Dunleer & District Historical Society

12/03/2026

06/03/2026

From The Archives - Local Newspapers

The Dundalk Democrat - Wednesday February 8, 2006

David will run from Galway to Dublin

Athlete David Carrie is set for a marathon trek from Galway to Dunleer to raise funds and awareness for Sudden Adult Death Syndrome as part of the Rás na hÉireann SADS Awareness week, writes James Rogers. The Dunleer AC man will leave University Hospital Galway on Saturday February 24 and run from there to the Hearthouse at the Mater Hospital in Dublin before finally arriving back in Dunleer on Sunday March 4. Despite the gruelling challenge that lies ahead for him Carrie admits he is looking forward to the run.
"I've never done anything like this before but I've done plenty of distance running so it should be okay" he said. "The total distance I'll be running is 182 miles which consists of seven marathons in the week".
Carrie is just back from the Cardiff UK International Cross Country Challenge where he finished 38th in the senior men's 9k event. Further details on how to support David will be available in the next few weeks.

05/03/2026

"The Democrat" - "A Century Ago"(Actually 130 years ago)

Note to Reader - this tragedy happened in 1896

Dunleer Head Porter Killed

On last night week when the down train due here at 7.50pm arrived at Dunleer, a gentleman travelling by it reported that an old man dressed in the railway uniform, who got into his compartment at Drogheda, had left it and disappeared some time after the train left the latter station. On word being sent to Drogheda a search engine was dispatched and the unfortunate man who proved to be head porter John Duffy of Dunleer was picked up some four miles down the line in a semi-unconscious state.

It was found on examination that he had sustained severe head injuries and notwithstanding the prompt and skilful attention of Dr Keelan, he succumbed on Sunday.

Duffy was a very respectable man, well known to travellers on the line as head porter at Dunleer for many years. His death under such distressing circumstances naturally created sincere sorrow amongst his neighbours and friends and heartfelt sympathy with his widow and children.

On Monday, Dr Moore, coroner for South Louth held an inquest on the remains. The following were sworn on the jury:- Messrs Joseph J Crilly, Edward Morgan, Wm. Bingham, Michael McKenna, Patrick Lennon, Peter Morgan, Edward Morgan, Matthew Gibney, Bartholomew Ward, Bernard Gannon, James Browne, James Byrne, William Murrary, George McGovern, John Morgan.

05/03/2026

From The Archives of the Local Newspapers

The Democrat and Peoples Journal
Saturday, Jan 29, 1966
I.C.A. Notes
Dunleer Guild
The annual general meeting was held in Dunleer Technical School. A vote of sympathy with Mrs. B Kieran, Drumcar, on the death of her husband, was passed.
A motion of regret on her recent accident, to Mrs McCann, was also passed. Congratulations were extended to all the members who won prizes at the Dunleer Christmas Show.
The following officers were elected for 1966: President, Mrs R Gough; Vice President, Mrs T Mulroy; Secretary, Mrs K Kenny; Treasurer, Mrs M Durnin; International Officer, Mrs M Kelly; Press Correspondent, Miss P Casey; Grianan Representative, Mrs J Sharkey; Committee- Mrs P Mc Donnell, Mrs M Matthews, Mrs J Gregory, Mrs K Coulter, Miss Prendergast.

The Democrat and Peoples Journal
Saturday, Mar 29, 1966
Collapse of Wall at Dunleer - A subsidence of the foundation, following the recent prolonged spell of rain, led to the collapse of a big section of the concrete finished wall on the approach to the G.E.C. Factory, Barn Road, Dunleer. Fortunately, there was no one around on this normally busy roadway when the collapse occurred, sending tons of rubble and concrete to the ground.

Dundalk Democrat and Peoples Journal
Saturday, 3rd February, 1996
Dunleer Bridge Club - Dunleer Bridge Club held a a Competition recently and the results were as follows: Section A, North/South, 1st., Colen Berrill and Jackie Moran and 2nd., Bernie Boylan and Pamela Mullen. East/West. 1st., Mal McGuinness and Patsy Mulligan and 2nd., Betty Redmond and Bernie Byrne. Section B North/South, 1st., Alice Bonner and Dot McIvor and 2nd., Paddy Brennan and Pat Manley. East/West. 1st., Tim and Una O'Connor and 2nd., Mary McGivern and Miriam Gillard.

Dundalk Democrat and Peoples Journal
Saturday, 17th February, 1996
Fire at Rathescar Castle - Dunleer Fire Brigade were called to deal with a chimney fire at Rathescar Castle on Wednesday night last. Due to it being such an old building the Brigade had to remain for some time at the scene to ensure the outbreak had been brought completely under control.

Dundalk Democrat and Peoples Journal
Saturday, 24th February, 1996
Confirmation in Dunleer - The Sacrament of Confirmation will be administered to children from Dunleer Parish in St Brigid's Church, on tomorrow, Sunday, at 3pm.

The Dundalk Democrat
Wednesday February 8, 2006
David will run from Galway to Dublin - Athlete David Carrie is set for a marathon trek from Galway to Dunleer to raise funds and awareness for Sudden Adult Death Syndrome as part of the Rás na hÉireann SADS Awareness week, writes James Rogers. The Dunleer AC man will leave University Hospital Galway on Saturday February 24 and run from there to the Hearthouse at the Mater Hospital in Dublin before finally arriving back in Dunleer on Sunday March 4. Despite the gruelling challenge that lies ahead for him Carrie admits he is looking forward to the run.
"I've never done anything like this before but I've done plenty of distance running so it should be okay" he said. "The total distance I'll be running is 182 miles which consists of seven marathons in the week".
Carrie is just back from the Cardiff UK International Cross Country Challenge where he finished 38th in the senior men's 9k event. Further details on how to support David will be available in the next few weeks.

27/02/2026

The Irish Connection - Wuthering Heights

The Rev Patrick Brunty (Ó Pronntaigh) was born in Drumballyrony, near Raithfriland, Co Down on St Patricks Day 1777. His father Hugh was a farm labourer of the Protestant faith and his mother was a Catholic. Being the eldest of ten children, he was brought up in his father's Anglican faith in what was a large, poor household,

The young Brunty was lucky enough to be educated and won a scholarship to St John's College, Cambridge in 1802 to study divinity and history. He had poems, pamphlets and articles published in the name Patrick Brontë. He had changed his name while at Cambridge as it is thought he believed it too Irish. He certainly had reason to distance himself from his brother William who was on the run from the British for his involvement with the United Irishmen. Another theory on the inspiration for the spelling he chose was his admiration for Lord Nelson, who had been given the title Duke of Bronté in Sicily by Ferdinand of Bourbon in 1799.

He obtained his BA and was ordained in 1806 and continued to write and publish poems. While working as an assistant curate and teacher in Yorkshire, he met and married Maria Branwell in 1812. By the time he had secured a permanent position as curate at Haworth in 1819, they had five children; the sixth, Anne, was born in January 1820. In April 1820, they moved to the parsonage at Haworth, which was to be their home for the rest of their lives. The family tragedies started almost immediately as their mother died in 1821, aged 33, thought to be of ovarian cancer. The eldest two daughters Maria and Elizabeth died within 6 weeks of each other, in 1825, aged 12 and 11 of consumption / tuberculosis. He took care of the rest of the children along with his sister in law, Elizabeth Branwell, ensuring they were well educated and they all developed a passion for storytelling and writing at an early age. Charlotte and Anne worked as governesses when they finished school.

In 1842 Charlotte and Emily went to Brussels with the idea of setting up a language school. Their brother, Branwell took an interest in literature and art, persuing training in that field as well as setting up a local school in Haworth. However, he succumbed to alcohol and laudunum and lost his reputation locally and was cared for by his sisters. Aunt Branwell died in October 1842 and left enough money in her will for each of the girls to live independently and by 1845 they had all given up working and returned to Haworth.

In 1847, three books were published by the Brontë sisters. Charlotte (Jane Eyre), Emily (Wuthering Heights) and Anne (Agnes Grey) written using the pseudonyms, Curra, Ellis and Acton Bell. The publishers were not aware of the concealment until after the books became successful. We know these books now as classics however they were considered by some in Victorian times to be coarse and lacking morality. Fame followed along with more publications, including The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne in 1848, which is considered to be a first in feminist fiction. There was further tragedy for Patricks family that year with the deaths of Branwell and Emily, aged 31 and 30 respectively of tuberculosis. Anne herself succumbed the following May, at the age of 29.

Charlotte, being the sole survivor, assumed control over her sisters writings and their publications thus affecting their popularity during her lifetime. Their real identities only became public in 1850. She married the poor Irish curate, Arthur Bell Nicholls, her father's assistant, in 1854, although he did not approve. She died in 1855, while in the early stages of pregnancy, of tuberculosis and typhoid, aged 39.

Patrick Brontë outlived his wife and all six children, dying on 7 June 1861, aged 84, with no surviving offspring.

The literary Society that was The Brontë family was unique, particularly because of their social isolation on the Yorkshire Moors, their family tragedies and their writing talents.

26/02/2026

Around 1810, Count Jerome De Salis married Henrietta Foster (Harriet) (9 October 1785 – 26 October 1856), daughter of Rt. Rev. William Foster, DD (1744–97- Dr Foster of the Doctors Lane).

The couple had nine children, including Rodolphus Johannes Leslie Hibernicus de Salis, William Andreas Salicus Fane De Salis, Leopold Fane De Salis, and Henry de Salis. Harriet was Jerome's 3rd wife (his first two wives had died young; Sophia had given birth to a son, Peter John Fane, who inherited his father's titles, and Penelope, who died from childbirth of a daughter).

During their time living in Rokeby Hall, the De Salis family established a Market in Dunleer in 1825, and building on its success, construction began on a House to operate the business of the market. On 9th October 1826, the Market House had its official opening, on Harriets 41st birthday.

22/02/2026

Wednesday, 25th February 2026, 7.30pm
Martello Room, Governors House
Millmount Cultural Quarter
Drogheda
A92 VFH3

19/02/2026

In August 2013, DDHS led their first guided tour of Dunleer Town.

We got access to the old Parochial House, and pictures taken during the walk from inside looking out show the significant changes made since then.

Also, the old Bank was operational, and is now the newly renovated Dunleer Library.

Another stop on the walk was full access to the Church of Ireland, its grounds and graveyard.

17/02/2026

Selection of electrical items manufactured in Dunleer, displayed during our 2015 Heritage Week Pop-up Museum. Glen Dimplex and its predecessors AET and GE brought innovation to Dunleer in the years after the transformative rural electrification project.

The project was launched by the Irish Goverment in the post World War II period. It continued from 1946 to 1979, with one million electricity poles put in place to support 75,000 miles of cable.

11/02/2026

https://www.olddundalksociety.ie/event/the-lecture-will-explore-the-fascinating-story-of-president-ulysses-s-grant-or-general-grants-visit-to-dundalk-he-was-the-first-us-president-to-visit-ireland-and-to-visit-dundalk-as-part/ #:~:text=his%20world%20tour.-,President%20Ulysses%20S.,railroads%20west%20in%20the%20USA.

Interesting topic - the first US President to visit Louth. Check out the link to this fascinating lecture taking place in Dundalk tomorrow evening.

29/01/2026

DDHS 2016 AGM, held at Rokeby Hall with Music provided by Scoraíocht Lann Leire.