Dundalk
| Dundalk Dún Dealgan | ||
|---|---|---|
| Town | ||
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Clockwise from top: Castle Roche, Clarke Station, St. Patrick's Pro-Cathedral, The Marshes shopping centre, Market Square, Dundalk Institute of Technology | ||
| ||
|
Motto: Mé do rug Cú Chulainn cróga (Irish) "I gave birth to brave Cú Chulainn" | ||
  Dundalk Location in Ireland | ||
| Coordinates: 54°00′32″N 6°24′18″W / 54.009°N 6.4049°WCoordinates: 54°00′32″N 6°24′18″W / 54.009°N 6.4049°W | ||
| Country | Ireland | |
| Province | Leinster | |
| County | County Louth | |
| Dáil Éireann | Louth | |
| EU Parliament | Midlands–North-West | |
| Inhabited | 3500 BC[1][2][3] | |
| Charter | 1189 AD | |
| Area[4] | ||
| • Urban | 25.19 km2 (9.73 sq mi) | |
| • Rural | 354.04 km2 (136.70 sq mi) | |
| Population (Census 2011)[5] | ||
| • Town | 37,816 | |
| • Rank | 7th | |
| • Urban | 31,149 | |
| • Rural | 25,613 | |
| • Environs | 6,667 | |
| Time zone | WET (UTC0) | |
| • Summer (DST) | IST (UTC+1) | |
| Eircode | A91 | |
| Irish Grid Reference | J048074 | |
| Dialing code | 042, +353 42 | |
| Website |
www | |
Dundalk (/dʌnˈdɔːk/, from Irish Dún Dealgan, meaning "Dalgan's stronghold", a Fir Bolg Chieftain) is the county town of County Louth, Ireland. It is on the Castletown River, which flows into Dundalk Bay, and is close to the border with Northern Ireland, equidistant from Dublin and Belfast. Its name, historically Dún Dealgan,[6] has associations with the mythical warrior Cú Chulainn.[4][5][7][8][9][10] Dundalk is home to the newly well known football club DundalkFC who have reached the knockout stages of the europa league.
History
The Dundalk area has been inhabited since at least 3500 BC, in the Neolithic period. A tangible reminder of their presence can still be seen in the form of the Proleek Dolmen, the eroded remains of a megalithic tomb located in the Ballymascanlon area to the north of Dundalk. Celtic culture arrived in Ireland around 500 BC. According to the legendary historical accounts,[11] the group settled in North Louth were known as the Conaille Muirtheimne and took their name from Conaill Carnagh, legendary chief of the Red Branch Knights of Ulster. Their land now forms upper and lower Dundalk.
Dundalk had been originally developed as an unwalled Sráid Bhaile (meaning village; translates literally as "Street Townland"). The streets passed along a gravel ridge which runs from the present day Bridge Street in the North, through Church Street to Clanbrassil Street to Earl Street, and finally to Dublin Street.
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 and subsequently obtained the town's charter in 1189. Another Norman family, the De Courcys, led by John de Courcy, 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.[12] The town of Dundalk was developed as it lay close to an easy bridging point over the Castletown River and as a frontier town, the northern limit of The Pale. In 1236 Bertram's granddaughter, Rohesia commissioned Castle Roche to fortify the region, and to offer protection from the Irish territory of Ulster.[13]
The town was sacked in 1315, during the Bruce campaign.[14] After taking possession of the town Edward Bruce proclaimed himself King of Ireland and remained here for nearly a whole year before his army was totally defeated and himself slain after being attacked by John de Birmingham.
Dundalk had been under Royalist (Ormondist) control for centuries, until 1647 when it became occupied by The Northern Parliamentary Army of Colonel George Monck.[15]
| Historical population | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1821 | 9,256 | — |
| 1831 | 10,078 | +8.9% |
| 1841 | 10,782 | +7.0% |
| 1851 | 9,842 | −8.7% |
| 1861 | 10,360 | +5.3% |
| 1871 | 11,327 | +9.3% |
| 1881 | 11,913 | +5.2% |
| 1891 | 12,449 | +4.5% |
| 1901 | 13,076 | +5.0% |
| 1911 | 13,128 | +0.4% |
| 1926 | 13,996 | +6.6% |
| 1936 | 14,684 | +4.9% |
| 1946 | 18,562 | +26.4% |
| 1951 | 19,678 | +6.0% |
| 1956 | 21,687 | +10.2% |
| 1961 | 21,228 | −2.1% |
| 1966 | 21,678 | +2.1% |
| 1971 | 23,816 | +9.9% |
| 1981 | 29,135 | +22.3% |
| 1986 | 30,608 | +5.1% |
| 1991 | 30,061 | −1.8% |
| 1996 | 30,195 | +0.4% |
| 2002 | 32,505 | +7.7% |
| 2006 | 35,090 | +8.0% |
| 2011 | 37,816 | +7.8% |
| 2016 | 39,667 | +4.9% |
| [16][17][18][19][20] | ||
The modern town of Dundalk largely owes its form to Lord Limerick (James Hamilton, later 1st Earl of Clanbrassil) in the 17th century. He commissioned the construction of streets leading to the town centre; 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, adjacent to what was once an army cavalry and artillery barracks (now Aiken Barracks).
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.[21]
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. The Irish Civil War of 1922–23 saw a number of confrontations in Dundalk. The local Fourth Northern Division of the Irish Republican Army under Frank Aiken, who took over Dundalk barracks after the British left, tried to stay neutral but 300 of them were detained by the National Army in August 1922.[22] However, a raid on Dundalk Gaol freed Aiken and over 100 other anti-treaty prisoners;[23] two weeks later he retook Dundalk barracks and captured its garrison before freeing the remaining republican prisoners there. Aiken did not try to hold the town, however, and before withdrawing he called for a truce in a meeting in the centre of Dundalk. The 49 Infantry Battalion and 58 Infantry Battalion of the National Army were based in Dundalk along with No.8 armoured locomotive and two fully armoured cars of their Railway Protection Corps.
For several decades after the end of the Civil War, Dundalk continued to function as a market town, a regional centre, and a centre of administration and manufacturing. Its position close to the border gave it considerable significance during the "Troubles" of Northern Ireland. Many people were sympathetic to the cause of the Provisional Irish Republican Army and Sinn Féin. It was in this period that Dundalk earned the nickname 'El Paso', after the Texan border town of the same name on the border with Mexico.[24][25]
On 1 September 1973, the 27 Infantry Battalion of the Irish Army was established with its Headquarters in Dundalk barracks, renamed Aiken Barracks in 1986 in honour of Frank Aiken.
Dundalk suffered economically when Irish membership of the European Economic Community in the 1970s exposed local manufacturers to foreign competition that they were ill equipped to cope with. The result was the closure of many local factories, resulting in the highest unemployment rate in Leinster, Ireland's richest province. High unemployment produced serious social problems in the town that were only alleviated by the advent of the Celtic Tiger investment boom at the start of the 21st century. Dundalk's economy has developed rapidly since 2000. Today many international companies have factories in Dundalk, from food processing to high-tech computer components. Harp Lager, a beer produced by Diageo, is brewed in the Great Northern Brewery, Dundalk.
The Earls of Roden[26] had property interests in Dundalk for over three centuries, and at an auction in July 2006 the 10th Earl sold his freehold of the town, including ground rents, mineral rights, manorial rights, the reversion of leases and the freehold of highways, common land, and the fair green. Included in the sale were many documents, such as a large 18th century estate map. The buyer was undisclosed.[27]
Battles
- 248 - Battle fought at Faughart by Cormac Ulfada, High King of Ireland against Storno (Starno), king of Lochlin[28]
- 732 - Battle fought at Faughart by Hugh Allain, king of Ireland against the Ulaid[29]
- 851 – Battle at Dundalk Bay between the Fingall (Norwegian) and Dubhgall (Danish) Vikings takes place [30][31][32][33]
- 877 - Gregory, King of Scotland took Dundalk en route to Dublin[34]
- 1318 – Battle of Dundalk (Battle of Faughart) fought on 14 October 1318 between a Hiberno-Norman force led by John de Bermingham, 1st Earl of Louth and Edmund Butler, Earl of Carrick and a Scots-Irish army commanded by Edward Bruce, brother of Robert Bruce, King of Scotland.[35][36]
- 1483 - Traghbally-of-Dundalk plundered and burned by Hugh Oge ally of Con O'Donnell[37]
- 1566 - O'Neill besieged the town with 4,000 footmen and 700 horsemen[38]
- 1688 - Brothers Malcolm and Archibald MacNeill, officers of William III land in Dundalk and defeat the Celtic MacScanlons in the Battle of Ballymascanlon[39]
- 1689 - Schomberg's English, Dutch and French army camped to the north of the town record 6,000 deaths due to fever, scurvy, and ague[40]
- 1941 - On 24 July the town was bombed by the Luftwaffe with no casualties.
- 1971 - The Battle of Courtbane - on Sunday 29 August 1801 a British army patrol consisting of two armoured Ferret Scout cars crossed the Irish border into Co. Louth near the vilage of Courtbane close to Dundalk. When attempting to retreat back angry locals blocked their way and set one of the vehicles on fire. While this was happening an IRA unit arrived on the scene and after an exchange of gunfire a British soldier was killed and another one was wounded.[41]
- 1975 - The Dundalk Christmas Bombing - on 19 December 1975 a car bomb killed 2 and injured 15[42][43]
Geography
Landscape
Situated where the Castletown River flows into Dundalk Bay, the town is close to the border with Northern Ireland (3.5 km direct point-to-point aerial transit path border to border) and equidistant from Dublin and Belfast.
Climate
Similar to much of northwest Europe, Dundalk experiences a maritime climate, sheltered by the Cooley and Mourne Mountains to the North, and undulating hills to the West and South, the town experiences cool winters, mild summers, and a lack of temperature extremes.
| Climate data for Dundalk (2013-2015 averages) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 14 (57) |
15 (59) |
16 (61) |
23 (73) |
23 (73) |
30 (86) |
29 (84) |
24 (75) |
24 (75) |
22 (72) |
17 (63) |
16 (61) |
30 (86) |
| Average high °C (°F) | 12 (54) |
11 (52) |
12 (54) |
14 (57) |
17 (63) |
20 (68) |
23 (73) |
18 (64) |
17 (63) |
17 (63) |
12 (54) |
13 (55) |
15.5 (59.9) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 6.0 (42.8) |
6.0 (42.8) |
8.0 (46.4) |
11.0 (51.8) |
12.0 (53.6) |
16.0 (60.8) |
18.0 (64.4) |
15.0 (59) |
16.0 (60.8) |
11.0 (51.8) |
8.0 (46.4) |
7.0 (44.6) |
11.2 (52.2) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 0.0 (32) |
1.0 (33.8) |
3.0 (37.4) |
8.0 (46.4) |
11.0 (51.8) |
13.0 (55.4) |
14.0 (57.2) |
12.0 (53.6) |
13.0 (55.4) |
7.0 (44.6) |
4.0 (39.2) |
0.0 (32) |
7.2 (45) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −4.0 (24.8) |
−4.0 (24.8) |
−2.0 (28.4) |
−2.0 (28.4) |
2.0 (35.6) |
7.0 (44.6) |
7.0 (44.6) |
5.0 (41) |
7.0 (44.6) |
2.0 (35.6) |
−1.0 (30.2) |
−5.0 (23) |
−5.0 (23) |
| Source: Dundalk ILOUTHDU4 Private Weather System,[44] | |||||||||||||
Demographics
Population by place of birth:
| Location | 2006[45] | 2011[46] | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ireland | 28,095 | 29,114 | +1,019 |
| UK | 3,488 | 3,839 | +351 |
| Poland | 252 | 555 | +303 |
| Lithuania | 421 | 633 | +212 |
| Other EU 27 | 692 | 1,119 | +427 |
| Rest of World | 1,804 | 2,269 | +465 |
Population by ethnic or cultural background:
| Ethnicity or culture | 2006[45] | 2011[47] |
|---|---|---|
| White Irish | 29,840 | 30,645 |
| White Irish Traveller | 325 | 441 |
| Other White | 1,802 | 2,987 |
| Black or Black Irish | 1,276 | 1,669 |
| Asian or Asian Irish | 372 | 687 |
| Other | 380 | 389 |
| Not stated | 757 | 711 |
Population by religion:
| Religion | 2002[48] | 2006[45] | 2011[49] |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roman Catholic | 29,177 | 30,677 | 31,790 |
| Church of Ireland (incl. Protestant) | 482 | 527 | - |
| Church of Ireland, England, Anglican, Episcopalian | - | - | 590 |
| Apostolic or Pentecostal | - | - | 359 |
| Other Christian religion, n.e.s. | 415 | 480 | 714 |
| Presbyterian | 169 | 165 | 178 |
| Muslim (Islamic) | 279 | 436 | 569 |
| Orthodox (Greek, Coptic, Russian) | 44 | 171 | 399 |
| Methodist, Wesleyan | 84 | 66 | - |
| Other stated religions | 467 | 627 | 541 |
| No religion | 773 | 1,158 | 1,971 |
| Not stated | 615 | 778 | 705 |
Places of interest
Places of interest in North Louth within 15 km of Dundalk.
| Place | Description | Location | Image |
|---|---|---|---|
| County Museum Dundalk | The county museum documenting the history of County Louth. | 54°0′16.79″N 6°23′49.75″W / 54.0046639°N 6.3971528°W | |
| St. Patrick's Church[50] | The site was acquired in 1834 with the building completed in 1847, but was in use from 1842. | 54°0′13.94″N 6°23′56.8″W / 54.0038722°N 6.399111°W | |
| St. Nicholas' Church[51] | The site was levelled and the foundations cleared out in February 1859, dedication of the Church was in August 1860. | 54°0′35.03″N 6°24′9.1″W / 54.0097306°N 6.402528°W |  St. Nicholas Church, Dundalk |
| St Joseph's Redemptorist Church[52] | The community of Redemptorists, or missionary priests, settled here in 1876.[53] | 54°0′15.2″N 6°23′21.8″W / 54.004222°N 6.389389°W | |
| Church of Saint Nicholas (Anglican Church of Ireland) | Known locally as the Green Church due to its green copper spire. | 54°0′30.53″N 6°24′5.81″W / 54.0084806°N 6.4016139°W | |
| Priory of St Malachy, Dominican chapel | The 'Carlingford Dominicans' official foundation in Dundalk was in 1777[54] | 54°0′1.69″N 6°24′31.09″W / 54.0004694°N 6.4086361°W | |
| Saint Brigit's Shrine[55][56] | 54°3′11.3″N 6°23′53.24″W / 54.053139°N 6.3981222°W | ||
| St Brigid's Well | Holy Well dedicated to St. Brigid | 54°3′6.09″N 6°23′2.06″W / 54.0516917°N 6.3839056°W | |
| St Bridget's Church, Kilcurry | Holds a relic of St Bridget - a fragment of her skull was brought here in 1905 by Sister Mary Agnes of the Dundalk Convent of Mercy | 54°2′33.57″N 6°25′31.99″W / 54.0426583°N 6.4255528°W | |
| Castle Roche | Norman castle, the seat of the De Verdun family, who built the castle in 1236 AD. | 54°2′47″N 6°29′18″W / 54.04639°N 6.48833°W |  |
| Proleek Dolmen[57] | One of the finest examples of its kind in Ireland | 54°2′13.86″N 6°20′53.75″W / 54.0371833°N 6.3482639°W | |
| Proleek Wedge Tomb | 54°2′12.84″N 6°20′49.88″W / 54.0369000°N 6.3471889°W | ||
| Franciscan friary | Founded 1246[58] | 54°0′22.51″N 6°23′37.92″W / 54.0062528°N 6.3938667°W |  County Louth - Seatown Castle |
| Windmill Tower | An eight-storey windmill-tower, built around 1800. | 54°0′21.14″N 6°23′21.22″W / 54.0058722°N 6.3892278°W | |
| Our Lady's Well / Ladywell | Pattern takes place here on 15 August, during the feast of the assumption. | 53°59′36.91″N 6°24′8.23″W / 53.9935861°N 6.4022861°W | |
| Cloghafarmore (Cuchulains / Cú Chulainn Stone) | Standing stone on which Cú Chulainn tied himself to after his battle with Lugaid in order to die on his feet, facing his enemies. | 53°58′28″N 6°27′58″W / 53.974484°N 6.465991°W |  |
| Dromiskin Round Tower & High Crosses | Founded by a disciple of St Patrick, Lughaidh (unknown - 515AD) | 53°55′19.24″N 6°23′53.55″W / 53.9220111°N 6.3982083°W |  |
| Cú Chulainn Castle / Dun Dealgan Castle / Castletown Motte / Byrne's Folly | Built in the late 11th century by Bertram de Verdun, a later addition was the castellated house known as 'Byrne's Folly' built in 1780 by a local pirate named Patrick Byrne. | 54°0′49.77″N 6°25′48.82″W / 54.0138250°N 6.4302278°W |  Byrne's Folly on Castletown Motte profile 2 |
| Magic Hill | A place where the layout of the surrounding land produces the optical illusion that a very slight downhill slope appears to be an uphill slope. Thus, a car left out of gear will appear to be rolling uphill against gravity.[59] | 54°1′19.6″N 6°17′31.86″W / 54.022111°N 6.2921833°W | |
| Long Woman's Grave or "The Cairn of Cauthleen" | The grave of a Spanish noble woman, Cauthleen, who married Lorcan O’Hanlon, the youngest son of the "Cean" or Chieftain of Omeath.[60] Her grave is known as the "Lug Bhan Fada" (long woman’s hollow).[61] | 54°3′40.63″N 6°16′28.85″W / 54.0612861°N 6.2746806°W | |
| Rockmarshall Court Tomb | 14 metres long cairn. | 54°0′33″N 6°17′5″W / 54.00917°N 6.28472°W | |
| Dunmahon Castle | Ruins of four storeys tower-house with vault over ground floor. In 1659 it was the residence of Henry Townley. | 53°57′27.48″N 6°25′19.4″W / 53.9576333°N 6.422056°W | |
| Haynestown castle | 3-storey square tower house with corner turrets | 53°57′36.47″N 6°24′40.85″W / 53.9601306°N 6.4113472°W | |
| Milltown Castle | 15th century Norman keep about 55 feet high built by the Gernon family. | 53°55′58.77″N 6°25′34.23″W / 53.9329917°N 6.4261750°W | |
| Knockabbey Castle and Gardens | Originally built in 1399, the historical water gardens originally date from the 11th century. | 53°55′47.61″N 6°35′7.01″W / 53.9298917°N 6.5852806°W | |
| Louth Hall Castle | Ruins originally built in the 14th century in gothic design, it was later extended in the 18th and 19th century in Georgian design. Home of the Plunkett family, Lords of Louth | 53°54′44.01″N 6°33′11.56″W / 53.9122250°N 6.5532111°W | |
| Roodstown Castle | Dates from the 15th century, features two turrets. | 53°52′20.11″N 6°29′12.07″W / 53.8722528°N 6.4866861°W | |
| Aghnaskeagh Cairn and Portal Tomb | 54°3′40.59″N 6°21′28.6″W / 54.0612750°N 6.357944°W | ||
| Faughart Round Tower | Remains of a monastery founded by St Moninna in the 5th century. | 54°3′6.11″N 6°23′4.18″W / 54.0516972°N 6.3844944°W | |
| Grave of Edward Bruce | Proclaimed High King of Ireland before he was killed in the battle of Faughart in 1318 | 54°3′6.11″N 6°23′4.18″W / 54.0516972°N 6.3844944°W | |
| Faughart Motte | 54°3′8.07″N 6°23′9.67″W / 54.0522417°N 6.3860194°W | ||
| Kilwirra Church, Templetown | St Mary's Church at Templetown, associated with the Knights Templar founded in 1118 by Hugh de Payens. | 53°59′10.33″N 6°9′18.51″W / 53.9862028°N 6.1551417°W | |
| Lady Well, Templetown | 53°59′14.74″N 6°9′10.79″W / 53.9874278°N 6.1529972°W | ||
| Ardee Castle | The largest fortified medieval Tower House in Ireland or Britain, founded by Roger de Peppard in 1207, the current building was built in the 15th century by John St. Ledger. James II used it as his headquarters for a month prior to the Battle of the Boyne. | 53°51′18.43″N 6°32′19.7″W / 53.8551194°N 6.538806°W | |
| Hatch's Castle, Ardee | Medieval Tower House | 53°51′24.99″N 6°32′22.22″W / 53.8569417°N 6.5395056°W | |
| Kildemock Church 'The Jumping Church' | 14th century Church built on the site of the Church of Deomog (Cill Deomog), under the control of the Knights Templar until 1540. | 53°50′8.96″N 6°31′14.28″W / 53.8358222°N 6.5206333°W | |
| St Mary's Priory | Augustinian Priory stands on the site where St Mochta established a monastery in 528 CE. | 53°57′11.68″N 6°32′38.97″W / 53.9532444°N 6.5441583°W | |
| St Mochta's House | 12th Century Church/Oratory. | 53°57′12.33″N 6°32′43.36″W / 53.9534250°N 6.5453778°W | |
| St James' Well | 54°1′11.03″N 6°8′38.83″W / 54.0197306°N 6.1441194°W | ||
| Liberties of Carlingford | Medieval Head Carving | 54°2′31.47″N 6°11′13.81″W / 54.0420750°N 6.1871694°W | |
| The Mint of Carlingford | Mint established in 1467 | 54°2′25.06″N 6°11′11.02″W / 54.0402944°N 6.1863944°W | |
| Tallanstown Motte | 53°55′15.12″N 6°32′59.53″W / 53.9208667°N 6.5498694°W | ||
| Dominican Priory of Carlingford | Founded by Richard de Burgh in 1305 | 54°2′17.33″N 6°11′4.13″W / 54.0381472°N 6.1844806°W | |
| King John's Castle | Commissioned by Hugh de Lacy before 1186, the castle owes its name to King John (Richard the Lionheart's brother) who visited Carlingford in 1210. | 54°2′35.7″N 6°11′12.3″W / 54.043250°N 6.186750°W | |
| Ravensdale Forest, Ravensdale, County Louth | 54°03′08″N 6°20′23″W / 54.05222°N 6.33972°W |  Ravensdale Forest |
Arts and festivals
Dundalk has two photography clubs – Dundalk Photographic Society[62] and the Tain Photographic Club. In 2010 Dundalk Photographic Society won the FIAP Photography Club World Cup.[63]
Dundalk has a vibrant music environment.
- The Fr. McNally Chamber Orchestra created in April 2010.[64] It is a string chamber orchestra made of violins, violas, double basses and cellos and has 29 members.
- The Cross Border Orchestra of Ireland[65] (CBOI) which is one of Ireland's primary youth orchestras. It is based in the Dundalk Institute of Technology and maintains a membership of 160 young musicians between the ages of 12 and 24 years. The CBOI was established in 1995 shortly after the implementation of the Peace Process and is recognised internationally and one of Ireland's flagship peace initiatives. The CBOI tours regularly to Europe and America and has sold out such prestigious venues as Carnegie Hall, New York and Chicago Symphony Hall.
- The Clermont Chorale.[66] It was formed in 2003 and has 30 members, drawn from all parts of County Louth. Its repertoire includes music from the 17th to the 21st century, across many styles and genres.
- Dundalk School of Music.[67] Created in February 2010, it aims to provide education in music for all age groups in many disciplines.
- Historic Dundalk Gaol is the home of The Oriel Centre – a regional centre for Comhaltas Ceoltoirí Éireann. The Oriel Centre Dundalk Gaol.[68] opened in Oct 2010 and focuses on the promotion of Traditional Irish music, song dance and the Irish language.
Transport Dundalk Infrastructure Hub & Gateway access Shipping services to Liverpool were provided from 1837 by the Dundalk Steam Packet Company. Dundalk is an important stop along the Dublin–Belfast railway line, being the last station on the Republic side of the border. Its rail link to Dublin was inaugurated in 1849 and the line to Belfast was opened the following year. Further railway links opened to Derry by 1859 and Greenore in 1873. 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 Dundalk Clarke Station after the Irish republican activist Tom Clarke, though it is still usually just called Dundalk Station. The station is served by the Dublin-Belfast "Enterprise" express trains as well as local Commuter services to and from Dublin. It also houses a small museum of railway history. Dundalk's Bus Station is operated by Bus Éireann and located at Long Walk near the town centre. Ongoing infrastructure evolutions continue in and around Dundalk to meet a programme deadline of 2020. These improvements embrace the road, rail and telecommunication infrastructures for—according to the National Development Plan—a better integration with the neighbouring Dublin, Midlands Gateway, and Cavan/Monaghan Hubs. The M1 – N1/A1 now connects Dundalk to Dublin and Newry. Works to extend it to Belfast are ongoing and are scheduled to end in winter 2010. EducationDundalk Institute of Technology (often abbreviated to DkIT) is the primary higher education provider in the north east of the country. It was established in 1970 as the Regional Technical College, offering primarily technician and apprenticeship courses.  Dundalk IT Primary schoolsIrish-medium
English-medium
Secondary schoolsIrish-medium
English-medium
*St. Vincent's Secondary School
Tertiary education
MediaThe local newspapers are The Argus, Dundalk Democrat and Dundalk Leader.[80] Online only media outlet includes Talk of the Town.[81] The local radio station is Dundalk FM broadcasting on 100 FM,[82] with regional stations LMFM (Louth-Meath FM) on 95.8 FM, and iRadio (NE and Midlands) on 105-107 FM also covering the area. SportAssociation footballDundalk F.C. is a professional association football club based in Dundalk. The club currently play in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland. Founded in 1903, they are the second most successful team, in terms of trophies won, in the history of the League of Ireland. They play their home games in Oriel Park.[83] RugbyDundalk R.F.C. is one of the foremost junior rugby clubs in Leinster. Formed in 1877 Dundalk has a long and distinguished history having achieved many honours over the years. These achievements include winning the Provincial Towns Cup on 10 occasions from 15 appearances. Dundalk is currently in the Leinster League Division 1A and field three senior teams plus youth and mini teams at all age groups, and a number of girls' tag teams.[84] Ice hockeyDundalk has seen the development of new sporting facilities including the JJB Soccer Dome and the Dundalk Ice Dome (closed as of August 2012) where local ice hockey team the Dundalk Bulls play. The Ice Dome hosted the IIHF World Championship of Division III in April 2007.[85] Horse racing and greyhound racingBoth are held at Dundalk Stadium. August 2007 saw Ireland's first all-weather horse racing track open up on the site of the old Dundalk racecourse.[86] The course held Ireland's first ever meeting under floodlights on 27 September 2007. FencingDundalk also held its first ever national fencing tournament in April 2007.[87] BasketballDundalk also has a basketball team, the Dundalk Ravens. American footballThe Dundalk Mavericks American Football Club were set up in 2012. They are the newest American football team to enter the Irish American Football League (IAFL). They are the only team in the league to have a female head coach, Sarah Matthews, who is assisted by Declan Mulvihill, Robert Shevlin and Matthew Hagan. TennisDundalk also has a tennis club, The Dundalk Lawn Tennis and Badminton Club[88] was founded in 1913 and held the Senior Interprovincial Championships (inter-pros) on 29–31 August 2010.[89] CricketDundalk Cricket Club was founded in November 2009 and began playing matches in the 2010 season.[90] It achieved the rare distinction of being recognised by the world leading cricket magazine The Wisden Cricketer as its "Club of the Month" for October 2010. This is both unusual for an Irish club and a club only twelve months into its existence. In 2011, the club was admitted into the Leinster Cricket Union and played in Leinster Senior League Division 11. In the 2011 season it won the Leinster League Division 11 Championship title and in the course of doing so became the only club in the whole of Leinster across the 14 divisions to go unbeaten. The club accumulated 277 points overall the highest points of any Leinster club in the 2011 season. In the 2012 season the club won their second title as Leinster League Division 9 Champions. SnookerDundalk & District Snooker League has been running for over 20 years. In 2010 the league was re-branded as the Dundalk Snooker League sponsored, by Tool-Fix. The league has grown in popularity and has attracted national recognition through RIBSA (Republic of Ireland Snooker and Billiards Association) and the CYMS Letterkenny, who have arranged a "ryder cup" style challenge match against the best players in the Dundalk Snooker League. This season the league has 15 teams and 113 players competing in 6 championship events, 4 ranking events and 5 special events.[91] CyclingThe first cycling club in Dundalk was founded in 1874. Cuchulainn Cycling Club[92] was formed in 1935 and is currently one of the biggest and most active cycling clubs in the country with over 300 members. The club caters for all disciplines of the sport including road, off-road and BMX. The club has acquired permission for the construction of a cycling park and 250m velodrome in Muirhevna Mor.[93] KayakingDundalk Kayak Club, founded in 2005, operates from their clubhouse just outside Dundalk town. They cater for all levels of kayaker and run beginner courses twice yearly. Politics and governmentLouth County Council (Irish: Comhairle Contae Lú), County Hall, Millennium Centre, Dundalk[94] is the authority responsible for local government in Dundalk. As a county council, it is governed by the Local Government Act 2001. The council is responsible for housing and community, roads and transportation, urban planning and development, amenity and culture, and environment.[95] The council has 29 elected members, 13 of whom are from the Dundalk region. Elections are held every five years and are by single transferable vote. For the purpose of elections the town is divided into two local electoral areas: Dundalk-Carlingford (6 Seats) and Dundalk South (7 Seats).[96]
Dáil Éireann /dɔɪl ˈɛərən/[97] is the lower house, and principal chamber, of the Oireachtas (the Irish legislature; which also includes the President of Ireland, and the upper house or Seanad Éireann). Dundalk is represented in Dáil Éireann by the Louth parliamentary constituency. Notable people
Twinning / sister citiesDundalk is twinned with the following places:
NamesakesWorld towns named after Dundalk:
Areas:
Roads:
See also
References
External links
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