Oldbridge
{{Short description|Townland near Drogheda in County Meath, Ireland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Use Irish English|date=November 2019}}
File:River Boyne Oldbridge.jpg at Oldbridge]]
Oldbridge ({{Irish place name|An Seandroichead|no_translate=yes}}){{cite web|url = https://www.logainm.ie/38491.aspx | publisher = Irish Placenames Commission |website = logainm.ie | title = An Seandroichead / Oldbridge | accessdate = 12 November 2018}} is a townland near Drogheda in County Meath, Ireland.{{cite web|url = https://www.townlands.ie/meath/lower-duleek/st-marys/oldbridge/ | publisher = Irish Townlands | website = townlands.ie | title = Oldbridge Townland, Co. Meath | accessdate = 12 November 2018 }} The area is home to the Boyne Navigation, the Battle of the Boyne Interpretive Centre and the southern half of the Mary McAleese Boyne Valley Bridge (which carries the M1 motorway).
Navigation
The townland represents the furthest tidal reach on the River Boyne at a point called the "Curly Hole". Curly Hole is also a fishing location.{{cite web|url = http://www.fishinginireland.info/salmon/east/boyne.htm | publisher = Fishing in Ireland | website = fishinginireland.info | title = Salmon and Sea trout fishing - East - Boyne River| date = | accessdate = 12 November 2018 }} Prior to the 12th century, this was the lowest crossing point of the Boyne. The Abbey of Mellifont owned the lands and fisheries here at dissolution in 1539. It was described then as "Oldebryge. 26 fishermen with 26 boats de Corrio (sc.corachs) paying £13.6.8". The Irish coracle was used for salmon fishing at this location up to at least the first half of the 20th century.{{cite web|url = https://www.independent.ie/regionals/droghedaindependent/localnotes/the-ancient-art-of-the-coracle-27106302.html | publisher = Independent News & Media | website = independent.ie | title = The Ancient Art of the Coracle | date = 2 April 2004 | accessdate = 12 November 2018 }} One of the last coracles made locally was made in 1928 by Michael O'Brien of Oldbridge, for Adolf Mahr director of the National Museum of Ireland.{{cite web|url = https://www.tcd.ie/library/manuscripts/blog/2016/10/a-lost-craft-coracle-building-on-the-boyne/ | publisher = Trinity College Dublin | website = tcd.ie | title = A lost craft: coracle building on the Boyne | date = 20 October 2016 | accessdate = 12 November 2018 }}{{cite web|url = https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/art-and-design/boyne-coracle-1928-1.556579 | publisher = Irish Times | website = irishtimes.com | title = History of Ireland in 100 Objects - Boyne coracle, 1928 | date = 24 November 2012 | accessdate = 12 November 2018 }}
Battle of the Boyne Site
File:Oldbridge House, Battle of the Boyne Visitor Centre near Drogheda (geograph 4637130).jpg
File:Boyne Obelisk.jpg (pictured c.1890), which was erected near Oldbridge in 1736 to commemorate the Battle of the Boyne. It was destroyed in 1923.]]
{{See also|Battle of the Boyne}}
The site of the Battle of the Boyne extends over an area west of the town of Drogheda. In the County Development Plan for 2000, Meath County Council rezoned the land at the eastern edge of Oldbridge, at the site of the main Williamite crossing, to residential status. A subsequent planning application for a development of over 700 houses was granted by Meath County Council and this was appealed by local historians to An Bord Pleanala (The Planning Board). In March 2008 after a long appeal process, An Bord Pleanala approved permission for this development to proceed.{{fact|date=February 2017}}
The Battle of the Boyne Interpretive Centre is approximately {{convert|1|mi|km|adj=on}} to the west of the main crossing point, on Oldbridge Estate.{{cite web|url = http://battleoftheboyne.ie | title = Official Battle of the Boyne Interpretive Centre website | publisher= OPW | accessdate = 28 December 2014}}{{cite web | url = https://www.discoverireland.ie/Arts-Culture-Heritage/battle-of-the-boyne-visitor-centre/11168 | publisher = Fáilte Ireland | website = discoverireland.ie | title = Battle of the Boyne Visitor Centre | accessdate = 12 November 2018 }} This facility was redeveloped in 2008 and is open to tourists.
In early 2007, the newly elected First Minister of Northern Ireland, Ian Paisley, was invited to visit the battle site by the then Taoiseach Bertie Ahern. Following the invitation, Paisley commented that "such a visit would help to demonstrate how far we have come when we can celebrate and learn from the past so the next generation more clearly understands". The visit took place in May 2007 and a tree was planted in the grounds of Oldbridge House to mark the occasion.{{cite web|url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/6645119.stm | title = BBC News – Paisley and Ahern visit 1690 site| publisher = BBC | date = 11 May 2007 | accessdate = 12 November 2018 }}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{coord|53.715309|N|6.409204|W|region:GB_source:enwiki-osgb36(SH490889)|display=title}}
{{Towns and villages in County Meath}}
Category:Geography of County Meath
{{Meath-geo-stub}}