Drogheda: Droichead Átha

          Drogheda is a large town built along the banks of the River Boyne, an hour north of Dublin and is the location of many cultural and historic sites. It is famous for the massacre committed there by Oliver Cromwell in September 1659, when his Parliamentary forces besieged the stronghold of the Royalists within the walls. Once his artillery had secured a breach in one of the gates, his troops poured in and slaughtered the surrendering garrison. The greatest atrocity, however, occurred under direct order from Oliver Cromwell, who had the priests and civilians of the town locked in St Peter's Cathedral and burned the church while the victims suffocated inside.
         The cathedral was rebuilt and was later the constituency of Oliver Plunkett, who, later the 17th Century, was martyred for preaching Catholicism. His head was brought back and lies within the church sanctuary to this day in a gold case. The church also "supposedly" houses one of the original pieces of the Cross, which is displayed along the far wall of the sanctuary.

St Peter's Cathedral of Drogheda

Saint Peter

Within this silver inset is supposedly a splinter from the original cross of Jesus

Even though the picture is unclear, this is Oliver Plunkett's old dry head

Oliver Plunkett in a more edifying light

Chapel Gate

St Mary Magdalene Friary

The Boyne

Remnants of the walls on which the Battle of Drogheda was fought

Hill Fort and Martello Tower