Louth, County Louth
| Louth Lú | |
|---|---|
| Village | |
|
The Church of the Immaculate Conception, Louth | |
  Louth Location in Ireland | |
| Coordinates: 53°57′04″N 6°32′28″W / 53.951°N 6.541°WCoordinates: 53°57′04″N 6°32′28″W / 53.951°N 6.541°W | |
| Country | Ireland |
| Province | Leinster |
| County | County Louth |
| Elevation | 34 m (112 ft) |
| Population (2006) | |
| • Urban | 549 |
| • Rural | 757 |
| Time zone | WET (UTC+0) |
| • Summer (DST) | IST (WEST) (UTC-1) |
| Irish Grid Reference | H957011 |
Louth (Irish: Lú)[1] is a village at the heart of County Louth, Ireland. It is roughly 11 km south-west of the town of Dundalk. The village gave its name to the county.
History
The village is named after Lugh, a god of the ancient Irish, and may once have been the site of a shrine dedicated to the god. Historically, the placename was variously spelt Lughmhagh, Lughmhadh and Lughbhadh. The first may mean "Lugh's plain" or "Lugh's field", but the meaning of the other two is unclear. Lú is the modern simplified spelling.
According to tradition, Mochta—a Christian missionary from Britain—founded a monastery at Louth in the 4th century. This is known as Saint Mochta's House. In the 12th century, Saint Mary's Abbey was built. However, both are now in ruins. The local GAA team took the name St. Mochtas and play at Pairc Mochta.
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 monastery, a 12-foot-high (3.7 m), 4-foot-wide (1.2 m) 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 a modern-style interior.
Annalistic references
- AI818.2 The shrine of Mochta of Lugmad in flight before Aed,son of Niall, and it came to Les Mór.
Demographics
The population has soared in the last decade, with a constant programme of building of new homes in and around the village. In 2002, it had a population of 514, an increase of 28 per cent in just six years.[2]
The village is home to the former TD for Louth, Eddie Filgate.
See also
- List of towns and villages in Ireland
- List of abbeys and priories in Ireland (County Louth)
References
External links
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