Dunleer

File:Athclare, Co. Louth (Geograph-2494834-by-Mike-Searle).jpg lies approximately 1.5km south of Dunleer]]

The town has ties to the early sixth century Christian monastery of Lann Léire which was founded by brothers St. Furudran and St. Baothan.{{cite web|url = https://drogheda.armagh.anglican.org/history-of-dunleer-church/ | website = drogheda.armagh.anglican.org | publisher = Drogheda, Ardee and Collon Union, Kilsaran Union | title = History of Dunleer Church | accessdate = 20 February 2024 }}{{Cite web |title=De hellige Baithin og Furudran av Dunleer (500-t) |url=https://www.katolsk.no/biografier/historisk/baithfuru |access-date=2024-03-26 |website=Den katolske kirke |language=no}} The monastery, which was located approximately where today Dunleer's Church of Ireland church is now located, suffered numerous attacks over its history and was finally burned to the ground in 1148.{{cite journal | title = Dunleer through the Ages | first = Pádraig | last = Ó Fachtna | journal = Seanchas Ardmhacha: Journal of the Armagh Diocesan Historical Society | volume = 1 | issue = 1 | date = 1954 | pages = 151–162 |doi=10.2307/29740577|jstor=29740577|issn=0488-0196 }} After a period of ruin, the Norman family of De Audley settled the area about thirty years later.{{citation needed|date=February 2024}}

In 1513, John Barnewall was knighted and received large grants of land in the Dunleer area, including the manor of Dunleer. It is possible that it was at this time that the settlement became known as "Dún" Leire. While it is not determined when the name changed from "Lann Léire" to "Dún Léire", there is a reference to "the ville of Dún Leire" in records dating from 1227. The town was raised to the status of a "manor" at this time. Dunleer was subsequently granted a Market Town Charter in 1252, with the right to hold a Fair and Markets at various times.{{Cite book|title=Lives of the Lord Chancellors and Keepers of the Great Seal of Ireland|last=O'Flanagan|first=James Roderick| year=1870}}

Dunleer is the principal town in the former Barony of Ferrard,{{citation needed|date=February 2024}} and was granted an enhanced charter by King Charles II in 1671 to hold markets and fairs.{{cite book | chapter = Dunleer | chapter-url = https://www.libraryireland.com/topog/D/Dunleer-Ferrard-Louth.php | title = A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland | editor-first = Samuel | editor-last = Lewis | publisher = Lewis | place = Dublin | date = 1837 }} This was followed by a Royal Charter in 1678 establishing Dunleer as a municipal corporation (town borough council). The corporation had 12 members (burgesses), and annually elected a mayor, known as "sovereign" of the borough. It was the very last borough to be established in Ireland.{{citation needed|date=February 2024}}

Dunleer, at one time, also elected two members of parliament to the old Irish House of Commons, which was abolished by the Act of Union in 1801. After the Act of Union between the English and Irish House of Commons, there was very little business for the corporation to do.{{citation needed|date=February 2024}} It last convened in 1811.

In 2023, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar visited the area.{{Cite web |date=2023-08-09 |title=Around the Districts: Dunleer and Slane |url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/louth/drogheda-news/localnotes/around-the-districts-dunleer-and-slane/a1394459448.html |access-date=2024-02-20 |website=Independent.ie |language=en}}

Dunleer's population grew from 1,104 to 1,822 inhabitants between the 1991 and 2016 census.{{cite web|url = https://www.citypopulation.de/en/ireland/towns/louth/0399__dunleer/ | website = City Population | title = Dunleer (Ireland) Census Town | access-date = 8 February 2020 }}{{cite web

| url = http://census.cso.ie/sapmap2016/Results.aspx?Geog_Type=ST2016&Geog_Code=07B26328-A1E2-4D25-ADA7-515BD63DDCDC | publisher = Central Statistics Office | work = Census 2016 | title = Sapmap Area - Settlements - Dunleer | date = April 2016 | access-date = 8 February 2020 }} As of the 2022 census, it had grown further, to 2,143 inhabitants.

Dunleer's proximity to Drogheda, Ardee, Dundalk, and its location as a crossroads on the main north–south economic corridor of Ireland, have contributed to its growth.{{citation needed|date=February 2020}}

Dunleer has been a centre of industry from the 17th century, and previously had three water-powered mills.{{citation needed|date=February 2024}} Rosevale; which was a flax mill (location of today's Glen Dimplex on the Barn Road), Skibbolmore; which was a steel pin manufacturing mill (later converted to flour milling and in 2021 restored as a house),{{citation needed|date=August 2022}} and Glebe Mill (operating since 1698) which still produces stone ground flour in small amounts from time to time for the artisan trade.{{citation needed|date=February 2024}}

Dunleer has also been a centre of domestic appliance manufacturing since the late 1930s.{{cite web|url = https://www.dundalkdemocrat.ie/news/local-news/55987/The-story-of-GEC-Dunleer-in.html | work = Dundalk Democrat | title = The story of GEC Dunleer in the words of the people who made it | date = 15 November 2014 | accessdate = 20 February 2024 }}{{cite web|url = https://www.independent.ie/regionals/louth/drogheda-news/dunleers-factory-days-recalled/30644068.html | work = Drogheda Independent | title = Dunleer's factory days recalled | date = 11 October 2014 | accessdate = 20 February 2024 }} As of the 21st century, the area is home to several factories, including a GlenDimplex facility.{{cite web|url = https://www.independent.ie/regionals/louth/business/glen-dimplex-to-invest-15million-in-louth-but-jobs-cuts-planned-for-later-in-2024/a382563830.html | work = The Argus | title = Glen Dimplex to invest €15million in Louth but jobs cuts planned for later in 2024 | date = 8 February 2024 | accessdate = 20 February 2024 }}

Dunleer is served by several schools, all of which are co-educational facilities.

The town has three mixed gender national (primary) schools, all of which are under the trusteeship of Dunleer Parish in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Armagh. These include: St. Kevins National School, St. Fintan's National School, and St. Brigids National School.{{cite web|url = https://www.dunleerparish.ie/schools/ | website = dunleerparish.ie | publisher = Dunleer Parish | title = Schools | accessdate = 20 February 2024 }}

Scoil Ui Mhuiri Post Primary, the only secondary school in the local area, is a mixed post-primary school which is located on Barn Road in Dunleer.{{Cite web|url=https://www.schooldays.ie/school/scoil-ui-mhuiri-rollnumber-71780G|title=Scoil Ui Mhuiri, SchoolDays|website=www.schooldays.ie|access-date=2018-08-01}} As of 2024, the school had over 630 pupils enrolled.{{cite web|url = https://www.gov.ie/en/directory/page/jhc6r3-2crl9j-/ | publisher = Department of Education | website = gov.ie | title = Directory Page - Scoil Ui Mhuiri | date = 22 January 2024 | accessdate = 19 February 2024 }} In November 2020, after a number of "major delays",{{cite web|url = https://www.independent.ie/regionals/louth/drogheda-news/multi-million-euro-school-extension-delight-for-dunleer/39698057.html | work = Drogheda Independent | title = Multi-million euro school extension delight for Dunleer | date= 7 November 2020 |accessdate = 20 February 2024 }}{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/droghedaindependent/news/anxious-times-for-dunleer-extension-37072695.html|title=Anxious times for Dunleer extension|last=Murphy|first=Hubert|date=2018-07-07|work=Drogheda Independent | publisher = independent.ie|access-date=2018-08-01|language=en-IE}} a significant extension (incorporating 26 rooms, a new administration section, sensory room and outdoor area) was opened at the school. This extension replaced a number of prefabs which had surrounded the school for several years.

File:St. Brigid's Church, Dunleer, Co. Louth - geograph.org.uk - 1311454.jpg

Dunleer has a Roman Catholic church (St. Brigid's) and a Church of Ireland church. There is also a community library which is located in a former bank.{{cite web|url = https://www.independent.ie/regionals/louth/news/former-county-louth-bank-building-transformed-into-modern-new-dunleer-library/a1106384498.html | work = Drogheda Independent | title = Former County Louth bank building transformed into modern new Dunleer Library | date = 12 September 2024 | accessdate = 25 January 2025 }}

The Market House of Dunleer reopened in July 2014.{{cite web|url = https://www.dundalkdemocrat.ie/news/local-news/191961/People-of-Dunleer-can-be-proud.html | work = Dundalk Democrat | title = People of Dunleer can be proud of Market House restoration project | date = 31 July 2014 | accessdate = 20 February 2024 }} It is used as a civic centre in Dunleer, and is a civic body established by the Dunleer Community Development Board, acting as trustees of the building.{{citation needed|date=February 2020}}

Dunleer has a number of community groups, including the Dunleer Tidy Towns committee. Represented by the Tidy Towns committee, Dunleer came second in the All-Ireland "small towns" category of the 2017 Pride of Place competition, and won both the Leinster and All-Ireland "small town" awards at the 2017 event.{{cite web |url = https://www.dunleertidytowns.ie/history-details.html | title = History of Dunleer Tidy Towns | website = dunleertidytowns.ie | accessdate = 20 February 2024 | quote = Dunleer came in second in our category of small towns in the whole of Ireland in the Pride of Place Competition in 2016 [..] The following year in 2017 [..] Dunleer was announced as winners of the Leinster Section of the Competition and [..] also as the winner in the All-Ireland small towns category }}

File:Dunleer flag.png

Dunleer is home to Lann Léire GFC, the town's only Gaelic football club.

The local athletics club, Dunleer Athletic Club (Dunleer AC), has an outdoor athletics track on the Lann Léire sports campus. The athletics club also organise the annual Rás na hÉireann International Cross Country races. The 50th such event was hosted, by Dunleer AC, at Oldbridge in County Meath on 17 February 2019.{{cite web|url = https://www.dunleerac.net/ras-2019---50th-.html | website = dunleerac.net | title = 50th Rás na hÉireann - Larry Mc Guill Rás na hÉireann 2019 - Celebrating our 50th Rás event | accessdate = 20 February 2024 }}

The local Pavilion Centre has an indoor basketball arena and gym facilities.{{citation needed|date=February 2024}}

Dunleer is located adjacent to the M1 motorway to its west, and there is access to and from the M1 via three motorway interchanges (M1 Junctions 12, 13 and 14). These linkages played a part in Dunleer becoming a commuter town for those working primarily in Dublin, Drogheda and Dundalk.{{citation needed|date=February 2020}}

File:Dunleer Station - geograph.org.uk - 312354.jpg ]]

The town is served by a bus service, Bus Éireann routes 100 and 100X, which link the town to Drogheda, Dundalk and Dublin.{{cite web|url = https://www.buseireann.ie/timetables/100X-1669033311.pdf | publisher = Bus Éireann | title = Expressway Route 100 - Dublin to Dundalk | accessdate = 20 February 2024 }}{{cite web|url = https://www.dundalkdemocrat.ie/news/local-news/1423915/bus-stop-reinstated-in-dunleer.html |title = Bus stop reinstated in Dunleer | work = Dundalk Democrat | date = 15 February 2024 | accessdate = 20 February 2024 }}

Dunleer railway station, a disused station on the Dublin-Belfast railway line, opened on 1 April 1851, closed for goods traffic on 2 December 1974 and closed altogether on 26 November 1984.{{cite web | title=Dunleer station | work=Railscot - Irish Railways | url=http://www.railscot.co.uk/Ireland/Irish_railways.pdf | access-date=2007-10-12}} While the possibility of the station being rebuilt was referenced in local development plans published in 2009 by Louth County Council,{{cite web|url = http://www.louthcoco.ie/downloads/Reports/DevelopmentPlans/RLouthDevPlan/Manager's%20Report%20in%20Relation%20to%20Pre-draft%20Submissions.pdf | title = Louth County Council Development Plan Review (pre-draft submissions) 2009-2015 | date = 2009 }} as of 2021 the National Transport Authority reportedly had "no plans" for a station at Dunleer.{{cite web|url = https://www.independent.ie/regionals/droghedaindependent/news/dunleer-station-hopes-dashed-as-national-transport-authority-says-it-has-no-plans-for-it-40037886.html | publisher = Independent News & Media | work = Drogheda Independent | title = Dunleer station hopes dashed as National Transport Authority says it has no plans for it | date = 6 February 2021 | accessdate = 23 October 2021 }} The disused railway station building was refurbished in 2014.{{citation needed|date=February 2020}}

• 919. Cearnach, son of Flann, Abbot of Lann-Leire, died; of whom was said:
• The torch of the plain (good in battle)/of Bregia the fair and lovely, stout his strength/Brilliance of the sun, the sun upon his cheek. Cearnach of Leire, mournful/the loss of him.

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category|Dunleer}}

• [http://www.Dunleerparish.ie/ Dunleer Parish]

{{County Louth}}

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Category:Towns and villages in County Louth

Category:Townlands of County Louth

Category:Civil parishes of County Louth

Category:Former boroughs in the Republic of Ireland