The town, located approximately 35 km north of Dublin, is an important
industrial center. Apart from the port, there are cement and steel processing
plants as well as breweries and other factories.
When the Vikings conquered the place on the river Boyne in 911, a
much older settlement already existed here. The Vikings subsequently erected a base
to secure this strategically important location. Later, the Anglo-Normans
built a bridge across the Boyne and fortified the place on both banks of the river.
During the 14th and 15th century, Drogheda was one of the
four capitals of Ireland. The town was awarded the right to mint its
own money and became a university town in 1465. Until the
17th century, the Irish parliament assembled several times in Drogheda.
In 1649, the town was conquered by Cromwell, and in 1690,
it surrendered to the troops of King William III of Orania after the
infamous battle at the Boyne.
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