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°WCoordinates: 53°47′31″N 6°14′17″W / 53.792°N 6.238°W
Country Ireland
Province Leinster
County County Louth
Population (2006)[1]
 • Urban 1,558
Irish Grid Reference O157840
Clogherhead Beach in Autumn

Clogherhead (Irish: Ceann Chlochair) is a fishing village in County Louth, Ireland. Located in a picturesque 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 intensive 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)[2][3] 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 area boasts some of the finest countryside in East Coast and the headland has magnificent walk from the village along steep sea cliffs to the nearby picturesque harbour called Port Oriel (Port Oirialla). Standing on the headland and at the harbour offers breathtaking 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 several times a day (but not Sundays) linking it to Drogheda, Duleek and Ashbourne. Most buses operate via Termonfeckin and Baltray though a few go via Grangebellew and Ballymakenny.[4] Drogheda railway station is approximately 13 km distant.

Economy

Local Amenities

The village boasts two spectacular 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 offer safe bathing facilities with a lifeguard on duty at the village beach during summer months.

There are three public houses in the village offering comfortable surroundings in which to while away the day and night. Music is available at weekends. The village offers 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. All are located in the center of the village within easy walk of the village's other facilities.

Myths And Legends

Ghosts

Many People in Clogherhead seem to say that they have witnessed Ghosts. Most of these people say it was found near fields at the SouthSide of Clogherhead in the Chalet Park. Clogherhead is a rural area which according to wiki ghosts, rural areas are common areas in which ghosts are found. In 1997, a man said, at precisely 11pm, that he saw three yellowish figures, he did not confirm these as ghosts but said he could see through whatever it was. Where he saw these, it was in fact in the field that other have seen stuff there. This field maybe haunted but unlikely that it is true.

Stories

Captain RedMan

A popular story told by locals is called 'Captain RedMan.' An area of rocks, known as 'Dead Man's and Red Man's Cave', lies at the side of the head in Clogherhead. Some say it is called RedMan's because of the myth but others say it is because red seaweed lays nearby. The story is about a crew from Spain that sailed to Ireland; and while during the voyage most of the crew died from scurvy. When they reached Clogherhead the 6 remaining crew members and captain camped at the caves. As the story progresses, each night, someone mysteriously dies which eventually leaves 3 crew members and the captain. The crew suspect the captain is behind these mysterious disappearances, so they chopped of his head, stuck it on a stick, and placed it at the caves now known as 'RedMan's cave'. According to people that have been to this cave at night say that they see a man walking around the Clogherhead area singing and whistling.

A more likely explanation for the name is the report that a number of Catholic priests were martyred by Cromwellian soldiers during the period of occupation following the English Civil war. The cave leads to a tunnel which runs to the tower at Killarty where St Oliver Plunkett was sheltered prior to his imprisonment and execution.

Involvement in Medieval War

This will be updated in the near future

Film location

Clogherhead has been used as a film location[8] for:

Education

Callystown National School

Callystown National School (a Catholic School under the Trusteeship of the Archbishop of Armagh) has been in "official" existence since 1832. Located on the north side of the village with access through the estate of John Kirk Park, it has an interesting and colourful history.[12] 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

Notable people

Sport

Dreadnots GFC are currently Louth Intermediate Champions having beaten Na Piarsaigh by a single point in the final held in Ardee on 5 October.


See also

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Clogherhead.