Community Historian Brendan Matthews

12/06/2026

Community Historian Brendan Matthews. Free Walk n Talk at 11am and also at 2pm during the Drogheda Car Show on Saturday June 13th . The Car Show will be held at the old Abbey Car Park and people are invited to take part in this special walk n talk. Brendan will take you on a tour beginning at the Abbey Car Park and it will then take the route of Dominick St. to West St. to Patrickswell Lane, through the old Abbey to the West Gate and down passed the Garda Station and back into Fr. Connolly Way finishing up back at the Abbey Car Park. The walk will last around 40 minutes or so. Along the route you will hear the tales of the former Coach, Carriage and Cart builders of old Drogheda before the introduction of the Motorcar; you will hear how most of the townspeople were totally against the motorcar when it first arrived in town, the history of the surrounding streets and lanes of the West Gate Quarter, the fire that destroyed the renowned Abbey Ballroom and the subsequent building and opening of the Abbey Shopping Centre. Free event and all are welcome to attend either at 11am and or 2pm.

11/06/2026

Free History & Heritage Walk n Talk. As part of the Drogheda Car Show on Saturday June 13th Community Historian Brendan Matthews will Present Two FREE History & Heritage Walk n talk Tours around the West Gate Quarter starting at the old Abbey car Park. The first Walk n talk will begin at 11am and the second Walk n talk will start at 2pm. Each walk will last around 45 to 50 minutes. Presented in a relaxed and laid back fashion, easy under-foot and all are welcome to attend. Booking is advised as numbers will be controlled on the day.

09/06/2026

Community Historian Brendan Matthews. “Keep your distance”. Photos, by Brendan Matthews captured in the spring of 2022. The top photo shows the road which curves around the exterior of the grounds of Dardistown Castle and Estate. A glimpse of the Castle may just be seen through the trees on the right-hand-side of the top photo. The bottom photo depicts a close-up view of the same Dardistown Castle. It is of interest that later 18th century and early 19th century maps clearly show that the road here, from Dardistown Bridge to Lisdornan and Ratholland, went straight past the Castle, almost within reach of the front doors of the place. However, the Ordnance Survey 6” to 1 miles Maps which were then produced for the first time in 1835/36 shows the road lay-out in its current form with the Castle now (in 1835) set back a good distance from the newly constructed road; hence the curve or sweep that surrounds the grounds of the Castle today. Apparently when this new road was being constructed in the early 19th century, the Osborne family of Dardistown Castle didn't wish for the road lay-out to be so close to their abode so representations were carried out to the authorities of the day to have this new road laid down at some distance to the west and away from the front door of the Castle as had been the case previously. Researched & written by Community Historian Brendan Matthews. ©2022

08/06/2026

Community Historian, Brendan Matthews. “What lies beneath” ?. Photo depicts the City North Hotel at Gormanston, as viewed from the Townland of Tobertown in Fingal. During construction work in the vicinity of the City North Hotel, archaeological investigations uncovered a late Bronze Age Settlement and Ritual site which was subsequently excavated from November of 2006 to July of 2007. This, ridge-top, Enclosure site was made up of two oval shaped ditches and a causeway forming an eastern aligned entrance into the site. The inner ditch enclosed an area of 28 metres by 22 metres while the outer ditch was much larger, encompassing an area 57 metres by 47 metres. Radiocarbon dating, taken from charcoal samples found within one of the ditches, showed that the enclosure was constructed around three thousand years ago. Also found within the outer ditch were some fragments of human skulls alongside that of cattle skulls which had been deposited into a section of the ditch deliberately which was then sealed over with stone to protect the deposits beneath. A number of saddle querns, one with `cup mark` decoration, were also found to have been deposited deliberately into the ditch, all with their grinding surfaces facing downward. A number of unusual, rare clay objects were also uncovered during the excavation and these small vessels, measuring between 4.5 and 5.5cm, are believed to have been used in the process of salt production. Contained within a deep pit and situated in the south-western end of the enclosure, was discovered a fragment of a blue glass bead with lattice decoration. All the finds and discoveries found during the course of the excavation strongly indicate that the site was used for some form of ceremonial and ritual purposes. The construction of the M1 motorway adjacent to this site also revealed that there was substantial Bronze Age activity in this whole area, with further human burial remains and a number of Fulacth Fiadh, which were that of ancient cooking places , were also discovered, dating back to over three-thousand years ago. Researched, written and compiled by Community Historian & Historical Researcher, Brendan Matthews.©2021

08/06/2026

History & Heritage Walk n Talk. The Changing Facade of Georgian Drogheda. Join Community Historian Brendan Matthews on Wednesday 10th June at 7.30pm for a fascinating guided walk through the streets of old Drogheda..Discover how the town evolved into a thriving Georgian and Victorian urban centre as you stroll through Fair Street, passing Schoales Lane, Bolton Street and Duke Street, exploring the architecture, streetscape and stories that shaped one of Ireland's most historic towns. The walk begins at George's Square junction with Fair Street and concludes at St. Peter's Church of Ireland, St. Peter's Hill around 8.30pm. Free to attend with donations if desired for the further research & presentation of a living history experience.

07/06/2026

Community Historian Brendan Matthews. “ Alan Bonner Anniversary”. Today marks the ninth anniversary on the passing of Alan Bonner. The young Silverstream Close man who tragically lost his life in a motorcycling race at the Isle of Man TT circuit back on Wednesday afternoon, June 7th 2017.

04/06/2026

History & Heritage Walk n Talk. The Changing Facade of Georgian Drogheda. Join Community Historian Brendan Matthews on Wednesday 10th June at 7.30pm for a fascinating guided walk through the streets of old Drogheda..Discover how the town evolved into a thriving Georgian and Victorian urban centre as you stroll through Fair Street, passing Schoales Lane, Bolton Street and Duke Street, exploring the architecture, streetscape and stories that shaped one of Ireland's most historic towns. The walk begins at George's Square junction with Fair Street and concludes at St. Peter's Church of Ireland, St. Peter's Hill. Free to attend with donations if desired for the further research & presentation of a living history experience.

02/06/2026