has been an RNLI lifeboat stationed in the village for over 100 years. The current boat is a Mersey class lifeboat, the RNLB Doris Bleasedale, and is unique in Ireland being beach-launched. Following lobbying by the local residents, fishermen and political representatives, Clogherhead now has one of the finest piers in Ireland which was opened following an investment in excess of €2 million.

Name

Historically, the village was known simply as Clogher (Clochair) or Killclogher (Cill Chlochair)[3][4] while the headland was called Clogher Head. Today the headland remains Clogher Head, the village is called Clogherhead and the townland they are in is called Clogher.

The headland has a walking trail from the village along steep sea cliffs to the nearby harbour of Port Oriel (Port Oirialla). From the headland and at the harbour there are views of Ireland's east coast from the Mourne and Cooley Mountains in the north as far south as Lambay Island and the Rockabill Lighthouse.

The headland is also the sight of the Red Mans Cave, where Cromwellian soldiers are reputed to have put to death a number of Catholic Priests during the time of the Cromwellian Wars of 1649. The inside of the Cave has until recent times been repainted red to commemorate the event. However time and the forces of nature have made the cave largely inaccessible from land.

Public transport

Bus Éireann route 189 serves Clogherhead, linking it to Drogheda. Most buses operate via Termonfeckin and Baltray though a few go via Grangebellew and Ballymakenny.[5] Drogheda railway station is approximately 13 km distant.

Economy

Clogherhead is a tourist destination, and the village has a sandy Blue Flag beach[6] which extends from near the lifeboat station and on to the Boyne estuary.

The last two years have seen the revival of the Clogherhead Prawn Festival[7] which attracts crowds to the village to partake in the weekend of family oriented events.

Port Oriel is a fishing port with one of the largest fleets in the country. Port Oriel is also used as a base for the construction of the offshore Oriel Wind Farm.[8]

Oriel Sea Salt and Oriel Sea Minerals are produced at Clogherhead; they enjoy protected designation of origin.

Amenities

The village has two main beaches. Port Beach in the center of the village is a Blue Flag beach with the Neptune watersports centre which is run by the local Council. In addition it is the location for the local RNLI lifeboat station which houses a Mersey class lifeboat, the Doris Bleasdale. The other beach is on the north of the village and is known as the 'Big Strand'. Both have bathing facilities with a lifeguard on duty at the village beach during summer months.

There are three public houses in the village, with accommodating and music at weekends. The village has a number of restaurants including La Pizzeria (Italian), the Little Strand Restaurant (Seafood and meat dishes), Great Wall Chinese Restaurant and Roberto's Take Away.

Film location

Clogherhead has been used as a film location[9] for:

Education

Callystown National School (a Catholic School under the Trusteeship of the Archbishop of Armagh) has been in "official" existence since 1832. It is located on the north side of the village with access through the estate of John Kirk Park.[13] It now has over 300 pupils and has been extended a number of times to cater for the population growth in the village and an influx of pupils from the surrounding areas.

Music

  • Songs featuring this town include "Is Clogherhead Like it Used to Be".(see www.callystownnationalschool.i.e. and source podcast 9)

Notable people

  • Albert Cashier (otherwise Jennie Irene Hodgers), was born in Clogherhead and was a soldier in the Union Army during the American Civil War
  • At some point before his final incarceration, Saint Oliver Plunkett took refuge in a church that once stood in the townland of Killartry in the parish of Clogherhead
  • Richard Fahey, leading UK-based racehorse trainer

Sport

As well as fishing and watersports, the local GAA – Dreadnots Gaelic Football Club currently have three senior players in the Louth County team: Pádraig Rath, Anthony Williams and James Califf. The club reached the Louth senior championship finals in 2012[14] and 2014[15] losing to St Patrick's on both occasions.

Links golf courses nearby include Seapoint Golf Club located at Termonfeckin, and County Louth Golf Club (which hosted the Irish Open in 2004 and again in May 2009) located at Baltray. There is also a Pitch and putt course. Walshestown clay-pigeon shooting club is near Clogherhead at Murray's Cross.

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://cso.ie/en/media/csoie/census/documents/census2011vol1andprofile1/Table%205.pdf
  2. ↑
  3. ↑ CLOGHER, or KILCLOGHER in Lewis Topographical Dictionary of Ireland (1837)
  4. ↑ Placenames Database of Ireland (see archival records)
  5. ↑ http://buseireann.ie/news.php?id=1395&month=Nov
  6. ↑ Clogherhead beach regains Blue Flag status (retrieved 5 June 2009)
  7. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 16 October 2010. Retrieved 15 June 2010.
  8. ↑ Offshore Oriel Wind Farm project Archived 28 August 2008 at the Wayback Machine.
  9. ↑ Movie Locations in Ireland
  10. ↑ Locals get in character
  11. ↑ The Devil's Own on IMDb
  12. ↑ Captain Lightfoot at the Internet Movie Database
  13. ↑ Historyof Callystown National School Archived 15 January 2007 at the Wayback Machine.
  14. ↑ http://hoganstand.com/Louth/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=157244
  15. ↑ http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/oconnor-helps-st-pats-over-the-line-289092.html
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