:Clogherhead

{{short description|Fishing village in County Louth, Ireland}}

{{See also|Clogher (disambiguation)}}

{{EngvarB|date=October 2013}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}

{{Infobox settlement

|settlement_type = Village

|name = Clogherhead

|native_name = {{lang|ga|Ceann Chlochair}}

|native_name_lang = ga

|image_skyline = Ceann_Chlochair_Tra_-_geograph.org.uk_-_491566.jpg

|image_caption = Beach at Clogherhead

|pushpin_map = Ireland

|pushpin_label_position = bottom

|pushpin_map_caption = Location in Ireland

|coordinates = {{coord|53.792|-6.238|dim:100000_region:IE-LH_type:city(1558)|display=inline,title}}

|blank_name_sec1 = Irish Grid Reference

|blank_info_sec1 = {{iem4ibx|O157840}}

| subdivision_type = Country

| subdivision_name = Ireland

| subdivision_type1 = Province

| subdivision_name1 = Leinster

| subdivision_type2 = County

| subdivision_name2 = County Louth

| subdivision_type3 = Dáil constituency

| subdivision_name3 = Louth

| subdivision_type4 = EU Parliament

| subdivision_name4 = Midlands–North-West

|population_as_of = 2016

|population = 2145

|population_footnotes ={{Cite web |url=http://census.cso.ie/sapmap2016/Results.aspx?Geog_Type=ST2016&Geog_Code=A12CCEAE-DE43-4C50-B5DA-AB90656170F6 |title=Sapmap Area – Settlements – Clogherhead|access-date=25 December 2019 |publisher=CSO|work=Census 2016}}

}}

File:Clogherhead Beach.jpg

Clogherhead ({{Irish place name|Ceann Chlochair|rocky headland}}){{cite web|url = http://www.logainm.ie/ga/1165685 |website = logainm.ie | title = Clogherhead}} is a fishing village in County Louth, Ireland. Located in a natural bay on the east coast it is bordered by the villages of Annagassan to the north and Termonfeckin to the south. It has a population of 2,145 according to the 2016 census. It is located in the townlands of Clogher and Callystown, about {{convert|12|km|0|abbr=on}} northeast of Drogheda. As a seaside village, its main industries are fishing and farming, and there has been an RNLI lifeboat stationed in the village for over 100 years.{{cite web |title=Clogherhead Lifeboat Station |url=https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/clogherhead-lifeboat-station |website=The Royal National Lifeboat Institution |access-date=7 June 2024}}

Name

Historically, the village was known simply as Clogher (Clochair) or Killclogher (Cill Chlochair)[http://www.libraryireland.com/topog/c3.php CLOGHER, or KILCLOGHER in Lewis Topographical Dictionary of Ireland (1837)][http://www.logainm.ie/132307.aspx Placenames Database of Ireland] (see archival records) while the headland 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 headland has a walking trail from the village along steep sea cliffs to the nearby harbour of Port Oriel (Port Oirialla). At low tide, it is also possible to walk the beach as far as the Boyne Estuary.{{citation needed|date=November 2018}} From the headland and at the harbour there are 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.{{citation needed|date=September 2017}}

The headland is also the site 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.{{citation needed|date=September 2017}}

Public transport

Bus Éireann route 168 serves Clogherhead, linking it to Drogheda via Termonfeckin and Baltray.{{cite web|url=https://www.buseireann.ie/routes-and-timetables/168 |title=Bus Éireann - Route 168 |website=buseireann.ie |date=15 April 2025 | archiveurl = https://archive.today/20250415115325/https://www.buseireann.ie/routes-and-timetables/168 | archivedate = 15 April 2025 }} Drogheda railway station is approximately 13 km distant.

Economy

Clogherhead is a tourist destination, and the village has a sandy Blue Flag beach[http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/breaking-news/ireland/six-irish-beaches-lose-blueflag-status-14324449.html Clogherhead beach regains Blue Flag status (retrieved 5 June 2009)] which extends from near the lifeboat station and on to the Boyne estuary.

Clogherhead hosts the Seafood Rocks festival,{{cite web |title=Celebrate Irish Food and Culture at SeaFood Rocks Festival in Louth |url=https://www.thetaste.ie/seafood-rocks-festival-louth/ |website=TheTaste.ie |access-date=7 June 2024}} a successor to the former Clogherhead Prawn Festival.{{cite web |url=http://www.clogherheadprawnfestival.ie/ |title=Clogherhead Prawn Festival – Home |accessdate=2010-06-15 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101016052240/http://www.clogherheadprawnfestival.ie/ |archivedate=16 October 2010 }}

Port Oriel is a fishing port with a large fleet, and also the harbour provides a platform for onshore sea fishing for anglers.{{citation needed|date=November 2018}}

Oriel Sea Salt and Oriel Sea Minerals are produced at Clogherhead and have protected designation of origin.

Amenities

The village has two main beaches. Port Beach in the centre of the village is a Blue Flag beach with the Neptune watersports centre which is run by the local council. The centre is the location for Celtic Adventures which provides schools and groups with a range of sports and training services including watersports, archery and climbing. In addition, it is the location for the local RNLI lifeboat station which houses a Mersey class lifeboat, the Doris Bleasdale. The other beach is on the north side of the village and is known as the 'Big Strand'. Both have bathing facilities with a lifeguard on duty at the village beach during summer months.

There are three public houses in the village, as well as a number of restaurants.{{citation needed|date=September 2017}}

Education

Callystown National School (a Catholic school under the trusteeship of the Archbishop of Armagh) has been in "official" existence since 1832.{{cite web |title=School history |url=https://callystownnationalschool.ie/about-us/school-history/ |website=Callystown N.S.}} It is located on the north side of the village with access through the estate of John Kirk Park.[http://www.callystownnationalschool.ie/web2.htm Historyof Callystown National School] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070115211622/http://www.callystownnationalschool.ie/web2.htm |date=15 January 2007 }} As of the 21st century, it has approximately 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.

Sport

As well as fishing and watersports, the local Gaelic Athletic Association club, Dreadnots Gaelic Football Club, have had three senior players in the Louth County team: Pádraig Rath, Anthony Williams, and James Califf. The club reached the Louth senior championship finals in 2012 and 2014 losing to St Patrick's on both occasions.{{cite web|url=http://hoganstand.com/Louth/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=157244|title=Louth SFC final: Keenan proves the difference for Pat's|work=Hogan Stand|date=31 October 2011}}{{cite web|url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/oconnor-helps-st-pats-over-the-line-289092.html|title=O'Connor helps St Pat's over the line|work=Irish Examiner|first=Joe|last=Carroll|date=29 September 2014}}

Links golf courses nearby include Seapoint Golf Club located at Termonfeckin, and County Louth Golf Club (which hosted the Irish Open in 2004 and again in May 2009) located at Baltray. There is also a pitch and putt course.{{citation needed|date=September 2017}} Walshestown clay-pigeon shooting club is near Clogherhead at Murray's Cross.{{cite news |title=Shooting club targets recruitment boost |url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/louth/drogheda-news/shooting-club-targets-recruitment-boost/27098811.html |access-date=7 June 2024 |publisher=Independent News & Media |date=21 February 2006}}

Notable people

{{Clear}}

File:Sign, plaque Port Oriel.JPG|Port sign & plaque

File:Port Oriel.jpg|Pier, Port Oriel

File:Vessel in Port Oriel.jpg|Vessel in the port

File:Coast Guard.JPG|Coast Guard

File:Queen of the sea memorial.jpg|Queen of the sea memorial to those lost at sea

File:Lifeboat bow.JPG|Lifeboat – bow

File:Clogher Head Lifeboat.jpg|Lifeboat – stern

File:Clogher Head position.jpg|Clogher Head shown on lifeboat positioning system

File:Clogherhead Lifeboat Station.jpg|Lifeboat Station

File:Celebrating 100 years - Clogherhead Lifeboat.jpg|Celebrating 100 years of the Lifeboat Station

See also

References

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