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Community Historian Brendan Matthews, Stamullen Meath, Drogheda (2026)

02/02/2026

Community Historian Brendan Matthews. “Tom`s Fight For Irish Freedom”. Photo by Brendan Matthews, taken in 2022, depicts the former homestead of the great Tom Carton on the Moorechurch Road at Julianstown. Tom played an instrumental role in the `Fight for Irish Freedom` back in 1920/21 and was a close friend of the great Tipperary Republican Dan Breen. Breen had often stayed at the home of Tom Carton during the War of Independence with Britain and, in the aftermath of the Irish War of Independence and the Irish Civil War, Breen spoke very fondly of Tom Carton and a number of other local Republicans in the Julianstown, Balloy and Gormanston area.

23/01/2026

Community Historian, Brendan Matthews. "Another Brick in the Wall. Advertisement regarding two local brick-work manufactories , dating to March 1909. The extract from the map on the left depicts the brick-works at Dardistown, which was situated a short distance to the north-east of the Castle, while the extract from the map on the right depicts the brick-works at Cooperhill, which was located on the right-hand side of the road down a long lane as you head towards Beamore Cross from Cooperhill and was located just over 1 kilometre to the north of Cooperhill Cross. Extract from the 25” map of 1908, courtesy of the Ordnance Survey of Ireland. In the 1970`s, local Julianstown man, Paddy Matthews, gave a great account to the Julianstown Irish Countrywomens` Association, of his employment at the Dardistown Brick Works back in the year 1910 when he was just 10 years old; being employed at 1 shilling per day: The following is an account of his duties. “The clay, which was blue in colour, was dug up in the winter time, about three men were employed to do this. In the spring time, holes were bored into the clay so as to allow water pe*****te into it and the clay was then loaded onto a bogie which ran on a railway line. The bogie was drawn up by a wire rope and the clay was then tipped into a machine which mixed it. A worm in this machine then forced the clay out through a mold and, as it came out in a large slab about 3ftx1ftx3inches in size, it was cut by one wire. It was then shoved over and upwards and a lever was pushed which cut it through with ten wires into ten bricks; this operation was generally done by one man and a boy. Thirty of these boards of bricks would then be loaded onto a barrow, with no sides and wheeled into a drying shed. They would be left there for five weeks and then turned (called hacked), until they were dried out and became a greyish colour. When they were dry, the bricks were wheeled into a kiln and baked. The kilns were called `Clamped Kilns`. Bricks were heaped in a clamp with slack over each layer of bricks and flues were left through them. They were then set fire to and burned until the bricks were red and hard”. A magnificent tale recording a working day in the life of former Shallon resident, Mr. Paddy Matthews when he was but just 10-years old back in the year 1910. Researched, written & compiled by Community Historian, Brendan Matthews.

21/01/2026

Community Historian, Brendan Matthews. “Watch-this Space”. Jim McCullen Remembered. Photo, from the Drogheda Independent Files, depicts the late great Jim McCullen sitting at his desk at No. 9 Shop St. Drogheda. During the initial days of the dreaded Corona Virus Covid-19 Lockdown back in late March and early April of 2020, the late great Jim McCullen passed away suddenly at his home at the Pump Farm in Gormanston on Friday April 3rd 2020; the news of his death having been met with sadness and shock both locally and across the greater north-east region, North Fingal and indeed well beyond. Known locally for many years as Jim `the gentleman`, the `D.I` Man, or by some just simply he was known as `The D.I. `. Everyone loved to have a chat with Jim McCullen, he was like a magnet once he stopped to chat with people; he could draw news out of them in an inquisitive yet a charming way; always the perfect gentleman, level-headed, very observant and extremely fair in his many years as a brilliant journalist with his beloved Drogheda Independent. Jim worked as a journalist for the Drogheda Independent for more than 40 years, much of it in the political arena of journalism, until his retirement which he took in the spring of 2007 when he bowed out of his office in Shop Street Drogheda, leaving behind many colleagues who were genuinely bereft at his departure, for not only were they colleagues but great friends and very much admirers of the big gentleman who had also nourished and encouraged a great number of younger and budding journalist who were lucky and had chance to meet, work and learn from Jim, such was his skills and knowledge of seeking and capturing the best stories for the local & regional newspaper. Following his departure from the Drogheda Independent in April of 2007 Jim decided that he would begin a journey of genealogy, tracing his family tree and becoming, what I had termed `an historical journalist`. I had great pleasure in helping Jim with his task and, just like his days at the D.I., once he had gotten the `bit between his teeth` on finding out more and more about his family ancestry there was now no stopping him. He was away again on the hunt, always seeking more and more information and documentation. When he would call each week to see me, he would arrive at the house, a copy of the Irish times under his arm; which I often thought that he must have read that particular newspaper several times as he knew everything that was within its pages and always had comments to make particularly on the Irish political front. As he would arrive at the gate he would talk of the day in general, about the weather, the local & national issues, “I was speaking with one of my contact-sources today”, he would say and they were telling me such & such” and being the true Journalist that he was, Jim would never reveal of course who those `contact/sources` were, but only the content of what he had been told. After his retirement he also loved to stroll around the grounds of Gormanston Castle meeting and chatting with others before he would pop over to Stamullen and perhaps bought himself an ice-cream, had a coffee and took a stroll around the village graveyard. Jim would then call to my home and every time he would have a list of new queries, questions, more questions and suggestions regarding tracing particular lines and avenues of his family tree. We would also keep in touch via text messages and once again, after he would return home from my house in Stamullen to his humble abode in nearby Gormanston, there would always be further queries and questions by text on how to further his research. He already had a huge amount of knowledge regarding his family ancestry, much of it coming down through oral history within the extended family and on many occasions he would often be accompanied by his brother John who himself had a huge interest and quest in tracing the family history. However, just like the excellent journalist that he was and the positions which he had formerly held within the Drogheda Independent, including that of Deputy Editor, Jim loved the documented material; the `facts`; the proof to see documents in `black & white`; another piece of the jigsaw of his genealogy in place. He loved researching his family tree and making the connections that eventually brought some of his ancestors to reside at the Pump Farm in Gormanston in the 19th century; the very home in which Jim passed away on Friday April 3rd 2020 and a homestead in which he was immensely proud of. As he would depart from my home with any latest family info that we may have come up with and discussed in great detail as to its content, significance & accuracy; he would again revert back to some great wit and with that familiar gleam in his eye he would say back to me regarding his family tree, `Very well Brendáin” and with his usual & witty journalistic catchphrase he would say; “Watch-this-Space`. Gentleman Jim McCullen, Pump Farm, alias Rose Cottage, Gormanston, who passed away 6-years-ago this coming spring. Written by Community Historian, Brendan Matthews.©2026

12/01/2026

Community Historian Brendan Matthews. “The C**k of Gormanston”. Article on the right regarding a Planning Application for an extension to the former and renowned C**k Tavern Public House in Gormanston ; this particular planning application which was made back in the month of January in 1990; 36-years-ago this very month. The photo on the left, taken by Brendan Matthews in the spring of 2025 depicting the same old, but now closed up and delapidated, C**k Tavern Pub. The following is an extract taken from the very lengthy Poem titled “The C**k of Gormanstown” which was written in the early years of the 20th century.
I`am a simple Carter and I`m always on the road
My destination Drogheda either with or for my load
I stop to take refreshments every morning going down
In that place of peace and plenty called the C**k of Gormanstown.
"When I enter in this tavern I greet, "Good morning boys"
The worthy 'P***y Rooney is the first to meet my eyes
And he seated on the `furrum' as he lowers the porter down
A regular brewery advertisement for the C**k of Gormanstown.
Beside this drinker seated on a `Casey-Connolly` barrel
Sits that fluent gifted speaker known as `Abbela McArdle
And he stating Erin`s sufferings since the cruel British Crown
Had its name engraved on Erin and the C**k of Gormanstown.
At my elbow near the window stands a lad called Lanky Dan
And the dark-eyed Spaniard `Hammey` with the drunkard T. Kinnane
I knew they wanted liquor for they never bought a round
From the time that I did enter in the C**k of Gormanstown.
There is one I nigh forgot him though I bear him no regard
He`s that famous stocking hosier known as John George Appleyard
His terrific oaths and language would hell`s arches tumble down
He`d mesmerise the devil in the C**k of Gormanstown.
There Tom Caffrey and the `Skinim` with John Tynan “Bye-the bye`
They were seated on the `furrum` and the matter did enjoy
But at last they grew uneasy and they wore a rueful frown
For their pints were getting empty in the C**k of Gormanstown.
“So I ordered beauteous Lena for to get them all a gill
And with some rare agility this maid began to fill
I slapped out on the counter a ready new half crown
For which I was applauded in the C**k of Gormanstown”

11/01/2026

Community Historian Brendan Matthews. “Times Past”. Image depicts an Advert for a position of a Foreman Fitter at the local Sullivan Engineering Plant at Stamullen village dating back to the month of January in 1978. Inset can be seen the late Johnny and Joe Sullivan who were the back-bone of this extremely successful Engineering Plant at Stamullen for many a long year employing dozens of people from across the greater North-East area. A one-time great local industry and a great boost to the local economy of times past. The advert for a Foreman Fitter which appeared in the Regional Press 48-years-ago this very month.

10/01/2026

Community Historian Brendan Matthews. “Hidden Gems”. Photo by Brendan Matthews depicts the beehive-shaped stone monuments which are located on a raised earthen platform overlooking the north-bound carriageway on the M1 Motorway just before exiting at Junction 7 at the City North Hotel. The beautiful beehive-shaped monuments is the work of the renowned artists Robert McColgan and Irene Benner and their work was commissioned by Fingal County Council as part of the Motorway Art that was undertaken around the turn of the New Millennium to coincide of what was then known locally as the `Balbriggan By-pass`. The artwork represents two local archaeological sites & monuments that are both situated along the coast at Bremore in Fingal just to the north of Balbriggan town. Firstly, the five stone monuments, as depicted by the two great artists, represent the five ancient Burial Tombs that are located in the vicinity of Bremore Head overlooking the Irish Sea between Gormanston and Balbriggan. The Tombs, pre-dating the great Tombs of the Boyne Valley ,were constructed by our Neolithic ancestors who first landed along the shores of north Fingal and along the Delvin Estuary in east Meath more than five-thousand-years-ago. Secondly, this particular artwork also represents five Beehives which are associated with Saint Molaga who came from Wales in the seventh century and set up his Monastery at Bremore. Saint Molaga is reputed to have been the first Christian Monk to have introduced Beekeeping to Ireland and hence the beehive-shaped monuments as displayed in the M1 Motorway artwork. The monuments took just over two years to construct with the greatest detail being afforded to their construction. The beehive-shaped stonework is constructed in the corbel fashion with each stone laid having been first intricately hand cut and set in place so that it interlocks, projects and also rests on the stone below making the whole structure very solid. The local place-name within the townland of Bremore where St. Molaga first established his Monastery in the 7th century, is recorded under the wonderful name as “Lambeecher” meaning the “Church or place of the Beekeeper”. Researched & Written by Community Historian Brendan Matthews.©2026

09/01/2026

Community Historian Brendan Matthews. “Local Sporting & Community Legends”. Image, extracted from the old Drogheda Argus Newspaper, depicts an advert for a local Gaelic Football Match at Termonfeckin back in the first week of December 1886. At an Executive meeting of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA), held in Thurles County Tipperary in September 1886, two Drogheda delegates who attended the meeting expressed their concerns about the games not being extended to the counties of the north and the Drogheda men, not only flew the flag of the Boyne-siders but, were also greatly responsible for the initial extension of the Gaelic games into the Province of Ulster. The delegates who attended the meeting were Francis Wade and James Weldon and the first thing Mr. Weldon spoke about at the meeting was the inconvenience of delegates coming from the Boyneside all the way to Thurles and he asked the Executive to consider holding future meetings nearer Dublin. Mr. Francis Wade then proposed that, `Ulster should be given two vice-presidents and as Drogheda was the gap of the North and the first to take up the Gaelic cause, he would move that it be given one of the vice-presidents and that Alderman Mangan, who was the most popular man in that part of the country, be elected to the honorary position of vice-president. The people in the North and in the district that he represented were of the opinion that you here in the South want to keep the Gaelic Association amongst yourselves and that you did not wish to give the North a look in at all. By giving two vice-presidents to Ulster it would show that you were not actuated by selfish motives and it would be a strong inducement to Ulster to join the association`. Mr. Bracken, a member of the Executive, denied this statement by Wade, saying that, `When they started the association in the South, Ulster refused to join and not only did they stand idly by, but sneered at the movement and under that circumstances he would oppose the election of the vice-president for Ulster`. Mr. J. O`Crowley, another member of the Executive, took exception to the remark made by Mr. Bracken, stating that, `As far as Drogheda was concerned, they had joined the association in early 1885. Drogheda had taken up the movement earnestly and never in any town in the South did he see so much enthusiasm displayed for the success of the Gaelic as that which he witnessed amongst the people of Drogheda`. James Weldon said that, `It was all very well for Mr. Bracken to talk of the great headway that had been made in the South; they had matters there pretty much their own way. They had no enemy to fight in the South, as they had in the North and they had many difficulties to contend with in Drogheda. The Gaelic association never intended that it should be a provincial association and to make it a national association, they should endeavour to win over Ulster; it was a country worth fighting for (hear, hear). There was as good Irishmen in Ulster as in any part of the country. He believed that if the vice-presidents were elected for Ulster it would be the means of bringing all Ulster into the association`. Mr. O`Crowley said that; `The men of Drogheda had firmly planted the association along the Boyne and that the movement in Drogheda was making gigantic strides in the North, while the fact that two delegates had come all the way from the Boyne-side to attend the convention was a strong argument that the people of Drogheda had thrown themselves heart and soul into the movement`. Several other delegates then expressed themselves in favour of conceding two vice-presidents to Ulster; however, the proposal was then deferred until the annual general meeting at the end of the year. As a result of this meeting, the seeds of the G.A.A. had now been planted in Ulster, but what would have happened if the two Gallant Drogheda men hadn’t made that faithful trip to Thurles in the month of September back in 1886 and stated the case for their fellow countrymen in the North?: the meeting of which took place 140-years-ago this coming autumn. Researched, written & compiled by Community Historian Brendan Matthews. ©2026

08/01/2026

Community Historian Brendan Matthews. “Anseo”. Image depicts a plan of the Millmount Barracks complex dating to the year 1900. This coming April 2026 will see the release for the first time of the 1926 Census Returns in, what was then, the First Census undertaken by the New Irish Free State Government. However, prior to 1926, a population census of Ireland undertaken by the British Government in 1901 and 1911 recorded the following families who resided in the area known as Barrack Lane in Drogheda, which also included the British Army Military Barracks at Millmount. Eliza Montgomery a 46 year old widow with 5 children. Catherine Fitzgerald aged 40 and also a widow with 5 children. Anne Carton, yet another widow, aged 40 with 6 children, three of whom were Millworkers. Anne Tracy aged 48, again a widow with 1 son. She was employed as a Milliner. Thomas Callaghan aged 40, a Baker with 2 children. He was a widower. John McAleer, a 45 year old Blacksmith with a wife and 6 children. John Maguire, a 41 year old Carpenter, married with 4 children. Patrick Sheridan aged 36; he was employed as a Sawyer and he had a wife and 5 children. John English, an Engine driver with the G.N.R. Rudolph Allpore, a 38 year old Army Sergeant, with a wife and 2 daughters. Patrick Lennon, a 55 year old Army pensioner from Armagh, with a wife and 2 daughters. Other families who resided along Barrack Lane included, Sarsfield, Mooney, Matthews, Nolan, Markey, Donnelly, Carlan and also a Margaret Healy, who was recorded as being employed as a Linen winder. Also during this period in 1901, the Millmount Barracks was vacant, except for that of a caretaker Sergeant named Edward Sharpe, aged 40, who was from England. He resided at the Barracks with his wife. The 1911 census shows that there was 101 officers residing at Millmount Barracks; ranging in age from 17 years to 48, with the average age being 18. 97 of the officers were Roman Catholic, with over 90% given their origin of birth as Ireland and coming from counties such as, Louth, Meath, Dublin, Kildare, Offaly, Laois and Tipperary. Trades and professions of the officers included, Shoemakers, Painters, Musicians, Tailors, Grocers, Barmen, Carpenters, Dairymen, Van drivers, Messengers and Labourers. Five of the Military Officers were married and they also lived within the Barracks with their families. Other families who resided in Barrack Lane in 1911 included, John Corrigan, a Lead miner, aged 28. Eliza Waters, a 64 year old Linen winder. Mary Clerkin, a 42 year old Dressmaker and her sister Kate, who was a 40 year old Weaver. James Nolan, a Slater, aged 39. He lived with his wife and 7 children. Mary-Ann Sarsfield aged 35, who was recorded as being a Preparing worker. She had 8 children; one of whom was a 16 year old messenger while the rest were at school or in infancy. Joseph Larkin, a 41 year old Railway Engine driver. Henry Breen a 41 year old Plasterer, with a wife and 6 children. Mary Casey, a 40 year old Dressmaker. Other family names included, Kinsella, Short, Martin, Hammill, Campbell, Markey, Lennon and Callaghan. An interesting observation between the 1901 and 1911 census is that, in many instances, the ages of one or both parents, or head of the family, had increased by more than 10 years during this 10 year period. The reason for this was that, the British government had introduced the old age pension in the year 1908 and so to qualify, perhaps a little earlier than they should have, the people added on a few years to their age for the 1911 census. The Census Returns of Barrack Lane in Drogheda from 1901 & 1911 compiled by Community Historian Brendan Matthews.©2026

07/01/2026

Community Historian Brendan Matthews. “The uncrowned Queen of Ireland”. Image depicts a view of the old Bullring area of Drogheda during the late 19th century. It is Sunday morning, May 8th 1881 and the final touches are being put in place throughout the streets of Drogheda in preparation for the arrival of Miss Anna Parnell, President of the National Ladies Land League and sister of Charles Stuart Parnell. The principal streets were highly decorated with the flowers of early summer, while a large number of banners from the various guilds of the town were arched over the streets. Charles Stuart Parnell had advised his sister to set up the Ladies National Land League a couple of months earlier when he and his fellow members of the National Land League realised that their own movement was to be suppressed and imprisonment of the leading figures was imminent. By the time Miss Parnell arrived into Drogheda by train, the streets were thronged with thousands of people from the town and surrounding countryside of south Louth and east Meath to honour this great woman and to show their support for her fight against the unjust treatment of the labouring tenants of Ireland by an alien, colonial establishment and dominant Landlordism. Shortly before lunchtime Miss Parnell stepped off the train and was greeted by the people amidst loud cheering and applause. The West Gate, Greenhills, Julianstown and the Marsh Fife and Drum Bands were all in attendance and played a selection of Irish Airs. Miss. Kirk, president of the local Drogheda Ladies Land League then stepped forward and presented Miss. Parnell with a bouquet of flowers before the long procession left the railway station for West Street led by the various trade bodies with their beautiful banners, which were reported at the time to have been the `richest and most artistically painted in Ireland`. After Miss. Parnell had lunched at the White Horse Hotel she made her way among the ever-swelling crowd to the Mall on the North Quay. She had come to Drogheda to address a meeting of the executive of the ladies land league in Mayoralty House, but before going into the meeting she did address the huge crowd briefly and, in thanking the people of Drogheda for their support, she stated that she would be staying the night in Drogheda, as she was attending an eviction of a tenant family at Gormanston the next day. Among the local women who also attended the executive meeting were the Misses Johnson, Miss Malone, Mrs. Burke, the Misses Elcock, Miss Smith and Miss Tighe. Anna Parnell became such a driving force behind the Land League Movement, with strong militant tendencies, that by the end of the summer of 1881 the British Government began to panic and viewed the women as a threat in a growing rebellion in Ireland. Irish politicians also saw the ladies land league as a danger to their plans and after the `Kilmainham Treaty` Charles Stuart Parnell agreed to suppress the land league as a whole and in 1882 it was dissolved. Anna Parnell was furious with her brother in respect of this and they never spoke to each other again. She retreated to Cornwall and lived under an assumed name until her tragic death in 1911 in a swimming accident and her death went un-noticed amongst family members and the general public, due to her false identity. In 1904 she had written an account of what happened in 1881-82, which she titled, `The Great Sham`, in which she slammed the male leaguers of the movement and this manuscript lay undetected until 1986. Many of her brother’s close associates also secretly revealed that, `Anna Parnell would have worked the revolution to a much better conclusion than her brother`? We should, perhaps, never forget the `Uncrowned Queen of Ireland`. Researched & Written by Community Historian Brendan Matthews. ©2026.

06/01/2026

Community Historian Brendan Matthews. “Night of the Big Wind”. Image depicts a 19th century view of Saint Lawrence Gate, along with the humble but miserable cabins of the poor and the open drain and sewage system as seen from the Cord Road (Acknowledgement to the National Library of Ireland; Lawrence Collection of Photographs). On Sunday 6th January 1839 a strong wind began to whistle through the streets of Drogheda in the early afternoon which was accompanied by heavy rain. By 11pm on that Little Christmas Day (Nollaig na mban), a hurricane was lashing through the town which was to last until 6am the following morning. Almost every building within the town suffered some structural damage, with hundreds of houses having their roofs blown away, along with chimney stacks, slates and other debris toppling over onto the streets. Such was the damage caused to the roofs of the buildings and, it was recorded, that the Slaters of the district refused to work for less than ten shillings a day following the storm. In the suburbs of Drogheda many of the wretched cabins of the poor were burned as a result of tily lamps falling over and chimneys collapsing, setting the roof thatch ablaze. Amazingly, it was reported, that few of the ships on the Boyne River suffered any material damage, but there was grave concerns for those unfortunate enough to be out at sea. Large quantities of agricultural produce, such as flax, hay and corn were also blown away from their respective stack-yards in the vicinity of the town and scattered across the streets, roads and fields of the neighbourhood. The `Newry Lark` Mail-coach also had to return to Drogheda late on the Sunday evening having proceeded on it’s way to Dublin only to make it as far as Julianstown, where the road became impassable due to fallen trees on the road. The roof over the home of Mr. Robert Algar Esq. of Laurence’s St. came crashing in as the large chimney stack collapsed. At the time, Mr. Algar, his wife and two infant children, along with a nurse, were all huddled together in the nursery room and while the tall ceilings fell in around them, their cries for help were heard by people on the street, who placed their own lives at risk and brought the five occupants to safety. The roof of the Mayoralty House at the junction of North Quay and the Mall area was also extensively damaged as was the extensive stores of Mr. Ennis in Scholes`s lane, Mrs. McDonnell’s in West St., the County infirmary hospital at the West Gate, McCann’s mills on the Quays, the premises of Messrs. Smith & Smyth at Merchants Quay and the many flax, linen, cotton and other manufactories throughout the town were also badly damaged as a result of the horrific storm. Hundreds of mature trees were also destroyed in the Ballsgrove Demesne in Drogheda, while the damage estimated to have been caused on the Oldbridge Estate was put at a whopping £2000 and the structural damage to Beaulieu House was put at £500, along with hundreds of mature trees having been uprooted. Hundreds of mature trees were also blown down on the estate of Viscount Gormanston in east Meath. After the storm had abated on Monday 7th January, it was feared that the price of food, which had already been steadily increasing beyond the means of many, would now increase even further, due to the huge destruction of the agricultural crops which had been poorly stored in farm-yards. The hurricane had left untold damage, not only across Ireland, but also throughout much of Wales and England. In the years that followed, it was often believed that the demise and disappearance of many of the humble little cabins, which can be seen depicted on the earlier 1835/36 Ordnance Survey Maps, was due to the effects of the great famine of the later 1840`s and the `callous landlords` who evicted their tenants and although there is much truth in this; it must also be remembered that during the first week in January 1839, hundreds if not indeed thousands of humble little mud-cabin homesteads were wiped from the landscape during what became known as; `The Night of the big wind` which took place exactly 187-years-ago this very day. Researched & Written by Community Historian Brendan Matthews.©2026

05/01/2026

Community Historian Brendan Matthews. “Dirty Old Town”. Old image depicts that of the former Messrs. Smith & Smyth`s substantial Corn Mills at Merchants Quay in Drogheda which were established in the early to mid 1830`s. In August1842, an English Gentleman, by the name of William Makepiece Thackeray (He wrote Vanity Fair), made a visiting tour of Ireland and being well-known at the time for his anti-Irish sentiments, Thackeray made the following, not so much positive, observations of the old town by the Boyne`. As the coach arrives near Drogheda and in the boulevards of this town all resemblance to England is lost. Up hill and down we pass low rows of filthy cabins in dirty undulations. Parents are at the cabin doors dressing the hair of ragged children; shock-heads of girls peer out from the black circumference of smoke and children, inconceivably, filthy, yell wildly and vociferously as the coach passes by. One little ragged savage rushed furiously up the hill, speculating upon permission to put on the drag-chain at descending and hoping for a halfpenny reward. He put on the chain, but the guard did not give him a halfpenny. I flung him one and the boy rushed wildly after the carriage holding it up with joy. “The man inside has given me one” says he, holding it up exultingly to the guard. I flung out another (by the by and without any prejudice, the halfpence in Ireland are smaller than those of England), but when the child got this halfpenny, small as it was, it seemed to overpower him — the little man’s look of gratitude was worth a great deal more than the biggest penny ever struck. The town itself is smoky, dirty and lively. There was a great bustle in the black main street and several good shops; though some of the houses were in a half state of ruin and battered shutters closed many of the windows. The quays were grimy with the discharge of the coal vessels that lay alongside them and the numerous factories and chimneys were vomiting huge clouds of black smoke. Of one part of its manufactures every traveller must speak with gratitude – of the ale namely, which is as good as the best brewed in the sister kingdom. Drogheda ale is to be drunk all over Ireland in the bottled state: candour calls for the acknowledgement, that it is equally praiseworthy in draught. And while satisfying himself of this fact, the philosophic observer cannot but ask why ale should not be as good elsewhere as at Drogheda: is the water of the Boyne the only water in Ireland whereof ale can be made? Three boys were running past the Linen hall with a mouse tied to a string and a dog galloping after. Two little children were paddling down the street, one saying to the other, “Once I had a halfpenny and bought apples with it”. There is a very large and ugly Roman Catholic Chapel in the town and a smaller one of better construction: it was so crowded, however, although on a weekday, that we could not pass beyond the chapel yard; where were great crowds of people, some praying, some talking, some buying and selling. There were two or three stalls in the yard, presided over by old women, with a store of little brass crucifixes and beads for the faithful to purchase. By this time, that exceedingly slow coach, the Newry Lark, had arrived at that exceedingly filthy inn, where the mail had dropped us an hour before. An enormous Englishman was holding a vain combat of wit with a brawny grinning beggar-woman at the door. `There’s a clever gentleman”, says the beggar-woman; “sure he’ll give me something”. “How much should you like”? says the Englishman with playful jocularity. “Musha”, `says she, “many a littler man nor you has given me a shilling”.The coach drives away: the lady had clearly the best of the joking match: but I did not see, for all that, the Englishman gave her a single farthing`. William Makepiece Thackeray`s visit to Drogheda which took place during the month of August back in 1842. Compiled by Community Historian Brendan Matthews.

Community Historian Brendan Matthews

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