Clogherhead
Encyclopedia
Clogherhead 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 townland
s 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.
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.
Dreadnots GFC are currently Louth Intermediate Champions having beaten Na Piarsaigh by a single point in the final held in Ardee on October 5.
County Louth
County Louth is a county of Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Louth. Louth County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. 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 townland
Townland
A townland or bally is a small geographical division of land used in Ireland. The townland system is of Gaelic origin—most townlands are believed to pre-date the Norman invasion and most have names derived from the Irish language...
s of Clogher and Callystown, about 12 km (7 mi) northeast of Drogheda
Drogheda
Drogheda is an industrial and port town in County Louth on the east coast of Ireland, 56 km north of Dublin. It is the last bridging point on the River Boyne before it enters the Irish Sea....
. 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
Mersey class lifeboat
Mersey class lifeboats are all-weather lifeboats operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution from stations around the coasts of Great Britain and Ireland...
, 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) while the headlandHeadlands and bays
Headlands and bays are two related features of the coastal environment.- Geology and geography :Headlands and bays are often found on the same coastline. A bay is surrounded by land on three sides, whereas a headland is surrounded by water on three sides. Headlands are characterized by high,...
was called Clogher Head. Today the headland remains Clogher Head, the village is called Clogherhead and the townland
Townland
A townland or bally is a small geographical division of land used in Ireland. The townland system is of Gaelic origin—most townlands are believed to pre-date the Norman invasion and most have names derived from the Irish language...
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.
Economy
- Clogherhead is a popular tourist destination. The village is also notable for its sandy Blue Flag beachBlue Flag beachThe Blue Flag is a certification by the Foundation for Environmental Education that a beach or marina meets its stringent standards.The Blue Flag is a trademark owned by FEE which is a not-for-profit, non-governmental organisation consisting of 65 organisations in 60 member countries in Europe,...
which extends from near the lifeboat station and on to the Boyne estuary. The beach boasts excellent water sports conditions which are catered for year round and prove extremely popular during the summer months. - The last two years have seen the revival of the popular Clogherhead Prawn Festival which attracts significant crowds to the village to partake in the weekend of varied and family oriented events.
- Port Oriel is a fishing port boasting one of the largest fleets in the country.
- Port Oriel is also being used as a base for the construction of the offshore Oriel Wind Farm.
Film location
Clogherhead has been used as a film location for:- Perrier's BountyPerrier's BountyPerrier's Bounty is an Irish crime thriller comedy set in modern-day Dublin. Describing it as an "urban western", sophomore director Ian Fitzgibbon directs the film, which stars Brendan Gleeson, who plays the villainous title character, as well as Cillian Murphy and Jim Broadbent as son and...
(in production 2008), starring Cillian MurphyCillian MurphyCillian Murphy is an Irish film and theatre actor. He is often noted by critics for his chameleonic performances in diverse roles and distinctive blue eyes and general sex appeal....
, Jim BroadbentJim BroadbentJames "Jim" Broadbent is an English theatre, film, and television actor. He is known for his roles in Iris, Moulin Rouge!, Topsy-Turvy, Hot Fuzz, and Bridget Jones' Diary...
and Brendan GleesonBrendan GleesonBrendan Gleeson is an Irish actor. His best-known films include Braveheart, Gangs of New York, In Bruges, 28 Days Later, the Harry Potter films, The Guard and the role of Michael Collins in The Treaty... - The Devil's OwnThe Devil's OwnThe Devil's Own is a 1997 action thriller movie starring Harrison Ford, Brad Pitt, Rubén Blades, Natascha McElhone, Julia Stiles and Treat Williams. It was the final film directed by Alan J...
(Columbia PicturesColumbia PicturesColumbia Pictures Industries, Inc. is an American film production and distribution company. Columbia Pictures now forms part of the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, a subsidiary of the Japanese conglomerate Sony. It is one of the leading film companies...
, 1997) starring Harrison FordHarrison FordHarrison Ford is an American film actor and producer. He is famous for his performances as Han Solo in the original Star Wars trilogy and as the title character of the Indiana Jones film series. Ford is also known for his roles as Rick Deckard in Blade Runner, John Book in Witness and Jack Ryan in...
and Brad PittBrad PittWilliam Bradley "Brad" Pitt is an American actor and film producer. Pitt has received two Academy Award nominations and four Golden Globe Award nominations, winning one... - Captain LightfootCaptain LightfootCaptain Lightfoot is a 1955 film starring Rock Hudson and Barbara Rush.It is a historical drama set in Ireland and was filmed at Clogherhead, County Louth, Ireland.-Cast:* Rock Hudson as Michael Martin* Barbara Rush as Aga Doherty...
(Universal StudiosUniversal StudiosUniversal Pictures , a subsidiary of NBCUniversal, is one of the six major movie studios....
, 1955) starring Rock HudsonRock HudsonRoy Harold Scherer, Jr., later Roy Harold Fitzgerald , known professionally as Rock Hudson, was an American film and television actor, recognized as a romantic leading man during the 1950s and 1960s, most notably in several romantic comedies with Doris Day.Hudson was voted "Star of the Year",...
and Barbara RushBarbara RushBarbara Rush is an American stage, film, and television actress.-Career:A student at the University of California, Santa Barbara, Barbara Rush performed on stage at the Pasadena Playhouse before signing with Paramount Pictures...
Callystown National School
Callystown National School 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 colorful history . 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
- Songs featuring this town include "Is Clogherhead Like it Used to Be".(see www.callystownnationalschool.i.e. and source podcast 9)
Notable people
- Albert CashierAlbert CashierAlbert D. J. Cashier , born Jennie Irene Hodgers, was an Irish-born soldier in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Cashier was born female assigned at birth, but lived as a man.-Early life:...
(otherwise Jennie Irene Hodgers) - born in Clogherhead he/she was a soldier in the Union Army during the American Civil WarAmerican Civil WarThe American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. - At some point before his final incarceration, Saint Oliver Plunket took refuge in a church that once stood in the townland of Killartry in the parish of Clogherhead.
Sport
- FishingFishingFishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
- Watersports Catered for all year around by the Neptune Outdoor Centre
- GAA - Dreadnots Gaelic Football Club
Dreadnots GFC are currently Louth Intermediate Champions having beaten Na Piarsaigh by a single point in the final held in Ardee on October 5.
- GolfGolfGolf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
- linksLinks (golf)A links is the oldest style of golf course, first developed in Scotland. The word "links" comes from the Scots language and refers to an area of coastal sand dunes and sometimes to open parkland. It also retains this more general meaning in the Scottish English dialect...
courses nearby:- Seapoint Golf Club located at TermonfeckinTermonfeckinTermonfeckin or Termonfechin is a small village and townland in County Louth, Ireland. It is within the parish of the same name, and lies north-east of Drogheda. The population of the village was 653 as per census 2006.-History:...
- County Louth Golf Club (which hosted the Irish OpenIrish Open (golf)The Irish Open is a professional golf tournament on the European Tour, currently played at the end of July or early August each year. The event has been played in many locations on the island; its current home is the Killarney Golf & Fishing Club in County Kerry in southwestern Ireland...
in 2004 and again in May 2009) located at BaltrayBaltrayBaltray is a village and townland in County Louth, Ireland. It sits on the northern shore of the River Boyne estuary....
.
- Seapoint Golf Club located at Termonfeckin
- Pitch and puttPitch and puttPitch and putt is an amateur sport, similar to golf. The maximum hole length for international competitions is with a maximum total course length of . Players may only use three clubs; one of which must be a putter...
See also
- List of towns and villages in Ireland
- List of RNLI stations
- Wind power in the European UnionWind power in the European UnionAccording to the European Wind Energy Association report of February 2011, there are over 12,000 wind turbines in Europe with a total capacity of 84 GW. The European Union accounts for over 98% of that total. In 2010, €12.7 billion was invested in EU wind farms and 9.3 GW of new power capacity was...