Community Historian Brendan Matthews

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Community Historian Brendan Matthews. “Grandeur Days of Yesteryear” . Old photo depicting the beautiful Gormanston Cas...
26/05/2026

Community Historian Brendan Matthews. “Grandeur Days of Yesteryear” . Old photo depicting the beautiful Gormanston Castle and sweeping front lawn. Note the hay-cock sitting on the lawn.

History & Heritage Walk n Talk. Community Historian Brendan Matthews will present the next History & Heritage Walk n Tal...
26/05/2026

History & Heritage Walk n Talk. Community Historian Brendan Matthews will present the next History & Heritage Walk n Talk on Wednesday evening, May 27th next starting at St. Mary`s Church in James Street in Drogheda at 7.30pm. Brendan will speak about the Chapel of St. Nicholas, the town jail, castle of comfort and the hospital of St. James that once stood in the area of the Bullring and James`s St. The Walk will move along the Dublin road passing Georgian houses and the former Union Workhouse before descending the steps at the train station down to the Marsh road to the location of a later St. James`s hospital before walking by Ship St. and finishing at the site of the former Carmalite Friary at the South Quay/ d hotel area at around 8.30pm. Free to attend with donations for the further research and presentation of a living-history experience.

Community Historian Brendan Matthews. The Well of Saint Columcille. Photo by Brendan Matthews depicts the lovely cut s...
25/05/2026

Community Historian Brendan Matthews. The Well of Saint Columcille. Photo by Brendan Matthews depicts the lovely cut stone water-well and the beautifully carved sandstone figure sculpture dedicated locally to Saint Columcille which may be seen along the old road at Calliaghstown, Shallon. The old water well, looking beautiful in early summer surrounded by an array of colourful flowers. The sculptured figure dates to the 14th century. A high wall surrounds the water-well in front of the figure and it was believed that this wall was erected so as to stop cattle and other animals from gaining access to the well and perhaps damaging it. A short distance away and on the opposite side of the road from the water well once stood the site of a medieval Convent, hence the name of Calliaghstown being associated with the townland here.

Community Historian, Brendan Matthews. “Irish Mythology”. Photos depict the small stone bridge that lies beneath the roa...
24/05/2026

Community Historian, Brendan Matthews. “Irish Mythology”. Photos depict the small stone bridge that lies beneath the road over the ancient Atha Scenmed, which is located around 100 metres to the south of the Bridgefoot in Fingal. This bridge is noticeable to motorists and cyclists as the road slightly rises and falls again over the stream, creating a humped-backed bridge similar to the Bridgefoot but on a smaller scale. The name `Atha Scenmed` can be found in the great Irish Epic Tale of the Táin Bó Cúailnge (The Cattle Raid of Cooley). After the great Mythological Hero, Cú Chulainn had eloped with his love Emer from her father`s Dún at Lusca (Lusk), an army was quickly raised to pursue the couple. This pursuit was led by Scenmed, an aunt of Emer and sister to her father, Forgall Manach, also known as Forgall the Wily, Lord of Lusca. The warriors caught up with Cú Chulainn and Emer at the crossing of this particular small stream; however the legendary hero defeated Scenmed, resulting in many men having been killed between this stream and that of the Ailbhine (Delvin), River a short distance away. Following the defeat and referring to the crossing of the Ailbhine, Emer exclaimed “Great is the Deed that you have done for me today, that I will name this place Glond Atha; that is the `Ford of the Deeds` and it will be its name forever”. Emer` aunt, Scenmed, was killed in the battle at the crossing of the smaller stream hence the name of the stream `Atha Scenmed`, or the `Ford of Scenmed`. Cú Chulainn and Emer had more encounters along the route through Meath and Louth before they eventually reached Cú Chulainn`s fortress at Dún Dealgan. Researched & written by Community Historian,Brendan Matthews. ©2023

Community Historian Brendan Matthews. Photo depicts Community Historian Brendan Matthews with the British Ambassador to ...
21/05/2026

Community Historian Brendan Matthews. Photo depicts Community Historian Brendan Matthews with the British Ambassador to Ireland, Kara Owen, who took a History & Heritage Walk n Talk across the streets & lanes of old Drogheda earlier today, Thursday May 21st 2026. Photo taken within the Drogheda Civic Offices at Fair Street where Brendan had shown the Ambassador the Sword & Mace which was presented to the town of Drogheda by King William III following the Battle of the Boyne in 1690.

History & Heritage Walk n Talk TourOrigins of Laytown & Bettystown Coastal VillagesWith Community Historian Brendan Matt...
20/05/2026

History & Heritage Walk n Talk Tour

Origins of Laytown & Bettystown Coastal Villages
With Community Historian Brendan Matthews
Step into the past on a captivating coastal Walk n Talk through the beautiful East Meath villages of Laytown to the Brookside stream in Bettystown. Join Community Historian Brendan Matthews in association with Boyne Valley Trails for a magical journey along the shore, uncovering stories of settlement, survival and community life stretching back over 4,000 years.
Along the route, discover:

• Ainí – the ‘Ferocious One’, ancient Goddess of the Nanny
• The mystery and discovery of the Tara Brooch
• Origins and place-name meanings behind Laytown, Bettystown & Mornington
• The rise and fall of Laytown’s medieval port
• Rich tales from a thriving coastal community along the Irish Sea

Date: Saturday, 17th September 2026
Time: 10:15am

Duration: Approx. 1 hour 45 minutes (finishing around 12 noon)
Distance: 5km (3 miles) return walk
Starting Point: Laytown car park, beside the pedestrian bridge at the Nanny Estuary
Terrain: A mix of beach and coastal footpath between Laytown and Bettystown (return via the strand)
What to Bring: Weather-appropriate clothing and suitable footwear
Cost: €15 per person
Booking: Advance booking essential – places are limited. For further information and/or to book tickets log onto
https://boynevalleytrails.ie/event/origins-of-laytown-and-bettystown-trails-and-tides-weekend/
Tickets via Eventbrite-click here.

Community Historian Brendan Matthews. “The Emergency”. Photo, by Brendan Matthews taken in 2021, depicts one of the larg...
19/05/2026

Community Historian Brendan Matthews. “The Emergency”. Photo, by Brendan Matthews taken in 2021, depicts one of the larger Irish Army Military Pill Boxes in the Gormanston area. This particular Pill Box is located on private land and is situated about ¾ mile (1km) north-east of the old C**k Tavern Public House and within the townland of Irishtown. The Pill Boxes were constructed during the Second World War and when this period in Ireland was known as `The Emergency`. At least five Pill Boxes were constructed around the Army Military Base at Gormanston; made of reinforced concrete, they were built to house gunners who were equipped with radio technology to relay messages back to Headquarters; the Soldiers within were also directed to take all notes of any activity they may have witnessed off the coast in the adjacent Irish Sea concerning the movement of shipping and submarine activity regarding both the British and the Germans. Only one of the Pill Boxes at Gormanston retains its original small iron door. It is believed that the Pill Boxes may have got their name from earlier, smaller, structures used by the Germans during the First World War, which were circular and/or hexagonal in design and resembled that of a medical-pill-box, or there is a second thought that they were named so because they resembled pillar boxes, particularly those like the post pillar box which had an opening for the posting of letters similar to the narrow slits within the concrete structure of the military pill-box. These structures were also known in Ireland as `Look-Out-Posts` (L.O.P.) and there are some very interesting records surviving from these Pill Boxes which are held in the Military Archives at Cathal Brugha Barracks in Dublin. Researched & written by Community Historian Brendan Matthews

Community Historian, Brendan Matthews. “keep-of-the land”. Advert/Notice regarding trespassing on local lands back in th...
16/05/2026

Community Historian, Brendan Matthews. “keep-of-the land”. Advert/Notice regarding trespassing on local lands back in the autumn of 1835. The great Finian Patriot & Poet from nearby Sarsfieldstown, Thomas O` Brien, summed up such actions by the local `gentry` back in the close of the 1880`s; the following is an extract from his writings which were titled “Royal Meath, Its Past Glories & Present desolation”. `From the great circular Rath of Greenhills, we not only look down on Sarsfieldstown, Ballygarth and Gormanstown, but we get an extensive view of the Mourne Mountains, south Louth, north Fingal and along the coastline from Carlingford to Lambay Island. Around us we behold many traces of Meath`s past glories and present desolation. Southward are Gormanstown Castle and the evicted farms and the ancient ruined church of Stamullen, side by side with Stedalt mansion and lake, replacing the busy mill and mill-pond. Westward, as far as Bellewstown`s velvet plain, we behold Mullaghteeling and surrounding districts; a howling wilderness for grazing purposes, with yet another evicted farm in the distance. Northward, the same spectacle meets the eye. A few tillage farms and about 30 labourer`s cottages cover the vast expanse of rich land, where a few cattle-worshipping individuals claim as private property even the wild animals that God created for all men`. From the writings of Thomas O`Brien 1852-1906. Researched, written & compiled by Community Historian, Brendan Matthews. ©2001

Community Historian Brendan Matthews. “Yesterdays entertainment”. Photo by Brendan Matthews depicts the old 1980`s `Vide...
15/05/2026

Community Historian Brendan Matthews. “Yesterdays entertainment”. Photo by Brendan Matthews depicts the old 1980`s `Video` neon sign over the former entrance into the Video Shop at Barney Mac`s on the corner of Cord Road and Oulster Lane. A great reminder of T.V. and Video –rental entertainment from nearly 50-years-ago.Photo captured in early May 2026.

History & Heritage Walk n Talk. Join Community Historian Brendan Matthews onWednesday May 13th next beginning at 7:30pm ...
11/05/2026

History & Heritage Walk n Talk. Join Community Historian Brendan Matthews on
Wednesday May 13th next beginning at 7:30pm at Laurence's Gate and step back into a guided walk through Drogheda’s historic weaving district—Cord Lane, Oulster Lane & surrounding streets—home to 18th-century hand-loom weavers. The tour takes in Scarlet St., Sandiford Alley and the old Crawleys Court before descending down the `old-steps` from the Cord Lane and finishing at Steampacket/Merchants Quay area, launch of the first Steam Ship from Drogheda in 1826. Free event, donations if desired for the further research and presentation of a `living history experience`.

Address

Stamullen Meath
Drogheda
K32Y446

Telephone

086-2260158

Website

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