Only 48km north of Dublin,
Drogheda is a historic fortified town straddling the River Boyne. A
clutch of fine old buildings, a handsome cathedral and a riveting museum
provide plenty of cultural interest, while its atmospheric pubs, fine
restaurants, numerous sleeping options and good transport links make it a
handy base for exploring the region. This
bend in the fertile Boyne Valley has been a desirable location right
back to 910, when the Danes built a fortified settlement here. In the
12th century, the Normans added a bridge and expanded the two
settlements on either side of the river. By the 15th century, Drogheda
was one of Ireland's four largest walled towns. The 17th century brought devastation, however,
when Drogheda was the scene of Cromwell's most notorious Irish slaughter
in 1649. Things went from bad to worse in 1690, when the town backed
the wrong horse at the Battle of the Boyne and surrendered the day after
the defeat of James II.
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