Louth, County Louth

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Louth Village lies in the heart of County Louth, Ireland, roughly 8km south-west from the town of Dundalk.

The county takes its name from the village, which was once an important town.

It is home to the St Mochtas House, which according to legend was built in a night by fairies for St Mochtas, circa 500AD, and St Mary's Abbey, a 12th century monastry, which now lies in ruins.

Until early in the 21st century, the village was also home to the last remnants of St John's Abbey. The last standing portion of the walls of the monastry, a 12ft high, four foot wide piece known locally as The Pinnacle suddenly collapsed overnight.

At the heart of the village is the Church of the Immaculate Conception, which was built in 1892, and sits atop a hill overlooking the village and surrounding area. It was destroyed in 2003 by an accidental fire, started during renovation work, leaving only the exterior walls and spire standing. In early 2006, it reopened with the exterior virtually identical to how it was, but with a modern style interior.

The population has soared in the last decade, with a constant programme of building of new homes in and arround the village.

In the village centre, are four pubs, two shops and a chip shop.

The village is home to former TD for Louth, Eddie Filgate.