Dundalk is a town located in couty Louth in the Republic of Ireland, near the boarder with Northern Ireland, that has been inhabited since the Neolithic period. Dundalk’s population is of 43,112 inhabitants as of the 2022 census which makes it the seventh largest urban area of the country. It also possesses a rich background with roots from Irish and Viking culture.
Due to its proximity to both Dublin and Belfast, Dundalk is a popular destination for international students at Dundalk Institute of Technology in particilar.
Its name “ Dundalk” comes from Dún Dealgan, meaning ‘Dalga’s fort’ in Irish, which is associated to the mythical warrior Cú chulainn. He is an Irish warrior hero and demigod in Irish mythology, as well as in Scottish and Manx folklore. He is believed to be an incarnation of the Irish god Lugh, who is also his father.
The town’s landmark is Roche Castle, a ruined Norman fortress set on a particulary pituresque misty outcrop. It was the seat of the De Verdun family, who built the castle in 1236 AD.
A mythical legend tells a tall tale about how Rohesia, the one who wanted to build the castle, quick tempered reputation deterred all potential architects; she offered her hand in marriage to the man who would build the castle to her liking. The legend tells that after their wedding banquet in the newly completed castle, she invited her husband to the bridal suite and urged him to view their estate from the large bedroom window. Taking no chances with the castle’s secrets, she promptly pushed her new husband from the window, where he plummeted towards his death. The window was known thereafter as the Murder Window.
The Church of St. Patrick, also named St. Patrick’s Pro-Cathedral, is one of the historical buildings of the town too. There has been a Catholic church named Saint Patrick’s in the town since 1750. The then-Parish priest acquired the current site in 1834. The church was opened for worship in 1842 but was not complete for many years after. Work stopped during the Great Famine and resumed in 1860.