Drogheda: City Gate, Art and Walking Routes

Discover Drogheda through several distinct attractions: a surviving 13th-century city gate, a revered saint’s shrine, art from the municipal collection, and routes ranging from short mapped walks to the 25 km Boyne Valley Camino. As you plan your trip, consider whether city history and art or longer routes outdoors should take greater priority. The attractions and routes offer concrete points of reference to help you decide.

A gate that bears witness to the former fortifications

St. Laurence’s Gate is a National Monument in state care and dates from the 13th century. It is the only surviving structure from the extensive fortifications that once surrounded Drogheda. This contrast makes the gate a striking historical landmark: it still stands, while the other structures in this former defensive system have not survived. Those interested in the city’s history will encounter a tangible part of its past here, not just a general reference to its age.

St Peter’s Church and Oliver Plunkett

St Peter’s Church in Drogheda houses the head of Saint Oliver Plunkett in a purpose-built shrine for veneration. The site is therefore closely connected with the saint’s commemoration. His feast day also falls on a fixed date: special celebrations for Saint Oliver Plunkett’s feast are held in Drogheda every year on 1 July, the anniversary of his death. If you would like to include this religious and historical connection in your trip, you can use the anniversary as a specific point of reference.

Art and guided tours

The Highlanes Gallery presents exhibitions from Drogheda’s municipal art collection. It offers individuals and groups both formal and informal guided tours of the collection and its temporary exhibition programme. This gives you a choice between two distinct focuses: works from the municipal collection and changing exhibitions. The gallery also includes the Five Good Things Café.

The Drogheda Museum Millmount offers a different focus, with guided tours of the museum and the Martello Towers. Together, the gallery and museum provide different ways to include art and history in your stay. If you enjoy learning more about a collection or a site, you can take the available guided tours into account when planning your trip; the variety of exhibitions at the Highlanes Gallery is another option for an independent art visit.

Walks and the Boyne Valley Camino

Drogheda Walks comprises four mapped walking routes ranging from 1.5 to 6.5 km. This stated range lets you use distance as a factor when choosing a route. For a shorter walk, you can look at the lower end of the range; those looking for a longer route will find options of up to 6.5 km.

A much longer option is the Boyne Valley Camino: this 25 km circular route starts at St Peter’s Church on West Street in Drogheda and goes to Old Mellifont Abbey and back. The route alternates between a riverside greenway, woodland paths, quiet country roads, a canal path and green fields. The Camino therefore differs from the four walks in both its length and its mix of route types. When planning, you can weigh up whether you prefer shorter mapped walks or want to focus on the longer circular route and its varied landscapes.

More places to discover: Termonfeckin, Lower Jenkinstown, Bettystown, Collon, Dunleer, Tallanstown, Dundalk and Carlingford.

For the wider travel overview: County Louth.