Dundalk

This article is about the town of Dundalk in Ireland. For other towns of the same name see: Dundalk (disambiguation).

Template:Infobox Irish Place Dundalk (Irish: Dún Dealgan) is the county town of County Louth in Ireland, close to the border with Northern Ireland. It takes its name from Dún Dealgan, Dalga’s fort home closely associated with the famous mythical warrior Cúchulainn and was granted its charter in 1189. It is sited on the lowest bridging point of the Castletown River. At the 2006 census, the town's population was 29,538 (including rural area).

History

Around 3500 BC the Neolithic people came to Ireland. One of the lasting features they left behind is the Proleek Dolmen at Ballymascanlon, on the northern side of Dundalk.

The Celts arrived in Ireland around 500 BC having colonized most of Europe. The group that settled in North Louth were known as the Conaille Muirtheimhne and took their name from Conaill Carnagh, legendary chief of the Red Branch Knights of Ulster. Their land now forms upper and lower Dundalk. The poets in Celtic society were known as the fili and were responsible for mythological tales and legends. The most famous of these being the tales of the Red Branch Knights, the Táin Bó Cuailgne and Cúchulainn.

In 1169 the Normans arrived in Ireland and set about conquering large areas. By 1185 a Norman nobleman named Bertram de Verdun erected a manor house at Castletown Mount. Another Norman family, the De Courceys, led by John De Courcey settled in the Seatown area of Dundalk, the "Nova Villa de Dundalke". Both families assisted in the fortification of the town, building walls and other fortification in the style of a Norman fortress. The town of Dundalk was developed as it lay close to an easy bridging point over the Castletown River.

Dundalk had been originally developed as an unwalled "Straid Bhaile" or "StreetTown". The streets passed along a gravel ridge which runs from the present day Bridge Street on the North, through Church Street to Clanbrassil Street to Earl Street, and finally to Dublin Street.

In the 17th century Lord Limerick (later James Hamilton, 1st Earl of Clanbrassil), created the modern town we know today. He was responsible for the construction of streets leading to the town center; his ideas came from many visits to Europe. In addition to the demolition of the old walls and castles, he had new roads laid out eastwards of the principal streets. The most important of these new roads connected a newly laid down Market Square, which still survives, with a linen and cambric factory at its eastern end, now Aiken Military Barracks. This was the beginning of Dundalk as an industrial town.

In the 19th century the town grew in importance and many industries were set up in the local area. This development was helped considerably by the opening of railways, the expansion of the docks area or 'Quay' and the setting up of a board of commissioners to run the town.

The town's first rail links were to Dublin in 1849 and Belfast in 1850, placing the town on the main line between Dublin and Belfast. Further railway links opened to Derry by 1859 and Greenore in 1873.

The partition of Ireland in May 1921 turned Dundalk into a border town and the Dublin-Belfast main line into an international railway. The Irish Free State opened customs and immigration facilities at Dundalk to check goods and passengers crossing the border by train.

In the 20th century Dundalk's secondary railway links were closed: first the line to Greenore in 1951 and then that to Derry in 1957. In 1966 Dundalk railway station was renamed Clarke.

The town has continued to grow. Many industries have prospered and provided employment for generations of townspeople. Harp Lager, a beer produced by Diageo, is brewed in Dundalk. Today many international companies have factories in Dundalk, from food processing to high-tech computer components.

Overview

Dundalk today retains the linear characteristics of a mediaeval town, although there is evidence of prehistoric and early Christian settlements. The town is now the sixth largest conurbation in the Republic of Ireland in population and is strategically located on the east coast half-way between Dublin and Belfast, the two largest cities on the island. The town has a total population of 32,505 (2002 Census). Dundalk Institute of Technology is the town's third level institution.

Within a 50 kilometre (30 mile) radius there is a population of 428,000. Dundalk is located on the M1/N1 National Primary Route, equidistant between the two cities. It is also served by the inter-city rail network. Dundalk is very advantageously positioned in relation to international airports, Dublin International Airport and Belfast International Airport.

Natives and residents of note

• The Corrs, music band and family, born and raised in Dundalk.
• Steve Staunton, former football player current Republic of Ireland national football team Manager, grew up in Dundalk.
• Thomas Coulter, 1793-1843 botanist and doctor.
• Peter Rice(1935-1992). Noted Engineer, worked on the Sydney Opera House, Louvre Pyramid and Centre Pompidou as well as numerous other world famous buildings.
• John Phillip Holland, Inventor of the Submarine, worked as a teacher in Colaiste Ris, Dundalk
• Tommy Traynor, (1933-2006) former footballer, Eire left-back

External links

• Dundalk Chamber of Commerce
• Dundalk Football Club
• Dundalk FC Fans Forum
• Dundalk Tourism Web Site
• Dundalk Town Council
• Architecture of Dundalk
• Dundalk FM 100 - Community Radio Station
• Dundalk Community Portal
• Dundalk Review and Discussion Board
• Dundalk Photographic Society
• Dundalk Baptist Church
• Grace Fellowship Family Church

Services

• Dundalk Fire Service
• County Museum, Dundalk
• Louth County Library, Dundalk

Newspapers

• Dundalk Daily
• The Argus
• Dundalk Democrat