County Louth Contae Lú
Motto: Lugh sáimh-ioldánach  (Irish) "Lugh equally skilled in many arts"
Location
Statistics
Province:	Leinster
County seat:	Dundalk
Code:	LH
Area:	820 km²
Population (2006)	110,894[1]
Website: www.louthcoco.ie

County Louth (pronounced /ˈlaʊð/ – Irish: Contae Lú)^[2][3] is one of the traditional counties of Ireland and is located within the province of Leinster. It was named after the village of Louth.

County Louth is affectionately called "the Wee County" being the smallest of Ireland’s 32 counties in area having a total area of only 821 km² (317sq miles).^[4][5] It is the 19th largest in terms of population.^[6] It is the smallest of Leinster’s 12 counties in size and sixth largest in terms of population.

Contents 1 Origin of name 2 History 3 Irish language 4 Notable settlements in County Louth 4.1 Towns 4.2 Villages 5 Demographics 6 Notable events 7 Notable people 8 See also 9 References 10 External links

[edit] Origin of name

The village (and thus the county) was named after the Celtic pagan god Lugh, whose festival was celebrated at Lúnasa.

The modern name is now an Lú. This is merely a modern standardised rendering of the older Lughbhaidh and has nothing to do with the comparative/superlative form lú meaning smaller or smallest of the adjective beag.

[edit] History

This is a county steeped in myth, legend and history, going back to the pre-historical days of the Táin Bó Cúailnge (Cooley Cattle Raid, see Cúchulainn). Later it saw the influence of the Vikings as seen in the name of Carlingford Lough.

There are a number of historic sites in the county, including religious sites at Monasterboice and Mellifont Abbey

In the early fourteenth century the Scottish army of Edward Bruce (brother of Robert of Bannockburn fame) was defeated in the Battle of Faughart near Dundalk, Edward losing not only his claim to the High Kingship Of Ireland, but also his life. The sixteenth and seventeenth centuries featured many skirmishes and battles involving Irish and English forces. Oliver Cromwell attacked Drogheda in 1649 slaughtering the Royalist garrison (Siege of Drogheda).

Towards the end of the same century the armies of the warring Kings, James and William, faced off in North Louth during the build-up to the Battle of the Boyne - the battle takes its name from the river Boyne which reaches the sea at Drogheda.

In 1798 the leaders of the United Irishmen included Bartholomew Teeling, John Byrne and Patrick Byrne, all from Castletown; Anthony McCann from Corderry; Nicholas and Thomas Markey from Barmeath , Arthur McKeown, John Warren and James McAllister from Cambricville. They were betrayed by informers, notably a Dr. Conlan, who came from Dundalk, and an agent provocateur called Sam Turner, from Newry. Several of the leaders were hanged.

In 1816 the Wildgoose Lodge Murders took place in the west of the county.

The priest and scientist Nicholas Joseph Callan (1799–1864), from Darver, was a famous son of the county.

[edit] Irish language

The area of Omeath was Irish-speaking until the early 20th century. A native dialect of Louth Irish existed there until about 1930, but is now extinct, although recordings have been made.^[7]

Historical populations
Year	Pop.	%±
1653	8,527	—
1659	9,690	13.6%
1821	119,129	1129.4%
1831	124,846	4.8%
1841	128,240	2.7%
1851	107,662	−16.0%
1861	90,713	−15.7%
1871	84,021	−7.4%
1881	77,684	−7.5%
1891	71,038	−8.6%
1901	65,820	−7.3%
1911	63,665	−3.3%
1926	62,739	−1.5%
1936	64,339	2.6%
1946	66,194	2.9%
1951	68,771	3.9%
1956	69,194	0.6%
1961	67,378	−2.6%
1966	69,519	3.2%
1971	74,951	7.8%
1979	86,135	14.9%
1981	88,514	2.8%
1986	91,810	3.7%
1991	90,724	−1.2%
1996	92,166	1.6%
2002	101,821	10.5%
2006	111,267	9.3%
[8][9][10][11][12][13]

[edit] Notable settlements in County Louth

[edit] Towns

• Ardee
• Drogheda
• Dundalk
• Dunleer
• Greenore

[edit] Villages

Annagassan Ballymascanlon Baltray Blackrock Carlingford Castlebellingham Clogherhead Collon Darver Dromiskin

Jenkinstown Kilsaran Killanny Knockbridge Louth Mansfieldtown Stonetown Omeath Tallanstown Termonfeckin Tullyallen Tinure Ravensdale

[edit] Demographics

The majority of the county's population live in either Dundalk (2006 pop. 29,037) in north Louth, or Drogheda (2006 pop. 28,973) in the south. The 2006 Census^[1] confirmed Dundalk and Drogheda as not only the largest towns in the county, but also the second and third largest towns in Ireland.

Within legally defined boundaries Dundalk has the larger population, however the total population(including suburbs or environs) is greater in Drogheda, this includes areas and suburbs of Drogheda which lie in County Meath.^[1]

Data taken from the 2006 Census:

Town	Total population including suburbs or environs	Population within legally defined boundary	Population of suburbs or environs
Drogheda	35,090	28,973	6,117
Dundalk	35,085	29,037	6,048
Ardee	4,694	4,301	393
Dunleer	1,449
Greenore	979

[edit] Notable events

On the 3rd of June 2009, a Leaving Certificate examiner distributed the incorrect test paper in a Louth examination centre. As a result the students of the school in question saw the English Higher Level Paper 2 exam a day before its official release. Word of the paper's content spread, and the State Examinations Commission were forced to cancel the exam and reschedule the exam to take place on Saturday the 6th.

[edit] Notable people

• Thomas Byrne - Former racing driver
• Eamonn Campbell - Member of the Dubliners
• The Corrs - pop/rock band
• George Drumgoole Coleman - Civil architect
• Nick Colgan - Football goalkeeper, currently playing for Grimsby Town
• Mark Dearey - Green Party politician
• Kenny Finn - Irish American soccer and gaelic football player
• Beatrice Hill-Lowe - Archer
• Gary Kelly - Former footballer, played his entire career with Leeds United
• Colin Larkin - Footballer, currently playing for Hartlepool United
• Evanna Lynch - Harry Potter actress, plays Luna Lovegood
• Cathy Maguire - Singer and songwriter
• Brendan McGahon - Former politician for Fine Gael
• Arthur Thomas Moore - General and recipient of the Victoria Cross
• Arthur Morgan - Sinn Féin TD for Louth
• Gerry O'Connor - Traditional Irish fiddle player
• Tommy Smyth - Soccer commentator for ESPN
• Kevin Thornton - Footballer
• Robert Kearney - Irish Rugby player

[edit] See also

• List of abbeys and priories in the Republic of Ireland (County Louth)

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• - Information about the town and places of interest
• Omeath Online - Official Site of Omeath, Co. Louth
• Carlingford Online - Carlingford Local and Tourist Site
• Dunleer Parish
• Louth Local Authorities
• Drogheda Tourism - Official Site of the Drogheda Tourist Office

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Coordinates: 53°50′N 6°30′W / 53.833°N 6.5°W / 53.833; -6.5