Editing Dundalk

{{short description|County town of County Louth, Ireland}}
{{About|the town of Dundalk in Ireland}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=October 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2018}}
{{Infobox settlement
| settlement_type        = Town
| name                   = Dundalk
| native_name            = {{lang|ga|Dún Dealgan}}
| image_skyline          = DundalkMontage.png
| image_caption          = Clockwise from top: Castle Roche, Clarke Station, [[St. Patrick's Church, Dundalk|St. Patrick's Church]], The Marshes Shopping Centre, Market Square, Dundalk Institute of Technology
| image_shield           = Dundalk Town Crest.svg
| motto                  = {{langx|ga|Mé do rug Cú Chulainn cróga}}<br />'I gave birth to brave Cú Chulainn'
| mapsize                = 230px
| map_caption            = Location of Dundalk in Ireland
| pushpin_map            = Ireland#Europe
| pushpin_relief         = 1
| pushpin_label_position = right
| pushpin_map_caption    = Location in Ireland
| coordinates            = {{coord|54|00|16|N|06|24|01|W|dim:100000_region:IE|display=inline,title}}
| blank_name_sec1        = Irish Grid Reference
| blank_info_sec1        = {{iem4ibx|J048074}}
| subdivision_type       = Country
| subdivision_name       = [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]]
| subdivision_type1      = [[Provinces of Ireland|Province]]
| subdivision_name1      = [[Leinster]]
| subdivision_type2      = [[Counties of Ireland|County]]
| subdivision_name2      = [[County Louth]]
| leader_title2          = [[Dáil constituency]]
| leader_name2           = [[Louth (Dáil constituency)|Louth]]
| leader_title3          = [[EU Parliament]]
| leader_name3           = [[Midlands–North-West (European Parliament constituency)|Midlands–North-West]]
| area_urban_km2         = 21.7
| area_rural_km2         = 320.8
| area_footnotes         = {{efn|80 legal towns were abolished under the [[Local Government Reform Act 2014]]. Census towns which previously combined legal towns and their environs have been newly defined using the standard census town criteria (with the 100 metres proximity rule). For some towns the impact of this has been to lose area and population, compared with previous computations. 2011 census data for the 80 legal towns and their environs is available separately in table CD109.<ref>{{Cite web |title=CD109: Population by Sex, Legal Town and Environs 2011 |url=https://statbank.cso.ie/px/pxeirestat/Statire/SelectVarVal/Define.asp?maintable=CD109&PLanguage=0 |access-date=5 September 2020 |website=cso.ie |archive-date=16 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191116155004/https://statbank.cso.ie/px/pxeirestat/Statire/SelectVarVal/Define.asp?maintable=CD109&PLanguage=0 |url-status=live }}</ref>}}{{efn|The rural area is defined as being the [[Dundalk Municipal District]], created under the Local Government Reform Act 2014.<ref name="DMD" />}}
| population_rank        = [[List of urban areas in the Republic of Ireland|7th]]
| population_as_of       = [[2022 census of Ireland|2022 census]]
| population_urban       = 43,112<ref name="tableF1015census2022" />
| population_metro       = 64,287<ref name="tableF1011census2022" />
| established_title      = Inhabited
| established_date       = c. 3700 BC
| established_title1     = Charter
| established_date1      = 1189 AD
| area_code_type         = [[Telephone numbers in the Republic of Ireland|Telephone area code]]
| area_code              = +353(0)42
| postal_code_type       = [[Eircode]] routing key
| postal_code            = A91
| timezone               = [[Western European Time|WET]]
| utc_offset             = ±0
| timezone_DST           = [[Irish Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset_DST         = +1
| website                = {{URL|www.dundalk.ie}}
}}
[[File:Map of Dundalk.png|thumb|alt=Map of Dundalk |Map of Dundalk]]
[[File:Dundalk Municipal.District.png|thumb|alt=Area of Dundalk Municipal District |Area of Dundalk Municipal District]]
'''Dundalk''' ({{IPAc-en|d|ʌ|n|ˈ|d|ɔː|(|l|)|k}} {{respell|dun|DAW(L)K}};<ref>{{MW|Dundalk |access-date=20 July 2021}}</ref> {{langx|ga|Dún Dealgan}}) is the [[county town]] of [[County Louth]], [[Ireland]]. The town is situated on the [[Castletown River]], which flows into [[Dundalk Bay]] on the north-east coast of Ireland, and is halfway between [[Dublin]] and [[Belfast]], close to and south of the border with [[Northern Ireland]]. It is surrounded by several townlands and villages that form the wider Dundalk Municipal District. It is the seventh largest [[List of urban areas in the Republic of Ireland|urban area in Ireland]], with a population of 43,112 as of the [[2022 census of Ireland|2022 census]].

Dundalk has been inhabited since the [[Neolithic]] period. It was established as a [[Normans|Norman]] stronghold in the 12th century following the [[Norman invasion of Ireland]], and became the northernmost outpost of [[The Pale]] in the [[Late Middle Ages]]. Located where the northernmost point of the province of [[Leinster]] meets the province of [[Ulster]], the town came to be known as the "Gap of the North". The modern street layout dates from the early 18th century and owes its form to James Hamilton (later [[James Hamilton, 1st Earl of Clanbrassil (second creation)|1st Earl of Clanbrassil]]). The legends of the mythical warrior hero [[Cú Chulainn]] are set in this district, and the motto on the town's coat of arms is {{langx|ga|Mé do rug Cú Chulainn cróga}} ("I gave birth to brave Cú Chulainn").

The town developed brewing, distilling, tobacco, textile, and engineering industries during the 19th century. It became prosperous and its population grew as it became an important manufacturing and trading centre, both as a hub on the [[Great Northern Railway (Ireland)]] network and with its maritime link to [[Liverpool]] from the Port of Dundalk. It suffered from high [[unemployment]] and [[urban decay]] after these industries closed or were scaled back, both in the aftermath of the [[Partition of Ireland]] in 1921 and following the accession of Ireland to the [[European Economic Community]] in 1973. New industries were established in the early part of the 21st century, including pharmaceutical, technology, financial services, and specialist foods.

There is one [[Third-level education in the Republic of Ireland|third-level education institute]], [[Dundalk Institute of Technology]]. The largest theatre in the town, ''An Táin'' Arts Centre (named after [[Táin Bó Cúailnge|the epic]] of [[Irish mythology]]), is housed in [[Dundalk Town Hall]], and the restored buildings of the nearby former [[Dundalk Distillery]] house both the [[County Museum Dundalk]] and the Louth County Library. Sporting clubs include [[Dundalk F.C.|Dundalk Football Club]] (who play at [[Oriel Park]]), [[Dundalk R.F.C.|Dundalk Rugby Club]], Dundalk Golf Club, and several clubs competing in [[Gaelic games]]. [[Dundalk Stadium]] is a [[Horse racing|horse]] and [[Greyhound racing in Ireland|greyhound racing]] venue and is Ireland's only all-weather horse racing track.

==History==
===Toponymy===
Dundalk is an [[anglicisation]] of {{langx|ga|Dún Dealgan}} {{IPA|ga|ˌd̪ˠuːnˠ ˈdʲalˠəgənˠ|}} that was adopted by the first Norman settlers of the area in the 12th century. It means "the fort of Dealgan" (''[[Dun (fortification)|Dún]]'' being a type of medieval fort and ''Delga'' being the name of a mythical [[Fir Bolg]] Chieftain). The site of ''Dún Dealgan'' is traditionally associated with the [[ringfort]] known to have existed at Castletown Mount before the arrival of the Normans. The first mention of Dundalk in historical sources appears in the ''[[Annals of Ulster]]'', which record that [[Brian Boru]] met the King of Ulster at "''Dún Delgain''" in 1002 to demand submission. 12th century versions of the ''[[Táin Bó Cúailnge]]'' feature "''Delga in Muirtheimne''".{{sfn|Gosling|1991|p=243}} The manor house built by Bertram de Verdon at Castletown Mount on the site of the earlier settlement is referred to as the "''Castle of Dundalc''" in the 12th century records of the Gormanston Register.<ref>{{cite book |last1=McEnery |first1=M.J. |editor1-last=Mills |editor1-first=James |title=Calendar of the Gormanston register |date=1916 |publisher=University press, for the Royal society of antiquaries of Ireland}}</ref>

===Early history and legend===
[[File:Proleek Dolmen.jpg|right|thumb|alt=Proleek Dolmen, Ballymascanlon |Proleek Dolmen, Ballymascanlon]]
Archaeological studies at Rockmarshall on the [[Cooley peninsula]] indicate that the Dundalk district was first inhabited circa 3700 BC during the [[Neolithic]] period.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Armit |first1=Ian |title=Neolithic Settlement in Ireland and Western Britain |last2=England) |first2=Prehistoric Society (London |last3=Belfast |first3=Queen's University of |date=1 January 2003 |publisher=Oxbow Books |page=34}}</ref> Pre-Christian archaeological sites in the Dundalk Municipal District include the [[Proleek Dolmen]] (a [[dolmen|portal tomb]]) in [[Ballymascanlon]], which dates to around 3000 BC,<ref>{{Cite book |last=O'Sullivan |first=Harold |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Op51_Sc_iQwC&q=proleek+dolmen&pg=PA7 |title=Dundalk and North Louth: Paintings and Stories from Cuchulainn's Country |date=1 January 1997 |publisher=Dundurn |isbn=9781900935067 |via=Google Books |access-date=2 October 2020 |archive-date=22 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122212930/https://books.google.com/books?id=Op51_Sc_iQwC&q=proleek+dolmen&pg=PA7 |url-status=live}}</ref> the nearby "Giant's Grave" (a [[wedge-shaped gallery grave]]), [[Rockmarshall Court Tomb]] (a [[court cairn]]),<ref>{{Cite book |last=Pearson |first=Michael Parker |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PuSBAAAAMAAJ&q=Rockmarshall |title=English Heritage book of Bronze Age Britain |date=1 January 1993 |publisher=B.T. Batsford |isbn=9780713468014 |via=Google Books |access-date=2 October 2020 |archive-date=22 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122212931/https://books.google.com/books?id=PuSBAAAAMAAJ&q=Rockmarshall |url-status=live}}</ref> and [[Aghnaskeagh Cairns]] (a [[chambered cairn]] and portal tomb).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Holdings: Excavations at Aghnaskeagh, County Louth, Cairn A. |year=1935 |url=http://sources.nli.ie/Record/PS_UR_035608 |access-date=1 September 2020 |archive-date=27 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220327144527/http://sources.nli.ie/Record/PS_UR_035608 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Evans |first=E. Estyn |date=1 January 1937 |title=Excavations at Aghnaskeagh, Co. Louth, Cairn B: Irish Free State Scheme of Archæological Research |journal=Journal of the County Louth Archaeological Society |volume=9 |issue=1 |pages=1–18 |doi=10.2307/27728454 |jstor=27728454}}</ref>

The legends of [[Cú Chulainn]], including the ''Táin Bó Cúailnge'' (The Cattle Raid of Cooley), an [[epic poetry|epic]] of early Irish literature, are set in the first century AD, before the arrival of Christianity to Ireland. ''[[Clochafarmore]]'', the [[menhir]] that Cú Chulainn reputedly tied himself to before he died, is located to the west of the town, near [[Knockbridge]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Kinsella |first=Thomas |title=The Táin |date=1969 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=0192810901}}</ref>

[[Brigid of Kildare|Saint Brigid]] is reputed to have been born in 451 AD in [[Faughart]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=St Brigid: 5 things to know about the iconic Irish woman |url=https://www.rte.ie/lifestyle/living/2018/0201/937553-st-brigid-5-things-to-know-about-the-iconic-irish-woman/ |access-date=14 August 2020 |website=rte.ie |publisher=RTÉ |archive-date=22 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200822233715/https://www.rte.ie/lifestyle/living/2018/0201/937553-st-brigid-5-things-to-know-about-the-iconic-irish-woman/ |url-status=live}}</ref> A shrine to her is located at Faughart.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gaeilgeoirí Gather At Faughart |url=https://www.rte.ie/archives/2020/0127/1111191-pilgrimage-to-st-brigids-shrine/ |access-date=19 August 2020 |website=rte.ie |publisher=RTÉ |archive-date=23 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200723074637/https://www.rte.ie/archives/2020/0127/1111191-pilgrimage-to-st-brigids-shrine/ |url-status=live}}</ref> St Brigid's Church in Kilcurry holds what worshippers believe is a [[relic]] of the saint, a fragment of her skull.<ref>{{Cite web |title=St Brigid of Kildare |url=https://www.victoriasway.eu/saint-brigid-of-kildare/ |access-date=31 August 2020 |website=victoriasway.eu |archive-date=29 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200729153348/https://www.victoriasway.eu/saint-brigid-of-kildare/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Most of what is recorded about the Dundalk area between the 5th century and the foundation of the town as a [[Normans|Norman]] stronghold in the 12th century comes from the ''[[Annals of the Four Masters]]'' and the ''[[Annals of Tigernach]]'', which were both written hundreds of years after the events they record. According to the annals, the area that is now Dundalk was known as ''Magh Muirthemne'' (the Plain of the Dark Sea). It was bordered to the northeast by ''Cuailgne'' (Cooley) and to the south by the ''[[Ciannachta]]''. It was ruled by a [[Cruthin]] kingdom known as ''[[Conaille Muirtheimne]]'' (who were aligned to the ''[[Ulaid]]'') in the early Christian period.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Thornton |first=David E. |date=1997 |title=Early Medieval Louth: The Kingdom of Conaille Muirtheimne |journal=Journal of the County Louth Archaeological and Historical Society |volume=24 |issue=1 |pages=139–150 |doi=10.2307/27729814 |jstor=27729814 |hdl=11693/48560 |hdl-access=free}}</ref>

There are several references in the annals to battles fought in the district such as the 'Battle of Fochart' in 732, which are [[folklore]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Áed Rón |url=https://www.dib.ie/biography/aed-ron-a0047 |website=DICTIONARY OF IRISH BIOGRAPHY |access-date=5 September 2023}}</ref> [[Geoffrey Keating]]'s ''[[Foras Feasa ar Éirinn]]'' recounts the mythical tale of a 10th-century naval battle in Dundalk Bay. Sitric, son of [[Turgesius]] and ruler of the ''[[Lochlann]]aigh'' in Ireland, had offered [[Cellachán Caisil]], the [[List of kings of Munster|King of Munster]], his sister in marriage. But it was a trick to take the king prisoner and he was captured and held hostage in Armagh. An army was raised in Munster and marched on Armagh to free the king, but Sitric retreated to Dundalk and moved his hostages to his ship in Dundalk Bay as the Munster army approached. A fleet from Munster commanded by the [[List of monarchs of Desmond|King of Desmond]], Failbhe Fion, attacked the Danes in the bay from the south. During the sea battle, Failbhe Fion boarded Sitric's ship and freed Cellachán, but was killed by Sitric who put Failbhe Fion's head on a pole. Failbhe Fion's second in command, Fingal, seized Sitric by the neck and jumped into the sea where they both drowned. Two more Irish captains each grabbed one of Sitric's two brothers and did the same, and the Danes were subsequently routed.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Keating |first1=Geoffrey |editor1-last=O'Mahony |editor1-first=John |title=Foras Feasa ar Éirinn |date=1857 |publisher=P.M. Haverty |location=New York |isbn=1166340961 |pages=536–542}}</ref>

There is a high concentration of [[souterrains]] in north Louth, particularly along the western periphery of the town including at Castletown Mount, which is evidence of settlements from [[History of Ireland (400–800)|early Christian Ireland]].<ref>{{Cite journal |date=1979 |title=Five Louth Souterrains |journal=Journal of the County Louth Archaeological and Historical Society |volume=19 |issue=3 |pages=206–217 |jstor=27729482}}</ref> This indicates that the area was regularly subject to [[Raid (military)|raids]] and the discovery of a type of pottery known as 'souterrain ware', which has only been found in north Louth, [[County Down]] and [[County Antrim]], suggests that these areas shared cultural ties separate from the rest of early historic Ireland. The number of souterrains drops significantly on crossing the [[River Fane]] to the south, indicating that the district was a border area between separate kingdoms.{{sfn|Gosling|1991|p=243}}

Archaeological and historical research suggests that before the arrival of the Normans, the district was composed of rural settlements of [[ringforts]] located on the higher ground that surrounds the present-day town.{{sfn|Gosling|1991|p=243}} There are references in the annals and folklore to a pre-Norman town located in the present-day Seatown area, east of the town centre. This area was alternatively called ''Traghbaile'' and later ''Sraidbhaile'' in Irish.{{sfn|D'Alton|1864|p=79}} These names could have derived from the folkloric tale of the death of Bailé Mac Buain—hence ''Traghbaile'', meaning 'Bailé's Strand', or ''Sraid Baile mac Buain'', meaning the street town of Bailé Mac Buain. Dundalk continued to be referred to as 'Sraidbhaile' in Irish into the 20th Century.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Amazing Tale of Bailé, the Sweet-Spoken Son of Buan. |url=https://irishimbasbooks.com/the-amazing-tale-of-baile-the-sweet-spoken-son-of-buan/ |access-date=19 August 2020 |website=IrishImbas |date=22 July 2019 |archive-date=21 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200921170124/https://irishimbasbooks.com/the-amazing-tale-of-baile-the-sweet-spoken-son-of-buan/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=How did Seatown get its name? |url=https://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/Olive/APA/INA/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=DDT%2F2006%2F05%2F03&id=Ar01407&sk=A3D898F7&viewMode=image |access-date=1 December 2023 |work=Dundalk Democrat |date=3 May 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Standing On Cuchullain's Dun |url=https://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/Olive/APA/INA/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=SOL%2F1915%2F06%2F26&id=Ar00701&sk=8D9F8DD6&viewMode=image |access-date=1 December 2023 |work=An Claidheamh Soluis |date=26 June 1915}}</ref>

===Norman arrival===
By the time of the [[Normans|Norman]] invasion of Ireland in [[1169 in Ireland|1169]], ''Magh Muirthemne'' had been absorbed into the kingdom of ''[[Airgíalla]]'' (Oriel) under the Ó Cearbhaills.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Connolly |first=S.J. |title=Oxford Companion to Irish History |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2007 |isbn=978-0-19-923483-7}}</ref> In about [[1185 in Ireland|1185]], [[Bertram de Verdun]], a [[counsel]] of [[Henry II of England]], erected a manor house at Castletown Mount on the ancient site of ''Dún Dealgan''.{{sfn|Gosling|1991|p=243}} De Verdon founded his settlement seemingly without resistance from ''Airgíalla'' (the Ó Cearbhaills are recorded as having submitted to Henry by this time),{{sfn|Gosling|1991|p=249}} and in 1187 he founded an [[Augustinians|Augustinian]] friary under the patronage of [[Leonard of Noblac|St Leonard]].<ref name="Flood">{{Cite journal |last=Flood |first=W. H. Grattan |date=29 March 1899 |title=The De Verdons of Louth |journal=The Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland |volume=9 |issue=4 |pages=417–419 |jstor=25507007}}</ref> He was awarded the lands around what is now Dundalk by [[John, King of England|Prince John]] on the death of Murchadh Ó Cearbhaill in 1189.{{sfn|Gosling|1991|p=237}}

On de Verdun's death in [[Jaffa]] in 1192 at the end of the [[Third Crusade]], his lands at Dundalk passed to his son Thomas and then to his second son Nicholas after Thomas died. In 1236, Nicholas's daughter [[Roesia de Verdun|Roesia]] commissioned [[Castle Roche]], 8&nbsp;km north-west of the present-day town centre, on a large rocky outcrop with a commanding view of the surrounding countryside. It was completed by her son, John, in the 1260s.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Castle Roche, Co. Louth |url=https://archiseek.com/2010/castle-roche-co-louth/ |access-date=15 August 2020 |website=archiseek.com |date=6 January 2010 |archive-date=28 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201128002834/https://archiseek.com/2010/castle-roche-co-louth/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
[[File:Grave Of King Edward De Bruce.jpg|thumb|alt=Grave of King Edward Bruce |Grave of King Edward Bruce]]
Castle Roche was destroyed in 1315 by the armies of [[Edward Bruce]], brother of the [[Kingdom of Scotland|Scottish]] king [[Robert the Bruce]], as they made their way south through Ulster during the [[Bruce campaign in Ireland]]. They then attacked the town and massacred its population. After taking possession of the town, Bruce proclaimed himself [[Monarchy of Ireland|King of Ireland]]. Following three more years of battles across the north-eastern part of the island, Bruce was killed and his army defeated at the [[Battle of Faughart]] by a force led by [[John de Bermingham, 1st Earl of Louth|John de Birmingham]], who was created the 1st [[Baron Athenry|Earl of Louth]] as a reward.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Joyce |first=Patrick |title=A Concise History of Ireland |url=https://www.libraryireland.com/JoyceHistory/Bruce.php |access-date=15 August 2020 |website=libraryireland.com |archive-date=27 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127101936/https://www.libraryireland.com/JoyceHistory/Bruce.php |url-status=live}}</ref>

Later generations of de Verduns continued to own lands at Dundalk into the 14th century. Following the death of [[Theobald de Verdun, 2nd Baron Verdun]] in 1316 without a male heir, the family's landholdings were split. One of Theobold de Verdun's daughters, Joan, married the second [[Baron Furnivall]], Thomas de Furnivall, and his family subsequently acquired much of the de Verdun land at Dundalk.<ref name="Flood" /> The de Furnivall family's coat of arms formed the basis of the seal of the 'New Town of Dundalk'—a 14th-century seal discovered in the early 20th century, which became the town's coat of arms in 1968.<ref name="Seal" /> The 'new town' that was established in the 13th century is the present-day town centre; the 'old town of the Castle of Dundalk' being the original de Verdun settlement at Castletown Mount 2&nbsp;km to the west.{{sfn|Gosling|1991|p=293}} The de Furnivalls then sold their holdings to the Bellew family, another Norman family long established in County Meath.{{sfn|Gosling|1991|p=293}} The town was granted its first formal charter as a 'New Town' in the late 14th century under the reign of [[Richard II of England]].{{sfn|D'Alton|1864|p=64}}

In effect a frontier town as the northernmost outpost of The Pale, Dundalk continued to grow in the 14th and 15th centuries. The town was regularly attacked and was heavily fortified, with at least 14 separate assaults, sieges or demands for tribute by a resurgent native Irish population recorded between 1300 and 1600 (with more than that number being likely).{{sfn|Gosling|1991|p=286}}

===English rule===
[[File:Map of Dundalk 1675.jpg|thumb|alt=Map of Dundalk, 1675 |Map of Dundalk, 1675]]
In 1540, the Priory of St Leonard founded by Bertram de Verdun was surrendered to the Crown because of [[Henry VIII]]'s [[Dissolution of the Monasteries]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Curran |first=Arthur |date=1971 |title=The Priory of St. Leonard, Dundalk |journal=Journal of the County Louth Archaeological and Historical Society |volume=17 |issue=3 |page=136 |doi=10.2307/27729277 |jstor=27729277}}</ref> During the subsequent [[Tudor conquest of Ireland]], Dundalk remained the northern outpost of English rule. In 1600, the town was used as a base of operations for the English, led by [[Charles Blount, 8th Baron Mountjoy]], for their push into Ulster through the 'Gap of the North' (the [[Moyry Pass]]) during the [[Nine Years' War (Ireland)|Nine Years' War]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=O'Neill |first=James |date=2017 |title=Breaking the heart of Tyrone's rebellion? A reassessment of Mountjoy's first campaigns in Ulster, May-November 1600 |journal=Duiche Neill: The Journal of the O'Neill Country Historical Society |volume=24 |pages=18–37}}</ref>

Following the [[Flight of the Earls]], the subsequent [[Plantation of Ulster]] (and the associated suppression of Catholicism) resulted in the [[Irish Rebellion of 1641]]. After only token resistance, Dundalk was occupied by an Ulster Irish Catholic army on 31 October. They subsequently tried and failed to take Drogheda and retreated to Dundalk. The [[Royal Irish Army]], who were led by the [[James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormond|Duke of Ormond]] (and known as Ormondists), in turn, laid siege to Dundalk and overran and plundered the town in March 1642, killing many inhabitants.<ref name="Harold">{{Cite journal |last=O'Sullivan |first=Harold |date=1977 |title=The Cromwellian and Restoration Settlements in the Civil Parish of Dundalk, 1649 to 1673 |journal=Journal of the County Louth Archaeological and Historical Society |volume=19 |issue=1 |pages=24–58 |doi=10.2307/27729438 |jstor=27729438}}</ref>

The Ormondists held the town during the [[English Civil War]] until it was occupied by the Northern Parliamentary Army of [[George Monck, 1st Duke of Albemarle|George Monck]]. The Parliamentarians held it for two years before surrendering it back to the Ormondists. It was then retaken by the forces of [[Oliver Cromwell]], who had landed in Ireland in August 1649 and sacked [[Siege of Drogheda|Drogheda]]. After the massacre in Drogheda, Cromwell wrote to the Ormondist commander in Dundalk warning him that his garrison would suffer the same fate if it did not surrender. The Duke of Ormond ordered the commander to have his men burn the town before his retreat, but they did not do so such was their haste to leave. For the remainder of the [[Cromwellian conquest of Ireland]], the town was again used as a base for operations against the Irish in Ulster.<ref name="Harold" />

After [[Stuart Restoration|the Restoration]] of the monarchy, the Corporation of Dundalk was granted a new charter by [[Charles II of England|Charles II]] on 4 March 1673. The forfeiture of property and settlements carried out during the Restoration saw much of the land of Dundalk granted to [[Marcus Trevor, 1st Viscount Dungannon]], who had fought for both sides in the civil war. Even though the Bellews were seen as [[Popery|Papists]], Sir John Bellew appears to have held onto much of his family's legacy landholdings.<ref name="Harold" />

When the [[Williamite War in Ireland]] began in 1689, the Williamite commander [[Frederick Schomberg, 1st Duke of Schomberg|Schomberg]] landed in Belfast and marched unopposed to Dundalk but, as the bulk of his forces were raw and undisciplined as well as inferior in numbers to the [[Jacobitism|Jacobite]] [[Irish Army (Kingdom of Ireland)|Irish Army]], he decided against risking a battle. He [[Dundalk Camp|entrenched himself at Dundalk]] and declined to be drawn beyond the circle of his defences. With poor logistics and struck by disease, over 5,000 of his troops died.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Bartlett |first1=Thomas |title=A Military History of Ireland |last2=Jeffrey |first2=Keith |date=1996 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-0521629898}}</ref>

After the end of the Williamite War, the third Viscount Dungannon, Mark Trevor, sold the Dundalk estate to James Hamilton of Tollymore, County Down. Hamilton's son, also James, was created Viscount Limerick in 1719 and then [[James Hamilton, 1st Earl of Clanbrassil (second creation)|the first Earl of Clanbrassil]] in 1756. The modern town of Dundalk owes its form to Hamilton. The military activity of the 17th century had left the town's walls in ruins. With the collapse of the Gaelic aristocracy and the total takeover of the country by the English, Dundalk was no longer a frontier town and no longer had a need for its 15th-century fortifications. Hamilton commissioned the construction of streets leading to the town centre; his ideas stemming from his visits to Continental Europe. In addition to the demolition of the old walls and castles, he had new roads laid out eastwards of the principal streets.<ref name="streets">{{Cite journal |last=O'Sullivan |first=Harold |date=1961 |title=Two Eighteenth-Century Maps of the Clanbrassil Estate, Dundalk |journal=Journal of the County Louth Archaeological Society |volume=15 |issue=1 |page=57 |doi=10.2307/27729008 |jstor=27729008}}</ref>

When the first Earl died in 1758, the estates passed to his son, the [[James Hamilton, 2nd Earl of Clanbrassil|second Earl of Clanbrassil]], who died without an heir in 1798. The [[Earl of Roden]] inherited the Dundalk estate because the second Earl's sister, Lady Anne Hamilton, had married Robert Jocelyn, the first Earl of Roden. Portions of the Roden Dundalk estate were sold under the auspices of the various land acts of the 19th and early 20th centuries, culminating in the Irish Free State government lands purchase acts of the 1920s. The remaining freeholds and ground rents were sold in 2006, severing the links between the Earls of Roden and the town of Dundalk.<ref name="Roden">{{Cite news |date=22 July 2006 |title=Freehold of Dundalk sold at auction |newspaper=The Irish Times |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/freehold-of-dundalk-sold-at-auction-1.1262591 |access-date=16 August 2020 |archive-date=22 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122212932/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/freehold-of-dundalk-sold-at-auction-1.1262591 |url-status=live}}</ref>

During the 18th century, Ireland was controlled by the minority [[Anglican]] [[Protestant Ascendancy]] via the [[Penal Laws (Ireland)|Penal Laws]], which discriminated against both the majority [[Irish Catholic]] population and [[Dissenters]]. Mirroring other boroughs around the country, Dundalk Corporation was a 'closed shop', consisting of an electorate of 'freemen' (mostly absentee landlords of the Ascendancy). The Earl of Clanbrassil controlled the procedures for both the nomination of new freemen and the nomination of parliamentary candidates, therefore disenfranchising the local populace.<ref name="UI" /> In the late 18th century, the [[Society of United Irishmen|United Irishmen]] movement, inspired by the [[American Revolution|American]] and [[French Revolution|French]] revolutions, led to the [[Irish Rebellion of 1798|Rebellion of 1798]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bartlett |first=Thomas |title=The 1798 Irish Rebellion |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/empire_seapower/irish_reb_01.shtml |access-date=23 August 2020 |website=BBC |publisher=BBC |archive-date=7 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110207080021/http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/empire_seapower/irish_reb_01.shtml |url-status=live}}</ref> In north Louth, the authorities had successfully suppressed the activities of the United Irishmen prior to the rebellion with the help of informants, and several local leaders had been rounded up and imprisoned in Dundalk Gaol. An attack on the military barracks and gaol to free prisoners was planned for 21 June 1798. The attack failed because of a thunderstorm, which dispersed the gathered United Irish volunteers, and two of the jailed leaders—Anthony Marmion and John Hoey—were subsequently tried for treason and hanged.<ref name="UI">{{Cite journal |last=O'Sullivan |first=Harold |date=1998 |title=The Background to and the Events of the Insurrection of 1798 in Dundalk |journal=Journal of the County Louth Archaeological and Historical Society |volume=24 |issue=2 |page=31 |doi=10.2307/27729828 |jstor=27729828}}</ref>

===After the Acts of Union===
[[File:Kelly Monument, Dundalk 2.jpg|thumb|alt=Kelly Monument, Dundalk, County Louth|Kelly Monument]]
Following the [[Acts of Union 1800|Act of Union]], which came into force on 1 January 1801, The 19th century saw industrial expansion in the town (see [[#Economy|Economy]]) and the construction of several buildings that are landmarks in the town.<ref name="archiseek">{{Cite web |title=Dundalk |url=https://archiseek.com/tag/dundalk/ |access-date=9 September 2020 |website=archiseek.com |archive-date=29 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171229044049/http://archiseek.com/tag/dundalk/ |url-status=live}}</ref> The first railway links arrived when the [[Irish North Western Railway|Dundalk and Enniskillen Railway]] opened a line from Quay Street to Castleblayney in 1849, and by 1860 the company operated a route northwest to Derry. Also in 1849, the [[Dublin and Belfast Junction Railway]] opened [[Dundalk railway station]]. Following a series of mergers, both lines were incorporated into the [[Great Northern Railway (Ireland)]] in 1876.<ref name="Dundalgan Press">{{Cite book |last=McQuillan |first=Jack |title=Railway Town : The Story of the Great Northern Railway Works and Dundalk |publisher=Dundalgan Press |year=1993 |isbn=0852211201}}</ref>

The established and merchant classes prospered alongside a general population that suffered from poverty. A typhus epidemic struck in the 1810s, potato-crop failures in the 1820s caused famine, and a cholera epidemic struck in the 1830s.<ref name="Wilson">{{Cite journal |last=Wilson |first=Maureen |date=1983 |title=Dundalk Poor-Law Union Workhouse: The First Twenty-Five Years, 1839-64 |journal=Journal of the County Louth Archaeological and Historical Society |volume=20 |issue=3 |pages=190–209 |doi=10.2307/27729565 |jstor=27729565}}</ref> During the [[Great Famine (Ireland)|Great Famine]] of the 1840s, the town did not suffer to the same extent as the west and south of Ireland. Cereal-based agriculture, new industries, construction projects, and the arrival of the railway all contributed to sparing the town of its worst effects.<ref name="Wilson" /> Nevertheless, so many people died in the Dundalk Union [[Workhouse]] that the graveyard was quickly filled. A second graveyard was opened on the Ardee Road—the Dundalk Famine Graveyard—which is known to contain approximately 4,000 bodies. It was closed in 1905 and was left derelict until the 21st century when local volunteers worked to restore it.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mulligan |first=John |date=30 May 2020 |title=Famine graveyard is no longer forgotten part of our history |work=The Argus |url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/argus/lifestyle/famine-graveyard-is-no-longer-forgotten-part-of-our-history-39231657.html |access-date=23 August 2020 |archive-date=21 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200721074226/https://www.independent.ie/regionals/argus/lifestyle/famine-graveyard-is-no-longer-forgotten-part-of-our-history-39231657.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Dundalk Courthouse 1906.jpg|thumb|alt=Market held in front of Dundalk Courthouse with Maid of Erin statue to front and bell tower of St Patrick's Church visible in background, c. 1906|Market held in front of Dundalk Courthouse with Maid of Erin statue to front and bell tower of St Patrick's Church visible in background, c. 1906]]
The latter part of the 19th century was dominated by the [[Irish Home Rule movement]] and Dundalk became a focal point of the politics of the time. The [[Irish National Land League]] held a demonstration in Dundalk on New Year's Day, 1881, stated by the local press to be the largest gathering ever seen in the town.<ref>{{Cite news |date=8 January 1881 |title=The Dundalk Demonstration |work=[[Dundalk Democrat]] |url=https://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/Olive/APA/INA/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=DDT%2F1881%2F01%2F08&id=Ar00403&sk=60805710 |access-date=23 August 2020 |archive-date=22 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122212937/https://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/Olive/APA/INA/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=DDT%2F1881%2F01%2F08&id=Ar00403&sk=60805710 |url-status=live}}</ref>

As the Home Rule movement developed, the sitting [[Home Rule League]] MP, [[Philip Callan]], fell out with party leader [[Charles Stewart Parnell]], who travelled to Dundalk to oversee efforts to have Callan unseated. Parnell's candidate, [[Joseph Nolan (politician)|Joseph Nolan]], defeated Callan in the [[1885 United Kingdom general election in Ireland|election of 1885]] after a campaign of voter suppression and intimidation on both sides.<ref>{{Cite news |date=5 December 1885 |title=The Victory in North Louth |work=[[Dundalk Democrat]] |url=https://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/Olive/APA/INA/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=DDT%2F1885%2F12%2F05&id=Ar00402&sk=02D91F37 |access-date=23 August 2020 |archive-date=22 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122212941/https://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/Olive/APA/INA/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=DDT%2F1885%2F12%2F05&id=Ar00402&sk=02D91F37 |url-status=live}}</ref> Following the split in the [[Irish Parliamentary Party]], the leading [[Irish Parliamentary Party|anti-Parnellite]], [[Tim Healy (politician)|Tim Healy]], won the North Louth seat in [[1892 United Kingdom general election in Ireland|1892]], defeating Nolan (who had stayed loyal to Parnell). The campaign, predicted by Healy to be "the nastiest fight in Ireland", saw running battles and mass brawls in the streets between Parnellites, 'Healyites', and 'Callanites'—supporters of Philip Callan, who was trying to regain his seat.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Johnston |first=Don |date=2014 |title=John Johnston, 1846-1913 |journal=Journal of the County Louth Archaeological and Historical Society |volume=28 |issue=2 |jstor=24612659}}</ref>

The local [[Sinn Féin]] [[cumann]] was founded in 1907 by Patrick Hughes. It struggled to grow beyond a handful of members because of the dominance of the existing political factions.<ref name="bureau">{{Cite web |title=History of national organisations Dundalk 1907-1921 |url=http://www.militaryarchives.ie/collections/online-collections/bureau-of-military-history-1913-1921/reels/bmh/BMH.WS0237.pdf |access-date=6 September 2020 |website=militaryarchives.ie |archive-date=8 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200508125014/http://www.militaryarchives.ie/collections/online-collections/bureau-of-military-history-1913-1921/reels/bmh/BMH.WS0237.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref> In 1910, on the accession of [[George V]] to the English throne, the local [[High Sheriff of Louth|High Sheriff]], accompanied by police and soldiers, led a proclamation to the new king at the Market Square. The ceremony was interrupted by the local Sinn Féin members, who raised a tricolour beside the Maid of Erin monument and chanted "God Save Ireland" during a rendition of "God Save the King"—giving the party visibility in the town for the first time.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Carolan |first=Joseph |date=4 May 1963 |title=History of Dundalk |work=The Argus |url=https://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/Olive/APA/INA/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=MAR%2F1963%2F05%2F04&id=Ar00214&sk=61FD4719 |access-date=24 August 2020 |archive-date=22 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122212937/https://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/Olive/APA/INA/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=MAR%2F1963%2F05%2F04&id=Ar00214&sk=61FD4719 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Approximately 2,500 men from Louth volunteered for Allied regiments in [[World War I]] and it is estimated that 307 men from the Dundalk district died during the war.<ref>{{Cite news |date=19 May 2018 |title=Funds for Dundalk World War 1 memorial |work=The Argus |url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/argus/news/funds-for-dundalk-world-war-1-memorial-36904000.html |access-date=23 August 2020 |archive-date=24 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220424043815/https://www.independent.ie/regionals/argus/news/funds-for-dundalk-world-war-1-memorial-36904000.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In the months before the outbreak of the war, the G.N.R. converted nine of its carriages into a mobile 'ambulance train', which could hold 100 wounded soldiers. ''Ambulance Train 13'' was kept in service for the duration of the war before being decommissioned in 1919.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dundalk, Co Louth: Ambulance Train |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p01zkjc1 |access-date=23 August 2020 |website=BBC |archive-date=22 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122212946/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p01zkjc1 |url-status=live}}</ref> The war came to Dundalk weeks before [[Armistice of 11 November 1918|the Armistice]], when the ''S.S. Dundalk'' was sunk by a German U-boat on 14 October 1918 on a voyage from Liverpool to Dundalk. 20 crew-members were killed, while 12 were rescued.<ref name="uboat">{{Cite news |date=20 October 2018 |title=SS Dundalk torpedoed on return from Liverpool |agency=www.rte.ie |url=https://www.rte.ie/centuryireland/index.php/articles/ss-dundalk-torpedoed-on-return-from-liverpool |access-date=24 August 2020 |archive-date=15 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201215013835/https://www.rte.ie/centuryireland/index.php/articles/ss-dundalk-torpedoed-on-return-from-liverpool |url-status=live }}</ref>

Meanwhile, the [[Easter Rising]] had changed the political landscape. 80 members of the [[Irish Volunteers]] had left Dundalk to take part in the Rising. After the countermanding order of [[Eoin MacNeill]], members of the unit ended up in [[Castlebellingham]], trying to evade the Dundalk [[Royal Irish Constabulary|RIC]]. There, they held several RIC men and a British Army officer at gunpoint until one of the Volunteers, believing the army officer was reaching for a hidden weapon, fired at the captives, killing RIC constable Charles McGee. After the Rising ended, the Volunteers went on the run and most were captured. Four were sentenced to death for the murder of Constable McGee but were released in the general amnesty of 1917.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rogers |first=Ailbhe |title=The 1916 Rising in Louth |url=https://www.theirishstory.com/2016/05/27/episode-at-easter-the-1916-rising-in-louth/ |access-date=24 August 2020 |website=theirishstory.com |archive-date=22 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200922014955/https://www.theirishstory.com/2016/05/27/episode-at-easter-the-1916-rising-in-louth/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Independence===
In the [[1918 Irish general election]], Louth elected its first Sinn Féin MP when [[John J. O'Kelly]] defeated the sitting MP, [[Richard Hazleton]] of the Irish Parliamentary Party, in the closest contest of the election—O'Kelly winning by 255 votes. In the run-up to the election, the local newspapers had supported the Irish Party over Sinn Féin and complained afterwards that the area of Drogheda in County Meath that was included in the Louth constituency had tipped the contest in Sinn Féin's favour.<ref>{{cite news |title=Louth Election Echoes |url=https://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/Olive/APA/INA/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=DDT%2F1919%2F01%2F04&id=Ar00601&sk=1B4A905E |access-date=22 December 2020 |work=Dundalk Democrat |date=4 January 1919 |page=6 |archive-date=22 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122212947/https://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/Olive/APA/INA/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=DDT%2F1919%2F01%2F04&id=Ar00601&sk=1B4A905E |url-status=live}}</ref> Again, the campaign saw reports of widespread violence and intimidation tactics.<ref name="Flynn" />

[[File:Adavoyle train derailing.png|thumb|alt=Photographs of the train derailed at Adavoyle railway station|Photographs of the train derailed at [[Adavoyle railway station|Adavoyle]], County Armagh, printed in the [[Daily Mirror]], 27 June 1921]]
There was no strategic military action in north Louth during the [[Irish War of Independence]]. Activity consisted of acts of sabotage and attacks on the RIC to seize arms. Arson attacks were a feature of the period in particular.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Three killed in Dundalk arson attack |url=https://www.rte.ie/centuryireland/index.php/articles/three-killed-in-dundalk-arson-attack |access-date=27 August 2020 |website=rte.ie |archive-date=28 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200828105616/https://www.rte.ie/centuryireland/index.php/articles/three-killed-in-dundalk-arson-attack |url-status=live}}</ref> Crown forces committed reprisal attacks in response, hardening support for Sinn Féin.<ref name="Flynn">{{Cite thesis |type=PhD thesis |last=Flynn |first=Charles |date=2000 |title=Dundalk 1900-1960: an oral history |publisher=National University of Ireland Maynooth |url=https://mural.maynoothuniversity.ie/5174/ |access-date=22 July 2022 |archive-date=22 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220722205541/https://mural.maynoothuniversity.ie/5174/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In the aftermath of a shooting of an [[Auxiliary Division|RIC auxiliary]] on 17 June 1921, brothers John and Patrick Watters were taken from their home at the Windmill Bar and shot dead. The British authorities subsequently suppressed the ''Dundalk Examiner'' newspaper for reporting on the incident, and smashed its printing presses.<ref name="bureau" /> [[Fourth Northern Division of the Irish Republican Army|Volunteers]] from the area led by [[Frank Aiken]] were more active in Ulster, and were responsible for the derailing of a military train at [[Adavoyle railway station]], 13&nbsp;km north of Dundalk, which killed three soldiers, the train's guard, and dozens of horses.<ref name="lewis">{{Cite book |last=Lewis |first=Matthew |title=Frank Aiken's War: The Irish revolution, 1916-1923 |date=2014 |publisher=University College Dublin Press |location=Dublin}}</ref>

The [[Anglo-Irish Treaty]] turned Dundalk, once again, into a frontier town. In the new [[Irish Free State]], the split over the treaty led to the [[Irish Civil War]]. Before the outbreak of hostilities, [[Éamon de Valera]] toured Ireland making a series of anti-treaty speeches. He visited Dundalk on 2 April 1922 and before a large crowd in the Market Square, he said that those who had negotiated the treaty "had run across to [[David Lloyd George|Lloyd George]] to be spanked like little boys".<ref>{{Cite news |date=8 April 1922 |title=Irish People's Government |work=Ofally Independent |url=https://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/Olive/APA/INA/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=OFINA%2F1922%2F04%2F08&id=Ar00210&sk=DB33283F |access-date=15 September 2020 |archive-date=22 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122213000/https://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/Olive/APA/INA/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=OFINA%2F1922%2F04%2F08&id=Ar00210&sk=DB33283F |url-status=live}}</ref>

Frank Aiken attempted to keep his division neutral during the split over the treaty but on 16 July 1922, Aiken and all of the anti-treaty elements among his men were arrested and imprisoned at Dundalk military barracks and Dundalk Gaol in a surprise move by the pro-treaty Fifth Northern Division, now part of the [[Irish Army|National Army]]. On 27 July, anti-treaty 'Irregulars' blew a hole in the outer wall of the gaol, freeing Aiken and his men. On 14 August, Aiken led an attack on the barracks that resulted in its capture with five National Army and two Irregular soldiers killed. Aiken's men killed another dozen National Army soldiers in guerrilla attacks before the town was retaken without resistance on 26 August. Before withdrawing, Aiken called for a truce at a meeting in the centre of Dundalk.<ref name="theirishstory">{{Cite web |title=Today in Irish History, August 14, 1922, The anti-Treaty IRA attack on Dundalk |url=http://www.theirishstory.com/2013/08/14/today-in-irish-history-august-14-1922-the-anti-treaty-ira-attack-on-dundalk/ |access-date=24 August 2020 |publisher=The Irish Story |archive-date=22 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210922193916/https://www.theirishstory.com/2013/08/14/today-in-irish-history-august-14-1922-the-anti-treaty-ira-attack-on-dundalk/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

From that point, north Louth ceased to be an area of strategic importance in the war. Guerrilla attacks continued—mostly acts of sabotage, particularly against the railway. In January 1923, six anti-treaty prisoners were [[Executions during the Irish Civil War|executed]] by firing squad in Dundalk for bearing arms against the state.<ref>{{Cite news |date=23 January 1923 |title=Executions at Dundalk |work=[[Irish Independent]] |url=https://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/Olive/APA/INA/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=IND%2F1923%2F01%2F23&id=Ar00511&sk=CFFE3F90 |access-date=24 August 2020 |archive-date=22 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122213005/https://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/Olive/APA/INA/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=IND%2F1923%2F01%2F23&id=Ar00511&sk=CFFE3F90 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=13 January 1923 |title=Three Men Executed in Dundalk This Morning |work=Evening Herald |url=https://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/Olive/APA/INA/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=EHD%2F1923%2F01%2F13&id=Ar00136&sk=9CF05D08 |access-date=24 August 2020 |archive-date=22 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122213003/https://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/Olive/APA/INA/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=EHD%2F1923%2F01%2F13&id=Ar00136&sk=9CF05D08 |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Border town===
The [[partition of Ireland]] turned Dundalk into a border town and the [[Belfast–Dublin line|Dublin–Belfast main line]] into an international railway. On 1 April 1923, the Free State government began installing border posts for the purpose of collecting customs duties.{{sfn|Hall|2010|p=272}} Almost immediately, the town started to suffer economic problems. The introduction of the border and tariffs exacerbated the effects of a global [[Post–World War I recession|post-war slump]].<ref name="Distress">{{Cite news |date=3 September 1926 |title=Dundalk Distress |work=[[Irish Independent]] |url=https://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/Olive/APA/INA/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=IND%2F1926%2F09%2F03&id=Ar00419&sk=4FEAE1B9 |access-date=24 August 2020 |archive-date=22 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122213004/https://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/Olive/APA/INA/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=IND%2F1926%2F09%2F03&id=Ar00419&sk=4FEAE1B9 |url-status=live}}</ref>

With a population of 14,000 at the time, unemployment was reported to be nearly 2,000 and it was reported that: "Up to a few years ago, Dundalk was one of the most prosperous and go-ahead towns in Ireland... [but] it is a matter of common local knowledge that distress to an acute degree is prevalent".<ref name="Distress" /> The [[Anglo-Irish trade war]], in the midst of a global depression, made things more difficult still. The industrial situation stabilised, however, as the protectionist policies adopted allowed local industries to increase employment and prosper.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Neary |first1=J. Peter |last2=Ó Gráda |first2=Cormac |date=1991 |title=Protection, Economic War and Structural Change: The 1930s in Ireland |journal=Irish Historical Studies |volume=27 |issue=107 |page=262 |doi=10.1017/S0021121400010531 |hdl=10197/1427 |s2cid=154188248 |hdl-access=free}}</ref>

During [[The Emergency (Ireland)|the Emergency]] (as [[World War II]] was called in Ireland), there were three aeroplane crashes in what is now the municipal district. A British Hudson bomber crashed in 1941, killing three crew, and a P-51 Mustang fighter of the [[US Army Air Forces]] crashed in September 1944, killing its pilot. The worst of the wartime air crashes occurred on 16 March 1942. 15 allied airmen died when their [[Consolidated B-24 Liberator]] bomber crashed into Slieve na Glogh, which rises above the townland of Jenkinstown.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Consolidated Liberator, AL577, Jenkinstown |url=http://www.ww2irishaviation.com/al577.htm |access-date=10 September 2020 |website=ww2irishaviation.com/ |archive-date=11 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111015100/http://ww2irishaviation.com/al577.htm |url-status=live}}</ref> On 24 July 1941, the [[Luftwaffe]] dropped bombs near the town. There were no casualties and only minor damage was caused.<ref>{{Cite news |date=25 July 1941 |title=BOMBS DROPPED AT DUNDALK |work=Evening Herald |url=https://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/Olive/APA/INA/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=EHD%2F1941%2F07%2F24&id=Ar00123&sk=921C9577 |access-date=30 August 2020 |archive-date=22 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122213009/https://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/Olive/APA/INA/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=EHD%2F1941%2F07%2F24&id=Ar00123&sk=921C9577 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The town continued to grow in size after the war—in terms of area, population and employment—despite economic shocks such as the dissolution of the G.N.R. in 1958.<ref name="Flynn" /> The accession of Ireland to the [[European Economic Community]] in 1973, however, saw factory closures and job losses in businesses that struggled due to competition, collapsing consumer confidence, and unfavourable exchange rates with cross-border competitors. The downturn resulted in an unemployment rate of 26% by 1986.<ref name="DEW">{{Cite news |date=19 December 1986 |title=Engineering firm sold |work=Irish Independent |url=https://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/Olive/APA/INA/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=IND%2F1986%2F12%2F19&id=Ar00706&sk=73974037 |access-date=31 August 2020 |archive-date=22 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122213032/https://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/Olive/APA/INA/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=IND%2F1986%2F12%2F19&id=Ar00706&sk=73974037 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In addition, the outbreak of [[the Troubles]] in Northern Ireland in 1968 and the town's position close to the border saw the town's population swell, as nationalists/Catholics fleeing the violence in Northern Ireland settled in the area.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Catholics cross border for refuge |url=https://www.rte.ie/archives/exhibitions/1042-northern-ireland-1969/1048-august-1969/320459-refugees-arrive-from-northern-ireland/ |access-date=3 September 2020 |website=rte.ie |archive-date=22 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200922101902/https://www.rte.ie/archives/exhibitions/1042-northern-ireland-1969/1048-august-1969/320459-refugees-arrive-from-northern-ireland/ |url-status=live}}</ref> As a result of the ongoing [[sectarianism]] in the north, there was sympathy for the cause of the [[Provisional Irish Republican Army]] and [[Sinn Féin]], and the town was home to several IRA members.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Harnden |first=Toby |title=Bandit Country: The IRA and South Armagh |date=2000 |publisher=Hodder Paperbacks |isbn=978-0340717370 |pages=73–75}}</ref> It was in this period that Dundalk earned the nickname '[[El Paso]]', after the town in [[Texas]] on the border with Mexico.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Dundalk locals win the battle to keep the economy of the town they love so well alive |newspaper=[[The Irish Times]] |url=http://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/homes-and-property/dundalk-locals-win-the-battle-to-keep-the-economy-of-the-town-they-love-so-well-alive-1.327253 |access-date=11 January 2016 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304064824/http://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/homes-and-property/dundalk-locals-win-the-battle-to-keep-the-economy-of-the-town-they-love-so-well-alive-1.327253 |url-status=live}}</ref> British Prime Minister [[Margaret Thatcher]] asked [[Taoiseach]] [[Garret FitzGerald]] after the signing of the [[Anglo-Irish Agreement]] what his reaction would be if the British bombed Dundalk to stop the IRA from launching attacks in Northern Ireland.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Campbell |first1=Anne |title='What would you do if Dundalk was bombed?' |url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/louth/dundalk-news/what-would-you-do-if-dundalk-was-bombed/34337491.html |access-date=23 October 2023  |date=9 January 2016}}</ref>

On 19 December 1975, a [[Donnelly's Bar and Kay's Tavern attacks|car bombing in the centre of the town]] carried out by the [[Ulster Volunteer Force]] killed two people and injured 15.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dundalk bombing report, Ludlow murder expected in few weeks - Independent.ie |url=http://www.independent.ie/regionals/argus/news/dundalk-bombing-report-ludlow-murder-expected-in-few-weeks-26912184.html |access-date=21 December 2015 |archive-date=22 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222173740/http://www.independent.ie/regionals/argus/news/dundalk-bombing-report-ludlow-murder-expected-in-few-weeks-26912184.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Home Page: The Dundalk Bombing, 19 December 1975 |url=http://www.michael.donegan.care4free.net/dundalk_bombing/ |website=michael.donegan.care4free.net |access-date=21 December 2015 |archive-date=29 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160229071238/http://www.michael.donegan.care4free.net/dundalk_bombing/ |url-status=live}}</ref> There were several incidents of [[Flagstaff Hill incident|British military incursions]] into North Louth. The town was also the scene of several killings connected to the [[Irish National Liberation Army|INLA]] and its internal feuds and criminal activity.<ref>{{Cite news |last=McNally |first=Frank |date=21 August 2000 |title=Leading INLA man is shot dead in Dundalk |publisher=The Irish Times |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/leading-inla-man-is-shot-dead-in-dundalk-1.1260104 |access-date=3 September 2020 |archive-date=22 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122213009/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/leading-inla-man-is-shot-dead-in-dundalk-1.1260104 |url-status=live}}</ref> On 1 September 1973, the [[27 Infantry Battalion]] of the [[Irish Army]] was established with its headquarters in Dundalk barracks, as a result of the ongoing violence in the border region of [[County Louth|North Louth]] / [[County Armagh|South Armagh]]. The barracks was renamed [[Aiken Barracks]] in 1986 in honour of Frank Aiken.<ref>{{Cite web |date=26 September 1986 |title=Aiken Barracks |url=https://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/Olive/APA/INA/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=IPR%2F1986%2F09%2F26&id=Ar00309&sk=6B704DE7 |access-date=24 August 2020 |publisher=Irish Press |archive-date=22 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122213010/https://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/Olive/APA/INA/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=IPR%2F1986%2F09%2F26&id=Ar00309&sk=6B704DE7 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Dundalk celebrated its 'official' 1200th year in 1989, meaning the Irish government recognised 789 as the year in which the first settlement was founded, with then President of Ireland, Dr. [[Patrick Hillery]], attending a celebration at the Market Square.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/argus/news/how-town-tried-to-dispel-gloom-at-start-of-1989-26929646.html|title=How town tried to dispel gloom at start of 1989|website=independent}}</ref>

After the start of the [[Northern Ireland peace process]], and the subsequent [[Good Friday Agreement]], then U.S. president, [[Bill Clinton]] chose Dundalk to make an open-air address in December 2000 in support of the peace process.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Carroll |first=Joe |date=9 December 2000 |title=Clinton chose Dundalk to underline peace message |newspaper=The Irish Times |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/clinton-chose-dundalk-to-underline-peace-message-1.1120262 |access-date=3 September 2020 |archive-date=22 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122213014/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/clinton-chose-dundalk-to-underline-peace-message-1.1120262 |url-status=live}}</ref> In his speech in the Market Square, witnessed by an estimated 60,000 people, Clinton spoke of "a new day in Dundalk and a new day in Ireland".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Clinton arrives in Belfast |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/2000/1212/10808-clinton/ |access-date=3 September 2020 |website=rte.ie |date=12 December 2000 |archive-date=22 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160422100345/http://www.rte.ie/news/2000/1212/10808-clinton/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

===21st century===
[[File:Photograph of President William Jefferson Clinton Waving to the Crowd in Market Square in Dundalk, Ireland - NARA - 5722480.jpg|thumb|alt=U.S. President Bill Clinton in Dundalk, 2000 |U.S. President Bill Clinton in Dundalk, 2000]]
[[File:102nd Chad Ministerial Review (4291068894).jpg|thumb|Parade in Dundalk in 2010 for troops bound for [[Chad]]]]

The town was slow to benefit from a 'peace dividend', and in the first decade of the new millennium the two Diageo-owned breweries and the [[Carroll's]] tobacco factory were among several factories to close—finally severing the links to the town's industrial past.<ref name="PJ" /><ref name="diageo" /><ref name="Ecco" /> By 2012, the town was being painted as "one of Ireland's most deprived areas" after the global downturn following the [[2008 financial crisis]].<ref name="deprived" />

Indigenous industry started to recover, with the Great Northern Brewery being reopened as 'the Great Northern Distillery' in 2015 by [[John Teeling]], who had established and later sold the [[Cooley Distillery]];<ref name="teeling" /> and locally-driven initiatives led to a flurry of [[foreign direct investment]] announcements in the latter half of the 2010s, particularly in the technology and pharmaceutical sectors.<ref name="WuXi" /><ref name="FDI" />

The town's [[association football]] club, [[Dundalk F.C.]], formed in 1903 by the workers of the Great Northern Railway, received European-wide recognition when it became the first Irish side to win points in the group stage of European competition in the [[2016–17 UEFA Europa League]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Doyle |first=Paul |date=10 October 2016 |title=Dundalk's Stephen Kenny winning friends and trophies with Irish trailblazers |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016-oct/10-dundalk-stephen-kenny-ireland-europa-league |via=www.theguardian.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=10 July 2019 |title=Remembering the greatest European run in the history of Irish football |url=https://www.the42.ie/david-macmillan-on-dundalk-2016-european-run-4717286-Jul2019/ |access-date=10 July 2019 |website=The 42 |archive-date=10 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190710074320/https://www.the42.ie/david-macmillan-on-dundalk-2016-european-run-4717286-Jul2019/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

In April 2023, [[Joe Biden]], who has ancestry in north Louth, became the second sitting US president to visit the town.<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 April 2023 |title='It's like coming home' |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/2023/0412/1376660-dundalk-pub-remarks-joe-biden/ |access-date=12 April 2023 |website=RTE |archive-date=12 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230412215155/https://www.rte.ie/news/2023/0412/1376660-dundalk-pub-remarks-joe-biden/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Geography==
Dundalk lies on the [[54th parallel north]] [[circle of latitude]]. It is situated where the [[Castletown River]] flows into [[Dundalk Bay]] on the east coast of Ireland, with the town centre on the south side of the river. It is in [[County Louth]], which shares borders with [[County Armagh]] to the north (in Northern Ireland), [[County Monaghan]] to the west, and [[County Meath]] to the south. It is near the border with Northern Ireland (which is {{cvt|7|km}} from the town centre by road and {{cvt|3.5|km}} at the nearest points by air), and is equidistant between [[Dublin]] and [[Belfast]] ({{cvt|80|km}} from both). The town came to be nicknamed the 'Gap of the North' where the northernmost point of the province of [[Leinster]] meets the province of [[Ulster]] (although the actual 'gap' is the [[Moyry Pass]] 8&nbsp;km to the north at the border with Northern Ireland).<ref name="gap" />

Following the abolition of 'legal towns' under the [[Local Government Reform Act 2014]], Dundalk is part of the wider [[Dundalk Municipal District]] for the purposes of local government, which is approximately equivalent to the pre-[[Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898|1898]] [[Barony (Ireland)|baronies]] of [[Dundalk Lower]] and [[Dundalk Upper]], i.e. roughly the northern one-third of the county by area including the Cooley peninsula.<ref name="DMD" /> The former legal town and its environs (approximately the area north of the [[River Fane]] (including [[Blackrock, County Louth|Blackrock]]), south of Exit 18 on the M1, bordered by the M1 to the west and the [[Irish Sea]] to the east; and incorporating [[Knockbridge]] to the west of the M1) is now the 'census town'.<ref name="Census2011" />

===Landscape===
[[File:Dundalk Aerial Photo.jpg|thumb|alt=Dundalk Aerial Photo|Aerial view of Dundalk from the north, looking south]]
The main part of the census town lies at sea level. [[Dún Dealgan Motte]] at Castletown is the highest point in the urban area at an elevation of {{cvt|60|m|ft}}.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dundalk Countours OSi |url=http://map.geohive.ie/mapviewer.html?webmap=772f24ab6b094aeeab21a1ae24702601 |access-date=5 September 2020 |website=geohive.ie |publisher=Ordnance Survey Ireland |archive-date=22 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122213010/http://map.geohive.ie/mapviewer.html?webmap=772f24ab6b094aeeab21a1ae24702601 |url-status=live}}</ref> The municipal district includes the [[Cooley Mountains]], with [[Slieve Foy]] the highest of the peaks at an elevation of {{cvt|589|m|ft}}.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Slieve Foy |url=https://mountainviews.ie/summit/298/ |access-date=2 June 2019 |publisher=[[MountainViews]] |archive-date=18 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200918065007/https://mountainviews.ie/summit/298/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

The urban area straddles two geographical areas. A landscape of [[drumlin]]s and undulating farmland form a crescent around the town's outer limits. This area contains contorted [[Ordovician]] and [[Silurian]] slates and shales. The flat, low-lying coastal plain of the main part of the urban area consists of alluvial clays, laid down as the sea retreated following the last [[Last Glacial Period|Ice Age]]. Land was reclaimed both naturally and because of the drainage schemes undertaken in the 18th century by James Hamilton, the first Earl of Clanbrassil. This has meant that the [[topography]] of the district has changed extensively since the area was first inhabited and also since the formation of the original Norman settlements.{{sfn|Gosling|1991|p=237}}

===Street layout===
[[File:Clanbrassil Street, Dundalk.jpg|thumb|alt=Clanbrassil Street, Dundalk, County Louth|Clanbrassil Street, Dundalk, County Louth]]
The layout of Dundalk is based around three principal street systems leading to the open, central Market Square. Clanbrassil Street and Bridge Street run north from the square to the bridge over the Castletown River with the Castletown Road running west from Bridge Street towards Castletown Mount—the original Norman settlement of Dundalk. Jocelyn Street, Seatown Place, and Barrack Street run east from the square towards the old Quay Street railway station, the army barracks, and the Port of Dundalk. Park Street, Dublin Street, and Hill Street run south out of the town to the Dublin Road.<ref name="streets" />

===Climate===
Similar to much of northwest Europe, Dundalk experiences an [[oceanic climate]] and does not suffer from the extremes of temperature experienced by many other locations at similar latitude.<ref>{{cite web |title=CLIMATE OF IRELAND |url=https://www.met.ie/climate/climate-of-ireland |website=met.ie |access-date=12 April 2021 |archive-date=25 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210625114614/https://www.met.ie/climate/climate-of-ireland |url-status=live }}</ref> Summers are typically cool and partly cloudy and the winter is typically cold, wet, windy, and mostly cloudy. Over the course of the year, the temperature typically varies from {{cvt|2 to 19|°C}} and is rarely below {{cvt|-2|°C}} or above {{cvt|23|°C}}.<ref>{{cite web |title=Average Weather in Dundalk |url=https://weatherspark.com/y/33916/Average-Weather-in-Dundalk-Ireland-Year-Round |website=weatherspark.com |access-date=12 April 2021 |archive-date=12 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210412195941/https://weatherspark.com/y/33916/Average-Weather-in-Dundalk-Ireland-Year-Round |url-status=live }}</ref>
{{Weather box|width=auto
|location = Dundalk, Leinster
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|Jan high C = 7.3
|Feb high C = 7.6
|Mar high C = 9.5
|Apr high C = 11.6
|May high C = 14.4
|Jun high C = 16.9
|Jul high C = 18.5
|Aug high C = 17.9
|Sep high C = 16.1
|Oct high C = 12.9
|Nov high C = 9.5
|Dec high C = 7.6
|Jan low C = 3.0
|Feb low C = 2.8
|Mar low C = 3.6
|Apr low C = 5.3
|May low C = 8.0
|Jun low C = 10.8
|Jul low C = 12.5
|Aug low C = 12.3
|Sep low C = 10.8
|Oct low C = 8.3
|Nov low C = 5.4
|Dec low C = 3.5
|Jan precipitation mm = 78
|Feb precipitation mm = 64
|Mar precipitation mm = 65
|Apr precipitation mm = 71
|May precipitation mm = 76
|Jun precipitation mm = 82
|Jul precipitation mm = 83
|Aug precipitation mm = 88
|Sep precipitation mm = 71
|Oct precipitation mm = 85
|Nov precipitation mm = 85
|Dec precipitation mm = 79
|source = <ref name="climate">{{cite web |title=Climate in Dundalk |url=https://en.climate-data.org/europe/ireland/dundalk/dundalk-56567/ |website=climate-data.org |access-date=12 April 2021 |archive-date=27 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220327144525/https://en.climate-data.org/europe/ireland/dundalk/dundalk-56567/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}

==Demography==
Dundalk is the seventh largest [[List of urban areas in the Republic of Ireland|urban area in Ireland]] and the second largest town (after [[Drogheda]]), with a population of 43,112 as of the 2022 census.<ref name="tableF1015census2022" /> Dundalk is the biggest town in Louth, however, because part of the census town of Drogheda is in County Meath.<ref name="DMD">{{Cite web |title=Local Electoral Area Boundary Committee No. 1 Report 2018 |url=https://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/local_electoral_area_boundary_committee_no.1_report_2018.pdf |access-date=5 September 2020 |website=housing.gov.ie |page=77 |archive-date=14 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181114102129/https://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/local_electoral_area_boundary_committee_no.1_report_2018.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> The population density of the census town of Dundalk was measured at {{cvt|1,986.4|pd/sqkm}} in 2022.<ref name="tableF1013census2022">{{cite web |title=Census 2022 Population Density And Area size |url=https://data.cso.ie/table/F1013 |website=cso.ie |publisher=Central Statistics Office |access-date=30 June 2023}}</ref> The population of the wider municipal district is 64,287.<ref name="tableF1011census2022">{{cite web |title=Census 2022 Population Density and Area Size |url=https://data.cso.ie/table/F1011 |website=cso.ie |publisher=Central Statistics Office |access-date=30 June 2023}}</ref>

===Population statistics===
{{Historical populations|state=expanded
|1821|9256
|1831|10078
|1841|10782
|1851|9842
|1861|10360
|1871|11327
|1881|11913
|1891|12449
|1901|13076
|1911|13128
|1926|13996
|1936|14684
|1946|18562
|1951|19678
|1956|21687
|1961|21228
|1966|21678
|1971|23816
|1981|29135
|1986|30695
|1991|30061
|1996|30195
|2002|32505
|2006|35090
|2011|37816
|2016|39004
|2022|43112
|footnote=<ref name="Census2006" /><ref name="Census2011" /><ref name="Census2016" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Historical Reports |url=https://www.cso.ie/en/census/censusvolumes1926to1991/historicalreports/ |access-date=6 September 2020 |website=cso.ie |archive-date=8 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201208121135/https://www.cso.ie/en/census/censusvolumes1926to1991/historicalreports/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Online Historical Population Reports-Dundalk |url=http://www.histpop.org/ohpr/servlet/Search?ResourceType=Census&ResourceType=TNA&SearchTerms=Dundalk&search=Search&simple=yes&path=Results&treestate=expandnew&active=yes&titlepos=0&range=all |access-date=6 September 2020 |website=histpop.org |archive-date=22 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122213011/http://www.histpop.org/ohpr/servlet/Search?ResourceType=Census&ResourceType=TNA&SearchTerms=Dundalk&search=Search&simple=yes&path=Results&treestate=expandnew&active=yes&titlepos=0&range=all |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="tableF1015census2022">{{cite web|url = https://data.cso.ie/table/F1015 | publisher = Central Statistics Office | work = Census 2022 | title = F1015: Population and Average Age by Sex and List of Towns (number and percentages), 2022 | date = April 2022 | accessdate = 29 June 2023 }}</ref>
}}
[[File:Louth Population Density Map 2016.png|thumb|right|alt=Population density per km2 of each small area (SA) in County Louth based on 2016 Census data |Population density per km2 of each small area (SA) in County Louth based on 2016 Census data]]
;Population by place of birth:
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Location
! data-sort-type="number" | 2006<ref name="Census2006">{{Cite web |year=2006 |title=Dundalk Migration, Ethnicity and Religion (CSO Area Code LT 10008) |url=http://census.cso.ie/sapmap2006results/Results2.aspx?Geog_Type=LegalTownsEnvs&Geog_Code=1008C%20Dundalk |access-date=6 September 2020 |publisher=[[Central Statistics Office (Ireland)|Central Statistics Office]] |archive-date=26 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180526040754/http://census.cso.ie/sapmap2006results/Results2.aspx?Geog_Type=LegalTownsEnvs&Geog_Code=1008C%20Dundalk |url-status=live}}</ref>
! data-sort-type="number" | 2011<ref name="Census2011">{{Cite web |year=2011 |title=Settlement Dundalk Legal Town And Its Environs (CSO Area Code ST 10008) |url=http://census.cso.ie/sapmap2011/Results.aspx?Geog_Type=ST&Geog_Code=10008 |access-date=6 September 2020 |publisher=[[Central Statistics Office (Ireland)|Central Statistics Office]] |archive-date=29 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141029050553/http://census.cso.ie/sapmap2011/Results.aspx?Geog_Type=ST&Geog_Code=10008 |url-status=live}}</ref>
! data-sort-type="number" | 2016<ref name="Census2016">{{Cite web |year=2016 |title=Census 2016 Sapmap Area: Settlements Dundalk |url=http://census.cso.ie/sapmap2016/Results.aspx?Geog_Type=ST2016&Geog_Code=91DBC922-801B-421B-9D74-C2381BC684EC |access-date=4 September 2020 |publisher=[[Central Statistics Office (Ireland)|Central Statistics Office]] |archive-date=30 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170730014936/http://census.cso.ie/sapmap2016/Results.aspx?Geog_Type=ST2016&Geog_Code=91DBC922-801B-421B-9D74-C2381BC684EC |url-status=live}}</ref>
! data-sort-type="number" | 2022<ref name="Census2022">{{Cite web |year=2022 |title=Census 2022 Sapmap Area: Settlements Dundalk |url=https://visual.cso.ie/?body=entity/ima/cop/2022&boundary=C04160V04929&guid=2902f3b0-ba08-407f-86d5-847689d3cbaf |access-date=10 November 2023 |publisher=[[Central Statistics Office (Ireland)|Central Statistics Office]]}}</ref>
|-
| Ireland
| 28,095
| 29,114
| 29,430
| 31,283
|-
| UK
| 3,488
| 3,839
| 3,791
| 3,946
|-
| Poland
| 252
| 555
| 602
| 629
|-
| Lithuania
| 421
| 633
| 657
| -{{efn|data not specified in CSO report for Census 2022}}
|-
| Rest of EU
| 692
| 1,119
| 1,508
| 2,821
|-
| Rest of World
| 1,804
| 2,269
| 2,652
| 4,056
|}

;Population by ethnic or cultural background:
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Ethnicity or culture
! data-sort-type="number" | 2006<ref name="Census2006" />
! data-sort-type="number" | 2011<ref name="Census2011" />
! data-sort-type="number" | 2016<ref name="Census2016" />
! data-sort-type="number" | 2022<ref name="Census2022" />
|-
| White Irish
| 29,840
| 30,645
| 29,872
| 29,644
|-
| White Irish Traveller
| 325
| 441
| 535
| 674
|-
| Other White
| 1,802
| 2,987
| 3,572
| 4,426
|-
| Black or Black Irish
| 1,276
| 1,669
| 1,785
| 2,566
|-
| Asian or Asian Irish
| 372
| 687
| 988
| 1,431
|-
| Other
| 380
| 389
| 682
| 948
|-
| Not stated
| 757
| 711
| 1,206
| 3,226
|}

;Population by religion:
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Religion
! data-sort-type="number" | 2006<ref name="Census2006" />
! data-sort-type="number" | 2011<ref name="Census2011" />
! data-sort-type="number" | 2016<ref name="Census2016" />
! data-sort-type="number" | 2022<ref name="Census2022" />
|-
| Roman Catholic
| 30,677
| 31,790
| 30,187
| 28,529
|-
| Other stated religions
| 2,472
| 3,350
| 4,248
| 5,421
|-
| No religion
| 1,158
| 1,971
| 3,331
| 5,566
|-
| Not stated
| 778
| 705
| 1,238
| 3,596
|}
;Population by principal status:
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Economic status
! data-sort-type="number" | 2006<ref name="Census2006" />
! data-sort-type="number" | 2011<ref name="Census2011" />
! data-sort-type="number" | 2016<ref name="Census2016" />
! data-sort-type="number" | 2022<ref name="Census2022" />
|-
| At work
| 14,301
| 12,875
| 14,312
| 17,314
|-
| Looking for first regular job
| 424
| 412
| 463
| 523
|-
| Unemployed
| 1,892
| 4,238
| 3,308
| 2,347{{efn|total of 'short-term unemployed' and 'long-term unemployed'}}
|-
| Student
| 2,985
| 3,747
| 3,842
| 3,991
|-
| Looking after home / family
| 3,036
| 2,634
| 2,453
| 2,401
|-
| Retired
| 3,204
| 3,903
| 4,332
| 5,170
|-
| Unable to work
| 1,483
| 1,536
| 1,552
| 1,869
|-
| Other
| 95
| 121
| 112
| 282
|}

===Language===
The first language of the majority of 'white Irish' residents of Dundalk is English (a.k.a. [[Hiberno-English]]). Approximately 4% of the population speak the [[Irish language]] on a daily basis outside of the education system.<ref name="Census2006" /><ref name="Census2011" /><ref name="Census2016" /> The [[Omeath]] area in Cooley, within the municipal district, was a small [[Gaeltacht]] area, with the last speaker of a 'Louth Irish' dialect dying in 1960.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hosted last Gaeltacht in this part of country |url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/argus/news/hosted-last-gaeltacht-in-this-part-of-country-26936215.html |access-date=27 September 2020 |website=independent.ie |archive-date=9 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160409070542/http://www.independent.ie/regionals/argus/news/hosted-last-gaeltacht-in-this-part-of-country-26936215.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Politics and government==
===National and European===
Dundalk is the [[county town]] (the administrative centre) of the county of [[County Louth|Louth]] in Ireland. It is represented at the national level in [[Dáil Éireann]] as part the [[Louth (Dáil constituency)|Louth parliamentary constituency]], which was created under the terms of the [[Electoral Act 1923]], and first used at the [[1923 Irish general election|1923 general election]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Electoral (Amendment) Act 2005: Schedule |url=http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/2005/en/act/pub/0016/sched.html#sched |access-date=24 September 2010 |website=[[Irish Statute Book]] database |archive-date=22 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150722033733/http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/2005/en/act/pub/0016/sched.html#sched |url-status=live}}</ref>

Before the [[Acts of Union 1800|Act of Union]], which came into force on 1 January 1801, Dundalk was a [[Dundalk (Parliament of Ireland constituency)|Parliament of Ireland constituency]]. Following the Act of Union, Dundalk was a [[Dundalk (UK Parliament constituency)|UK Parliament constituency]] until 1885. In 1885, the constituency was combined with the northern part of the [[County Louth (UK Parliament constituency)|County Louth constituency]] to become [[North Louth (UK Parliament constituency)|North Louth]]. In 1918, the North Louth constituency was combined with [[South Louth (UK Parliament constituency)|South Louth]] to form a single County Louth constituency—the precursor of the constituency formed following the creation of Dáil Éireann.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Parliamentary Election Results in Ireland, 1801-1922 |date=1978 |publisher=Royal Irish Academy |isbn=0901714127 |editor-last=Walker |editor-first=B.M. |location=Dublin}}</ref>

Dundalk is represented in the [[European Parliament]] within the [[Midlands–North-West (European Parliament constituency)|Midlands–North-West constituency]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=5 February 2014 |title=European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Act 2014 |url=http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2014/act/2/section/3/enacted/en/html |access-date=23 March 2019 |website=Irish Statute Book database |archive-date=2 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502004557/http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2014/act/2/section/3/enacted/en/html |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Local government===
[[Louth County Council]] ({{langx|ga|Comhairle Contae Lú}}) is the authority responsible for [[Local government in the Republic of Ireland|local government]] in Dundalk.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home - Louth County Council |url=http://www.louthcoco.ie/en/ |website=louthcoco.ie |access-date=17 February 2015 |archive-date=27 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150227210933/http://www.louthcoco.ie/en |url-status=live }}</ref> As a [[county council]], it is governed by the [[Local Government Act 2001]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Services |url=http://www.louthcoco.ie/en/Services/ |access-date=31 March 2011 |publisher=Louth County Council |archive-date=30 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430015915/http://www.louthcoco.ie/en/Services/ |url-status=live}}</ref> For administrative purposes, the council is sub-divided into three areas, centred around the three main towns in the county—Dundalk, Drogheda and Ardee. The Dundalk Municipal District comprises all of the county to the north of a line running approximately east-to-north west, from the coast to the Monaghan border, across the villages of Castlebellingham and Knockbridge.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Council and Democracy Maps |url=http://apps.louthcoco.ie/maps/ |access-date=22 August 2020 |website=louthcoco.ie |archive-date=1 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001133544/http://apps.louthcoco.ie/maps/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

The county council has 29 elected members, 13 of whom are from the Dundalk district. Elections are held every five years and are by [[single transferable vote]]. For the purpose of elections, the Dundalk Municipal District is sub-divided into two [[local electoral area]]s: Dundalk-[[Carlingford, County Louth|Carlingford]] (6 Seats) and Dundalk South (7 Seats).<ref>{{Cite web |title=2014 Local elections – Louth County Council |url=http://electionsireland.org/results/local/council.cfm?election=2014L&area=262 |access-date=5 June 2014 |website=ElectionsIreland.org |archive-date=10 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140510052904/http://electionsireland.org/results/local/council.cfm?election=2014L&area=262 |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Coat of arms===
[[File:Dundalk Corporation Seal.gif|thumb|alt=Dundalk Corporation Seal in 1837 |Dundalk Corporation Seal in 1837.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Lewis |first=Samuel |title=A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland, Vol. 1 |date=1837 |publisher=S. Lewis & Co. |location=London |page=569}}</ref>]]
The coat of arms of Dundalk was officially granted by the [[Irish heraldry|Office of the Chief Herald]] at the National Library of Ireland in 1968, and is a replication of the ''seal matrix'' of the 'New Town of Dundalk', which itself dates to the 14th century. The modern-day coat of arms contains the motto {{langx|ga|Mé do rug Cú Chulainn cróga}} ("I gave birth to brave Cú Chulainn"). The shield is from the coat of arms of the de Furnivall family—a [[Bend (heraldry)|bend]] between six [[martlet]]s. The ermine boar supporter is derived from the arms of the [[Ó hAnluain]] (O'Hanlon) family, Kings of Airthir, the main Gaelic Irish family in the area at the time of the de Furnivall landlordship.<ref name="Seal">{{Cite web |title=Coat of Arms (crest) of Dundalk |url=https://www.heraldry-wiki.com/heraldrywiki/index.php/Dundalk |access-date=23 June 2019 |website=heraldry-wiki.com |archive-date=18 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190418133439/https://www.heraldry-wiki.com/heraldrywiki/index.php/Dundalk |url-status=live }}</ref> 

Previously, the town's coat of arms was a simpler three gold [[martlet]]s on an azure field.<ref name="heraldry">{{cite news |title=Councillors Discuss Heraldry |url=https://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/Olive/APA/INA/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=DDT%2F1953%2F07%2F04&id=Ar00415&sk=298A2FE7&viewMode=image |access-date=24 January 2023 |work=Dundalk Democrat |date=4 July 1953 |archive-date=24 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230124132536/https://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/Olive/APA/INA/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=DDT/1953/07/04&id=Ar00415&sk=298A2FE7&viewMode=image |url-status=live }}</ref> It appears as the Corporation Seal in a town plan dated 1675,{{sfn|D'Alton|1864|p=299}} after the Corporation of Dundalk was granted a [[Municipal charter|charter]] by [[Charles II of England|Charles II]] in 1673.<ref>{{Cite news |date=21 December 1938 |title=Dundalk's 1675 Seal |work=[[The Herald (Ireland)|Evening Herald]] |url=https://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/Olive/APA/INA/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=EHD%2F1938%2F12%2F21&id=Ar00513&sk=21FD4361 |access-date=26 September 2019 |archive-date=22 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122213013/https://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/Olive/APA/INA/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=EHD%2F1938%2F12%2F21&id=Ar00513&sk=21FD4361 |url-status=live}}</ref> 

It cannot be stated definitively if there is a link between the 14th century seal and the 17th century seal. However, another Anglo-Norman family, the [[Dowdall]]s, were also influential landowners in Dundalk in the Middle Ages,<ref>{{cite book |last1=Otway- Ruthven |first1=A. J. |title=HISTORY OF MEDIEVAL IRELAND |date=1993 |page=116 |publisher=Barnes & Nobel |isbn=1566192161}}</ref> and their family coat of arms contains three martlets on a field. The townland of Dowdallshill lies to the north of the Castletown River. The Corporation Seal can be seen carved in stone on [[Dundalk Town Hall]], which was built in the mid-1800s.<ref name="townhall">{{Cite web |title=Town Hall, Crowe Street, Dundalk, County Louth |url=http://www.buildingsofireland.ie/niah/search.jsp?type=record&county=LH&regno=13705008 |access-date=27 September 2019 |website=buildingsofireland.ie |publisher=National Inventory of Architectural Heritage |archive-date=22 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122213016/https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/13705008/town-hall-crowe-street-townparks-upper-dundalk-by-dundalk-louth |url-status=live}}</ref>

In December 1929, the town council proposed to remove the "three black crows" seal because it had supposedly been imposed by King [[Henry VIII]],<ref>{{Cite news |date=19 December 1929 |title=Three Black Crows |work=[[Belfast Newsletter]] |url=https://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/Olive/APA/INA/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=BNL%2F1929%2F12%2F19&id=Ar00602&sk=DF33244F |access-date=26 September 2019 |archive-date=22 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122213015/https://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/Olive/APA/INA/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=BNL%2F1929%2F12%2F19&id=Ar00602&sk=DF33244F |url-status=live}}</ref> a historically inaccurate claim that met widespread derision.<ref>{{cite news |title=More About the Town Seal |url=https://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/Olive/APA/INA/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=DDT%2F1930%2F01%2F25&id=Ar00612&sk=57416B31&viewMode=image |access-date=24 January 2023 |work=Dundalk Democrat |date=25 January 1930 |archive-date=24 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230124132532/https://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/Olive/APA/INA/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=DDT/1930/01/25&id=Ar00612&sk=57416B31&viewMode=image |url-status=live }}</ref> The majority on the town council pressed ahead and the old seal was replaced by a seal depicting Saint Patrick, Saint Brigid and Saint Colmcille in the form of a shamrock.<ref name="heraldry" />

Several companies and organisations in the town continued to use the shield with three martlets as their logo. Examples include the Macardle Moore and Company brewery, the Dundalk Race Company Limited (the company that ran Dundalk Racecourse), and Dealgan Milk Products (a dairy company formed in the town in 1960). It also became the crest of [[Dundalk F.C.|Dundalk Football Club]] in 1927. The club's current crest retains the three martlets but on a red shield.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Murphy |first=Jim |title=C'mon The Town – a Dundalk FC Miscellany |date=2013 |publisher=Jim Murphy |location=Dundalk |page=8}}</ref>

==Economy==
===Industry===
[[File:Dundalk Distillery.png|thumb|alt=Dundalk Distillery, 19th century |[[Dundalk Distillery]], 19th century]]
[[File:Great Northern Distillery, Dundalk.jpg|thumb|alt=Great Northern Distillery, Dundalk, County Louth|Great Northern Distillery]]
Linen was the first industry established in Dundalk in the mid-18th century but it failed by the end of the century, with the factories becoming derelict. It would be the next century before new industries established themselves: mills, tanneries, a foundry, a distillery, and several breweries. During James Hamilton's improvements to the town during the 18th century, the Port of Dundalk was established and became the eighth largest in Ireland in terms of exports.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Geraghty |first=P.J. |date=1995 |title=Urban Improvement and the Erection of Municipal Buildings in County Louth during the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries |journal=Journal of the County Louth Archaeological Society |volume=23 |issue=3 |pages=309–316 |doi=10.2307/27729775 |jstor=27729775}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Systems |first=Adlib Information |title=Internet Server 3.1.1 |url=http://www.louthcoco.ie/adlib/detail.aspx?parentpriref=110010281 |website=louthcoco.ie |access-date=11 January 2016 |archive-date=22 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122213023/https://apps.louthcoco.ie/adlib/default.aspx?parentpriref=110010281 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The second half of the 19th century saw the population of Dundalk increase by 30% (despite the population of Ireland as a whole declining in the same period) as the town's industries thrived. The Malcolm Brown & Co. [[Dundalk Distillery]] was established c.1780 at Roden Place and operated successfully throughout the 19th century. Brewing was also a key industry in the town, with eight breweries in operation by the end of the 1830s. The [[Great Famine (Ireland)|famine of the 1840s]] left just two breweries in operation, which merged to become the [[Macardle Moore Brewery|Macardle Moore & Co.]] brewery at Cambricville. The [[Great Northern Brewery, Dundalk|Great Northern Brewery]] opened later, in 1896.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Brewing in Dundalk |url=http://www.hoganstand.com/general/identity/extras/heritage/stories/brewing.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725053308/http://www.hoganstand.com/general/identity/extras/heritage/stories/brewing.htm |archive-date=25 July 2008 |access-date=23 August 2020}}</ref> The Dundalk Iron Works was established in 1821 and by the end of the century had expanded to become a leading employer in the town.<ref>{{Cite news |date=11 August 2020 |title=Trip Through Time |work=Dundalk Democrat |url=https://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/Olive/APA/INA/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=DDT%2F2020%2F08%2F11&id=Ar02000&sk=D8CD4845 |access-date=31 August 2020 |archive-date=22 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122213020/https://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/Olive/APA/INA/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=DDT%2F2020%2F08%2F11&id=Ar02000&sk=D8CD4845 |url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Carroll's|P.J. Carroll]] tobacco factory was started on a small scale in the 1820s and grew throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries. The [[Great Northern Railway (Ireland)]] works established in 1881 became the "backbone of the town".<ref name="preparations">{{Cite news |date=16 December 1939 |title=Preparations for Bumper Season |work=Irish Press |url=https://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/Olive/APA/INA/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=IPR%2F1939%2F12%2F16&id=Ar01011&sk=21DF340B |access-date=31 August 2020 |archive-date=22 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122213022/https://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/Olive/APA/INA/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=IPR%2F1939%2F12%2F16&id=Ar01011&sk=21DF340B |url-status=live}}</ref>

The town's industries suffered after [[partition of Ireland|partition]] and again from the [[Anglo-Irish trade war]]. The imposition of tariffs and duties in April 1923 and the establishment of customs checks on the border affected exports and trade with the [[Newry]] district, which was now in a different jurisdiction.{{sfn|Hall|2010|p=272}} The iron works and the distillery, which [[the Distillers Company]] of Scotland had acquired in 1912, were the first major local industries to close.<ref>{{Cite book |last=McGuire |first=Edward B. |title=Irish Whiskey: A History of Distilling, the Spirit Trade and Excise Controls in Ireland |publisher=Gill and MacMillan |year=1973 |isbn=0717106047 |location=Glasgow}}</ref>

[[Protectionism]] gave the town's industries breathing space, and by 1950 they had recovered from the effects of partition and the trade war. The two breweries were successful and tobacco manufacturing, shoe manufacturing, and the railway works provided thousands of jobs.<ref>{{Cite news |date=15 March 1952 |title=Dundalk can take it |page=13 |newspaper=The Irish Times}}</ref> The town was also a thriving commercial centre, as the increase in bus traffic brought shoppers in from a wide radius.<ref name="preparations" /> The Northern Ireland government's decision to close many of the G.N.R. lines north of the border, however, made the company nonviable, and it was dissolved in 1958 leading to the closure of the works in Dundalk. It was replaced by ''Dundalk Engineering Works Ltd'' (DEW)—a government-backed initiative to keep the 980 remaining workers in employment.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1 October 1958 |title=Parent firm for Dundalk G.N.R. works |work=[[Irish Press]] |url=https://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/Olive/APA/INA/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=IPR%2F1958%2F10%2F01&id=Ar00718&sk=9C040A06 |access-date=23 June 2019 |via=Irish Newspaper Archives |archive-date=22 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122213024/https://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/Olive/APA/INA/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=IPR%2F1958%2F10%2F01&id=Ar00718&sk=9C040A06 |url-status=live}}</ref> Carroll's also continued to expand and modernise, opening a new factory on the Dublin Road in 1970. The design by Ronnie Tallon of Michael Scott & Partners subsequently won architectural awards.<ref name="award">{{Cite web |last=Kucharek |first=Jan-Carlos |title=Larger than life: Michael Scott |url=https://www.ribaj.com/buildings/michael-scott-riba-gold-medal-pj-carroll-cigarette-factory-dundalk-ireland |access-date=31 August 2020 |website=ribaj.com |archive-date=1 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001040202/https://www.ribaj.com/buildings/michael-scott-riba-gold-medal-pj-carroll-cigarette-factory-dundalk-ireland |url-status=live}}</ref>

As late as 1969, the town was still in a position to boast of its industrial prowess, with the engineering companies at the DEW prospering.<ref>{{Cite news |date=16 October 1969 |title=Dundalk's Industrial Development |work=Irish Press |url=https://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/Olive/APA/INA/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=IPR%2F1969%2F10%2F16&id=Ar00915&sk=8A29523B |access-date=1 September 2020 |archive-date=22 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122213024/https://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/Olive/APA/INA/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=IPR%2F1969%2F10%2F16&id=Ar00915&sk=8A29523B |url-status=live}}</ref> The pressures of trade liberalisation introduced by Ireland's accession to the [[European Economic Community|EEC]] in 1973 caused many businesses to falter during the 1970s and 1980s. The Engineering Works closed in 1985 and the last shoemaking factory closed in 2001.<ref>{{Cite news |date=10 October 1967 |title=Rawson workers plan action |work=Irish Independent |url=https://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/Olive/APA/INA/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=IND%2F1967%2F10%2F10&id=Ar00110&sk=F0093319 |access-date=31 August 2020 |archive-date=22 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122213031/https://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/Olive/APA/INA/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=IND%2F1967%2F10%2F10&id=Ar00110&sk=F0093319 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=16 June 1995 |title=Dundalk the home of shoes |work=Drogheda Independent |url=https://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/Olive/APA/INA/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=DIN%2F1995%2F06%2F16&id=Ar04710&sk=B5015414 |access-date=31 August 2020 |archive-date=22 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122213028/https://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/Olive/APA/INA/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=DIN%2F1995%2F06%2F16&id=Ar04710&sk=B5015414 |url-status=live}}</ref> The ECCO (Electronics Components Company Overseas) factory, which had been opened by [[General Electric]] in 1966 and become the town's leading employer by 1973, employing around 1,500 people at its peak, closed in 2006 after a long period of decline.<ref name="Ecco">{{Cite news |last=Keogh |first=Elaine |date=21 June 2006 |title=134 jobs to go in Dundalk as Littelfuse moves east |newspaper=The Irish Times |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/134-jobs-to-go-in-dundalk-as-littelfuse-moves-east-1.1019516# |access-date=31 August 2020 |archive-date=22 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122213027/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/134-jobs-to-go-in-dundalk-as-littelfuse-moves-east-1.1019516 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Diageo]] closed both of the town's breweries—first Cambricville in 2001, then the Great Northern Brewery in 2013 after a decade-long wind down.<ref name="diageo">{{Cite news |date=15 July 2015 |title=Dundalk may only be start of job cuts at Guinness |newspaper=The Irish Times |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/dundalk-may-only-be-start-of-job-cuts-at-guinness-1.293048 |access-date=31 August 2020 |archive-date=22 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122213027/https://www.irishtimes.com/business/dundalk-may-only-be-start-of-job-cuts-at-guinness-1.293048 |url-status=live}}</ref> Also after a long decline, the Carroll's factory closed in 2005.<ref name="PJ">{{Cite news |date=13 July 2005 |title=PJ Carroll plans to close Dundalk cigarette plant |newspaper=The Irish Times |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/pj-carroll-plans-to-close-dundalk-cigarette-plant-1.1179948 |access-date=31 August 2020 |archive-date=22 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122213028/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/pj-carroll-plans-to-close-dundalk-cigarette-plant-1.1179948 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Unemployment in the town reached 27.9% by 1991,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dundalk and Environs Development Plan |url=https://www.louthcoco.ie/en/publications/development-plans/dundalk-development-plan-and-lap-s-/5-economic-development.pdf |access-date=31 August 2020 |website=louthcoco.ie |archive-date=24 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190524173236/https://www.louthcoco.ie/en/publications/development-plans/dundalk-development-plan-and-lap-s-/5-economic-development.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref> and pleas to government for assistance were unsuccessful.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McGahon |first=Brendan |title=Adjournment Debate. - Dundalk Engineering Works. |url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1985-11-14/16/ |access-date=1 September 2020 |website=oireachtas.ie |archive-date=28 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028120118/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1985-11-14/16/ |url-status=live}}</ref> The town was slow to benefit from the [[Celtic Tiger]] economy that saw an economic boom in Ireland from the mid-1990s and continued to suffer from business closures and job losses. By 2012, the town was being painted as one of Ireland's "most deprived areas" after the global downturn following the [[2008 financial crisis]].<ref name="deprived">{{Cite news |date=26 January 2012 |title=Dundalk 'most deprived' Border town |newspaper=The Irish Times |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/dundalk-most-deprived-border-town-1.451479 |access-date=8 September 2020 |archive-date=22 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122213046/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/dundalk-most-deprived-border-town-1.451479 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Indigenous industry started to recover following the [[2008 financial crisis]], with the Great Northern Brewery being reopened as 'the Great Northern Distillery' in 2015 by John Teeling, who had established the [[Cooley Distillery]].<ref name="teeling">{{Cite web |title=Our History |url=https://gndireland.com/history/ |access-date=31 August 2020 |website=gndireland.com |archive-date=15 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200815105626/https://gndireland.com/history/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Locally-driven initiatives led to a flurry of Foreign Direct Investment announcements in the latter half of the 2010s, particularly in the technology and pharmaceutical sectors.<ref name="WuXi">{{Cite web |last=Kennedy |first=John |title=Construction begins on €325m WuXi Biologics plant in Dundalk |url=https://www.siliconrepublic.com/companies/wuxi-biologics-plant-dundalk-construction# |access-date=31 August 2020 |website=siliconrepublic.com |date=23 May 2019 |archive-date=30 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200730052438/https://www.siliconrepublic.com/companies/wuxi-biologics-plant-dundalk-construction |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="FDI">{{Cite news |last=D'Arcy |first=Conor |date=30 June 2014 |title=Dundalk has got back its business groove |newspaper=The Irish Times |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/dundalk-has-got-back-its-business-groove-1.1847721 |access-date=31 August 2020 |archive-date=28 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230228231141/https://www.irishtimes.com/business/dundalk-has-got-back-its-business-groove-1.1847721 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Tourism===
The Dundalk / North Louth region is marketed as part of the 'Ireland's Ancient East' campaign.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ireland's Ancient East |url=https://www.irelandsancienteast.com/search/keyword/dundalk?keyword=Dundalk |access-date=31 August 2020 |website=irelandsancienteast.com |archive-date=22 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122213034/https://www.discoverireland.ie/irelands-ancient-east |url-status=live}}</ref> The 'ancient east' encompasses Ireland's coast from the border with Northern Ireland at Carlingford Lough to [[Kinsale]] in [[County Cork]]; inland as far as the [[River Shannon]]. In contrast to the [[Wild Atlantic Way]], which focuses on landscape, the 'Ireland's Ancient East' campaign is more focused on history and heritage.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ó Conghaile |first1=Pól |title=Ireland's Ancient East: What is our new tourism proposition, exactly? |url=https://www.independent.ie/life/travel/ireland/irelands-ancient-east-what-is-our-new-tourism-proposition-exactly-34865495.html |website=independent.ie |access-date=19 March 2021 |archive-date=13 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210413085107/https://www.independent.ie/life/travel/ireland/irelands-ancient-east-what-is-our-new-tourism-proposition-exactly-34865495.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Louth is marketed as the 'Land of Legends', a campaign which also refers to a "rich and ancient history and heritage" and seeks to increase the number of visitors to the region "by capitalising on County Louth's unique location within Ireland's Ancient East, as the hub for the Boyne Valley and the Cooley, Mourne and Gullion Regions".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Make a break for Louth Land of legends |url=https://www.visitlouth.ie/ |access-date=31 August 2020 |website=visitlouth.ie |archive-date=17 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200817190057/https://www.visitlouth.ie/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Dundalk is home to Ireland's tallest mural, which depicts the warrior god [[Lugh]]. It is situated on the Gateway Hotel, Dundalk and measures 41 metres in height.<ref>{{cite web |title=Irelands tallest mural, reaching a whopping 135ft from top to bottom |url=https://streetartutopia.com/2024/03/15/irelands-tallest-mural-reaching-a-whopping-135ft-from-top-to-bottom/ |website=streetartutopia.com |access-date=20 May 2024}}</ref>

==Transport==

===Shipping===
Dundalk Port is a cargo import and export facility. There is no passenger traffic.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dundalk Port Company |url=https://afloat.ie/resources/irish-ports/dundalk-port-company |website=afloat.ie |access-date=20 March 2021 |archive-date=23 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210323011939/https://afloat.ie/resources/irish-ports/dundalk-port-company |url-status=live }}</ref>

Shipping services to [[Liverpool]] were provided from 1837 by the [[Dundalk Steam Packet Company]]. It took over its rivals to become the [[Dundalk and Newry Steam Packet Company]], which shipped cargo, live animals and passengers. It was forced to go into liquidation and allow itself to be taken over by [[British and Irish Steam Packet Company|B&I]] in 1926 following a series of strikes. B&I maintained the Dundalk to Liverpool route as a weekly service until 1968.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Snook |first=David |title=Merchant Seamen from Dundalk |url=http://dundalkmuseum.ie/assets/files/Booklet-7.pdf |access-date=3 September 2020 |website=dundalkmuseum.ie |archive-date=27 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190627153627/http://dundalkmuseum.ie/assets/files/Booklet-7.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Railway===
[[File:Londonderry & Castlewellan Dundalk, Greenore & Newry RJD 123.jpg|thumb|right|alt=Dundalk rail network c. 1907 |Dundalk rail network c. 1907]]
[[File:Dundalk Train Station.jpg|thumb|right|alt=Dundalk railway station |Dundalk railway station]]
Dundalk is the closest station to the border on the southern side along the [[Belfast–Dublin line]]. The first railway links arrived when the [[Irish North Western Railway|Dundalk and Enniskillen Railway]] opened a line from Quay Street to Castleblayney in 1849, and by 1860 the company operated a route northwest to Derry. The line to Quay Street was later extended to Newry and Greenore by the [[Dundalk, Newry and Greenore Railway]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Barrie |first=D.S.M. |title=The Dundalk, Newry and Greenore Railway |publisher=Oakwood Press |year=1980 |isbn=0-85361-260-9 |series=Oakwood Library of Railway History |location=Lingfield |orig-year=1957}}</ref>

Also in 1849, the [[Dublin and Belfast Junction Railway]] opened its first station in Dundalk. Following a series of mergers, both the Dublin and Belfast and Dundalk and Enniskillen lines were incorporated into the [[Great Northern Railway (Ireland)]] in 1876.<ref name="Dundalgan Press" /> After partition, the G.N.R. had a border running through its network, with lines crisscrossing it several times, and the Northern Ireland government wanted to close many of the lines in favour of bus transport. By the 1950s, the G.N.R. company had ceased to be profitable and Dundalk saw its secondary routes closed—first the line to Greenore and Newry in 1951,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Irish Railway Factsheet: Dundalk Newry & Greenore Railway |url=http://irishrailarchives.ie/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/IRRS_Factsheets_DNGR.pdf |access-date=24 August 2020 |website=irishrailarchives.ie |archive-date=22 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122213047/http://irishrailarchives.ie/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/IRRS_Factsheets_DNGR.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref> and then the line to [[Derry]] in 1957.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hajducki |first=S. Maxwell |title=A Railway Atlas of Ireland |publisher=[[David & Charles]] |year=1974 |isbn=0-7153-5167-2 |location=Newton Abbott}}</ref> The G.N.R. was nationalised on both sides of the border in 1953, and the company was finally dissolved in 1958. The closure of the G.N.R. left Dundalk with only one operational line—the Dublin–Belfast [[Enterprise (train service)|"Enterprise"]] service (as well as [[Commuter (Iarnród Éireann)|commuter]] services to and from Dublin).<ref>{{Cite book |last=Baker |first=Michael H.C. |title=Irish Railways since 1916 |publisher=[[Ian Allan Publishing|Ian Allan]] |year=1972 |isbn=0-7110-0282-7 |location=London |pages=153, 207}}</ref>

The G.N.R. built the current [[Dundalk railway station]] in 1894. It was renamed Clarke Station in 1966, in commemoration of [[Tom Clarke (Irish republican)|Tom Clarke]], one of the executed leaders of the Easter Rising. It houses a small museum in the old first-class waiting room, and has been called, "the finest station on the main Dublin–Belfast line".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Clarke Station, Dundalk, Co. Louth |url=https://archiseek.com/2010/clarke-station-dundalk-co-louth/ |access-date=1 September 2020 |website=archiseek.com |date=6 January 2010 |archive-date=5 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201205021716/https://archiseek.com/2010/clarke-station-dundalk-co-louth/ |url-status=live }}</ref> It was used as a filming location for the [[Walt Disney Pictures]] film, [[Disenchanted (film)|''Disenchanted'']] in May 2021.<ref>{{cite web |last1=O'Loughlin |first1=Ciara |title=Disenchanted: Dundalk the latest Hollywood filming spot to get a sprinkling of Disney dust |url=https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/movies/disenchanted-dundalk-the-latest-hollywood-filming-spot-to-get-a-sprinkling-of-disney-dust-40479332.html |website=independent.ie |access-date=4 June 2021 |archive-date=3 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210603193523/https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/movies/disenchanted-dundalk-the-latest-hollywood-filming-spot-to-get-a-sprinkling-of-disney-dust-40479332.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Bus===
Dundalk's Bus Station is operated by [[Bus Éireann]] and is located on the Long Walk near the town centre. The company runs a town service—Route 174.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Route 174 |url=https://www.buseireann.ie/inner.php?id=406&form-view-timetables-from=&form-view-timetables-to=&form-view-timetables-route=174&form-view-timetables-submit=1 |access-date=1 September 2020 |website=buseireann.ie |archive-date=22 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122213052/https://www.buseireann.ie/inner.php?id=406&form-view-timetables-from=&form-view-timetables-to=&form-view-timetables-route=174&form-view-timetables-submit=1 |url-status=live}}</ref> It also operates routes from Dundalk to Dublin, [[Galway]], [[Newry]], [[Clones, County Monaghan|Clones]], [[Cavan]], and towns in between.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Louth Routes |url=https://www.buseireann.ie/inner.php?id=245#Louth |access-date=1 September 2020 |website=buseireann.ie |archive-date=20 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920054631/https://buseireann.ie/inner.php?id=245#Louth |url-status=live}}</ref>

The Dundalk-Blackrock route was one of very few bus routes not compulsorily purchased by [[CIÉ]] under the Transport Acts of 1932 and 1933.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History |url=https://www.cie.ie/Who-We-Are/History-of-CIE |access-date=6 September 2020 |website=cie.ie |archive-date=22 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122213056/https://www.cie.ie/Who-We-Are/History-of-CIE |url-status=live}}</ref> It has been operated by Halpenny Travel since 1920.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Blackrock Bus |url=https://www.halpennytravel.com/footer/history/ |access-date=6 September 2020 |archive-date=8 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200808143829/https://www.halpennytravel.com/footer/history/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Road===
The [[M1 motorway (Republic of Ireland)|M1–N1]]/[[A1 road (Northern Ireland)|A1]] connects Dundalk to [[Dublin]] and [[Belfast]]. Exits 16, 17, and 18 service Dundalk South, Dundalk Centre, and Dundalk North, respectively. The National Secondary Road [[N52 road (Ireland)|N52]] from [[Nenagh]], [[County Tipperary]] travels through the junction for Exit 16 on the M1, runs through the east side of the town, and terminates at the junction for Exit 18 of the M1. The N53 from [[Castleblayney]], [[County Monaghan]], which crosses the border twice, terminates at the junction for Exit 17 on the M1. The [[R173 road (Ireland)|R173]], which starts and finishes at the junction for Exit 18 of the M1, connects the town to the Cooley peninsula. The [[R171 road (Ireland)|R171]] connects the town to Ardee, the [[R177 road (Ireland)|R177]] and [[A29 road (Northern Ireland)|A29]] connect the town to [[Armagh]], and the [[R178 road (Ireland)|R178]] connects the town to [[Virginia, County Cavan]] via [[Carrickmacross]], [[Shercock]], and [[Bailieborough]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dundalk Road Intersections |url=http://map.geohive.ie/mapviewer.html?webmap=af0f721296d94289959cb7d959b51a8a |access-date=5 September 2020 |website=geohive.ie |publisher=Ordance Survey Ireland |archive-date=22 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122213055/http://map.geohive.ie/mapviewer.html?webmap=af0f721296d94289959cb7d959b51a8a |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Architecture==
[[File:Dundalk Courthouse.jpg|alt=Dundalk Courthouse|Dundalk Courthouse|thumb]]
[[File:Town Hall, Dundalk.jpg|thumb|alt=Town Hall, Dundalk, County Louth|[[Dundalk Town Hall]]]]
[[File:St Nicholas's Church, Dundalk 2.jpg|right|thumb|alt=St Nicholas's Church |St Nicholas's Church]]
[[File:Dundalk Friary Tower 2013 09 23.jpg|right|thumb|alt=Seatown Castle |Seatown Castle]]
[[File:St Patrick's Church, Dundalk.jpg|thumb|right|alt=St Patrick's Church |St Patrick's Church]]
Many of the buildings of architectural note in the town were built during the 19th century.<ref name="archiseek" /> Several buildings on the streets off the Market Square are described as being in the "Dundalk style" —ornate buildings, "testifying to the confidence of Dundalk's merchant class in the latter part of the 19th-century".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lifestyle Sports |url=https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/13704009/lifestyle-sports-clanbrassil-street-townparks-upper-dundalk-by-dundalk-county-louth |access-date=9 September 2020 |website=buildingsofireland.ie |archive-date=22 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122213015/https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/13704009/lifestyle-sports-clanbrassil-street-townparks-upper-dundalk-by-dundalk-county-louth |url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[Dundalk Courthouse|Courthouse]] (completed in 1819) was designed by Edward Parke and [[John Bowden (architect)|John Bowden]] in the [[Neoclassical architecture|Neoclassical style]] and modelled on the [[Temple of Hephaestus]] in [[Athens]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dundalk Court House |url=https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/13705001/dundalk-court-house-clanbrassil-street-crowe-street-townparks-upper-dundalk-by-dundalk-co-louth |access-date=23 August 2020 |website=buildingsofireland.ie |archive-date=22 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122213018/https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/13705001/dundalk-court-house-clanbrassil-street-crowe-street-townparks-upper-dundalk-by-dundalk-co-louth |url-status=live}}</ref> The Maid of Erin statue, erected in 1898, is located in the Market Square in front of the Court House.<ref name="erin">{{Cite news |date=7 May 1898 |title=The Proposed '98 Monument |work=[[Dundalk Democrat]] |url=https://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/Olive/APA/INA/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=DDT%2F1898%2F05%2F07&id=Ar00403&sk=138008E4 |access-date=23 August 2020 |archive-date=22 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122212938/https://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/Olive/APA/INA/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=DDT%2F1898%2F05%2F07&id=Ar00403&sk=138008E4 |url-status=live}}</ref> The adjacent Town Hall (completed in 1865), is an elaborate Italianate Palazzo Townhall, originally designed by John Murray as a corn exchange. It was sold to the Town Commissioners on completion and now houses ''An Táin'' Arts Centre, which comprises a 350-seat main theatre, a 55-seat studio theatre, a visual arts gallery, and two workshop spaces.<ref name="antain">{{Cite web |title=An Táin Arts Centre About Us |url=https://www.antain.ie/about-us/ |access-date=1 September 2020 |website=antain.ie |archive-date=15 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200815100038/https://www.antain.ie/about-us/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="townhall" />

The Kelly Monument is in nearby Roden Place, in front of St Patrick's Church. In 1858, a ship called the ''Mary Stoddart'', was wrecked in Dundalk Bay during a storm. While attempting to rescue the crew, Captain James Joseph Kelly and three volunteer crew drowned when the storm overturned their boat. Five of the ''Mary Stoddart'' crew also drowned and 11 were eventually rescued. The monument in Roden Place was erected 20 years later as a memorial.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1858 The Wreck of the Mary Stoddart |url=http://www.jbhall.clahs.ie/1858_the_sinking_of_the_mary_stoddart.htm |access-date=24 August 2020 |website=County Louth Ireland Genealogical Sources |archive-date=22 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122212933/http://www.jbhall.clahs.ie/1858_the_sinking_of_the_mary_stoddart.htm |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Kelly Monument, Roden Place |url=https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/13705084/kelly-monument-roden-place-francis-street-townparks-upper-dundalk-by-dundalk-county-louth |access-date=24 August 2020 |website=buildingsofireland.ie |archive-date=19 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201019054806/https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/13705084/kelly-monument-roden-place-francis-street-townparks-upper-dundalk-by-dundalk-county-louth |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Kelly Monument, Roden Place |url=https://archiseek.com/2015/1879-kelly-monument-roden-place-dundalk-co-louth/ |access-date=1 September 2020 |website=archiseek.com |date=17 August 2015 |archive-date=4 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200904173428/https://archiseek.com/2015/1879-kelly-monument-roden-place-dundalk-co-louth/ |url-status=live}}</ref> The Louth County Library is located off Roden Place, in a restored building of what was the [[Dundalk Distillery]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=13 May 1994 |title=New Library Meets Needs of Modern Town |page=45 |work=Drogheda Independent |url=https://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/Olive/APA/INA/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=DIN%2F1994%2F05%2F13&id=Ar04501&sk=3C3FBD2F |access-date=14 September 2020 |archive-date=22 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122213030/https://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/Olive/APA/INA/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=DIN%2F1994%2F05%2F13&id=Ar04501&sk=3C3FBD2F |url-status=live}}</ref> Further up Jocelyn Street, the [[County Museum Dundalk]], documenting the history of County Louth, is housed in another restored building of the former distillery.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Louth County Museum named Best Local Authority Museum |url=https://www.dundalk.ie/news/24092014/louth-county-museum-named-best-local-authority-museum |access-date=17 May 2015 |website=Dundalk.ie |date=24 September 2014 |archive-date=26 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171226021044/https://www.dundalk.ie/news/24092014/louth-county-museum-named-best-local-authority-museum |url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Dundalk Gaol]] was completed in 1855 and closed as a gaol in the 1930s. It was designed by John Neville, who was the county engineer at the time.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Casey |first=Christine |date=1985 |title=John Neville |journal=Journal of the County Louth Archaeological and Historical Society |volume=21 |issue=1 |pages=23–30 |doi=10.2307/27729603 |jstor=27729603}}</ref> The Governor's House to the front of the Gaol became the [[Garda Síochána|Garda]] Station, and the two prison wings were later restored and divided between the 'Oriel Centre' and the Louth County Archive.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dundalk Gaol |url=https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/13707047/dundalk-garda-station-the-crescent-ardee-road-townparks-upper-dundalk-by-dundalk-co-louth |access-date=23 August 2020 |website=buildingsofireland.ie |archive-date=22 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122213019/https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/13707047/dundalk-garda-station-the-crescent-ardee-road-townparks-upper-dundalk-by-dundalk-co-louth |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Dundalk Gaol |url=https://orielcentre.ie/about-us/dundalk-gaol/ |access-date=1 September 2020 |website=orielcentre.ie |archive-date=1 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001163855/https://orielcentre.ie/about-us/dundalk-gaol/ |url-status=live}}</ref> The neighbouring Louth County Infirmary (completed in 1834) was designed by English architect Thomas Smith in a neo-Tudor style with a central entrance-way flanked by two recessed ground floor arcades. It was purchased by Dundalk Grammar School in 2000.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Louth County Infirmary |url=https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/13707019/dundalk-grammar-school-ardee-road-townparks-upper-dundalk-by-dundalk-co-louth |access-date=23 August 2020 |website=buildingsofireland.ie |archive-date=22 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122213019/https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/13707019/dundalk-grammar-school-ardee-road-townparks-upper-dundalk-by-dundalk-co-louth |url-status=live}}</ref>

The two oldest buildings in the town centre are Saint Nicholas's Church of Ireland church and Seatown Castle. Saint Nicholas's was built c. 1400. It comprises elements of 14th- 17th- and 18th-century church buildings, having been extended, damaged, rebuilt over the centuries, and finally reworked by [[Francis Johnston (architect)|Francis Johnston]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Saint Nicholas' Church of Ireland Church |url=https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/13702024/saint-nicholas-church-of-ireland-church-clanbrassil-street-townparks-upper-dundalk-by-dundalk-co-louth |access-date=23 August 2020 |website=buildingsofireland.ie |archive-date=22 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122213020/https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/13702024/saint-nicholas-church-of-ireland-church-clanbrassil-street-townparks-upper-dundalk-by-dundalk-co-louth |url-status=live}}</ref> It is known locally as the Green Church due to its green copper spire. It contains an epitaph erected to the memory of Scotland's National Bard, [[Robert Burns]]. His sister, Agnes Burns, is buried in the church's graveyard.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Robert Burns & the Louth connection |url=http://www.irishidentity.com/extras/gaels/stories/burns.htm |website=irishidentity.com |access-date=23 December 2016 |archive-date=23 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190223011051/http://www.irishidentity.com/extras/gaels/stories/burns.htm |url-status=live}}</ref> Seatown Castle is at the junction of Mill Street and Castle Street. It is part of what was a Franciscan friary originally founded in the 13th century. A baptismal font in St. Nicholas's is reputed to have come from the friary.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Irish Franciscans Dundalk |url=https://www.franciscans.ie/friaries/dundalk-co-louth/ |access-date=8 September 2020 |website=franciscans.ie |archive-date=6 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180206142440/http://www.franciscans.ie/friaries/dundalk-co-louth/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

Further out from the town centre are [[Dún Dealgan Motte]] and [[Castle Roche]]. The former is also known as Cú Chulainn Castle and Byrne's Folly and is a national monument. It sits on the site of the manor house built in the late 12th century by Bertram de Verdun when the Normans reached the area. A local pirate named Patrick Byrne built the castellated house now located on the site.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Crowl |first=Philip Axtell |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hKGfAAAAMAAJ&q=D%C3%BAn%20Dealgan%20Motte |title=The Intelligent Traveller's Guide to Historic Ireland |date=1 January 1990 |publisher=Contemporary Books |isbn=9780809240623 |via=Google Books |access-date=2 October 2020 |archive-date=22 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122213020/https://books.google.com/books?id=hKGfAAAAMAAJ&q=D%C3%BAn+Dealgan+Motte |url-status=live}}</ref> Castle Roche was built by Bertram's granddaughter, Roesia, and completed by her son, John, in the late 13th century.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Castle Roche |url=http://archiseek.com/2010/castle-roche-co-louth/ |access-date=31 August 2020 |website=archiseek.com |date=6 January 2010 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304232942/http://archiseek.com/2010/castle-roche-co-louth/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

A 20th century construction, which has won architectural awards, is the Carroll's tobacco factory on the Dublin Road. It has been called "a groundbreaking Irish factory design".<ref name="award" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=PJ Carroll's Factory Dundalk Building |url=https://www.e-architect.co.uk/ireland/pj-carrolls-factory-dundalk |access-date=10 September 2020 |website=e-architect.co.uk |date=2 July 2012 |archive-date=18 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170318180553/http://www.e-architect.co.uk/ireland/pj-carrolls-factory-dundalk |url-status=live}}</ref> The design, by [[Scott Tallon Walker|Ronnie Tallon]], is in the [[Ludwig Mies van der Rohe|Miesian]] idiom. The first of the [[Louis le Brocquy Táin illustrations]] was commissioned for the factory. It became part of the Dundalk Institute of Technology campus in the 2010s. The 'sails' sculpture to the front was designed by [[Gerda Frömel]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Former Carroll's Factory |url=https://archiseek.com/2010/1969-former-carrolls-factory-dundalk-co-louth/ |access-date=1 September 2020 |website=archiseek.com |date=6 January 2010 |archive-date=5 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805030918/https://archiseek.com/2010/1969-former-carrolls-factory-dundalk-co-louth/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

Many of the churches in the town were also built in the 19th century, including the Presbyterian church (1839), the former Methodist church (1834), and the Roman Catholic churches of [[St. Patrick's Church, Dundalk|St Patrick (1847)]], St Malachy (1862), St Nicholas (1860), and St Joseph (1890).<ref name="archiseek" /> St Patrick's was designed by [[Thomas Duff]], and modelled on [[King's College Chapel, Cambridge]]. It was completed in 1847. Duff also designed the Presbyterian church on Jocelyn Street.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dundalk Presbyterian Church, Jocelyn Street |url=https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/13705074/dundalk-presbyterian-church-jocelyn-street-townparks-upper-dundalk-by-dundalk-county-louth |access-date=7 September 2020 |website=buildingsofireland.ie |archive-date=16 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201016014355/https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/13705074/dundalk-presbyterian-church-jocelyn-street-townparks-upper-dundalk-by-dundalk-county-louth |url-status=live}}</ref> The bell tower at St Patrick's was added in 1903, modelled by [[George Ashlin]] on that of another English church, [[Gloucester Cathedral]].<ref name="HISTORY">{{Cite web |title=HISTORY |url=http://www.stpatricksparishdundalk.org/history |website=stpatricksparishdundalk.org |access-date=26 February 2015 |archive-date=26 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150226181054/http://www.stpatricksparishdundalk.org/history |url-status=live}}</ref> Ashlin also designed the granite-built St Joseph's Redemptorist monastery and church (finished in 1880 and 1892, respectively).<ref>{{Cite web |title=St. Joseph's Redemptorist Monastery, Dundalk |url=https://archiseek.com/2010/1892-st-josephs-redemptorist-church-and-monastery-dundalk-co-louth/ |access-date=13 September 2020 |website=archiseek.com |date=6 January 2010 |archive-date=20 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920042238/https://archiseek.com/2010/1892-st-josephs-redemptorist-church-and-monastery-dundalk-co-louth/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Public spaces===
[[File:Ice House Hill, Dundalk.jpg|thumb|alt=Ice House Hill, Dundalk, County Louth|Monument to the Garda Síochána, Ice House Hill]]
[[File:Millennium Sundial, Blackrock.jpg|thumb|right|alt=Millennium Sundial (Blackrock)|Millennium Sundial (Blackrock)]]
[[File:The Sea God Managuan and Voyagers, Dundalk.jpg|thumb|alt=The Sea God Managuan and Voyagers, Dundalk, County Louth|The Sea God Managuan and Voyagers, Soldiers Point]]
The largest park in the town centre is Ice House Hill. It is approximately {{cvt|8|hectare}}. The site was once part of Dundalk House demesne (the stately home of the Earl of Clanbrassil). Dundalk House itself was demolished in the early 20th century to make way for an extension of the original P.J. Carroll tobacco factory.<ref name="gap">{{Cite news |date=28 August 1909 |title=The "Gap" of the North |page=4 |work=Belfast Evening Telegraph}}</ref> The original Ice House, built c. 1780, remains in the park and can be viewed from the outside.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ice House Hill Park |url=https://www.louthcoco.ie/en/services/communities/parks/ice-house-hill-park/ |access-date=1 September 2020 |website=louthcoco.ie |archive-date=4 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200904183904/https://www.louthcoco.ie/en/services/communities/parks/ice-house-hill-park/ |url-status=live}}</ref> The smaller St. Helena Park is approximately {{cvt|0.7|hectare}} and was first laid out in the 1800s. The bandstand was erected in the early 1920s. Most of the land which the park is on was reclaimed from the Castletown River.<ref>{{Cite web |title=St Helena's Park |url=https://www.louthcoco.ie/en/services/communities/parks/st-helena%E2%80%99s-park/ |access-date=1 September 2020 |website=louthcoco.ie |archive-date=4 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200904184320/https://www.louthcoco.ie/en/services/communities/parks/st-helena%E2%80%99s-park/ |url-status=live}}</ref> St Leonard's Garden in Seatown is a small park restored in the 1960s from a cemetery that was closed in 1896 and allowed to become overgrown. Within the park are the ruined remains of stone walls from the friary founded by Bertram de Verdun in the 12th century.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Saint Leonard's Garden, Seatown |url=https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/13705115/saint-leonards-garden-seatown-townparks-upper-dundalk-by-dundalk-co-louth |access-date=13 September 2020 |website=buildingsofireland.ie |archive-date=22 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122213034/https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/13705115/saint-leonards-garden-seatown-townparks-upper-dundalk-by-dundalk-co-louth |url-status=live}}</ref>

The Navvy Bank (from 'navigator') is an artificial embankment constructed in the 1840s to facilitate the entry of shipping to Dundalk Port. It is approximately {{cvt|2|km|spell=in}} long and runs from Soldiers Point at the entrance to Dundalk Harbour, to near the present-day quay. It is now a public walkway. Along its route, there is a memorial to those who died in the sinking of the ''S.S. Dundalk'' during World War I.<ref name="uboat" /> At Soldiers Point there is a bronze sculpture called ''The Sea God Managuan and Voyagers'' after a Celtic god of the sea.<ref>{{Cite web |title=SOLDIERS POINT, DUNDALK BAY, CO LOUTH |url=https://stairnaheireann.net/2016/09/26/soldiers-point-dundalk-bay-co-louth/ |access-date=14 September 2020 |website=stairnaheireann.net |date=26 September 2016 |archive-date=28 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200928123243/https://stairnaheireann.net/2016/09/26/soldiers-point-dundalk-bay-co-louth/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

Adjacent to the town of Dundalk is the village of Blackrock ({{cvt|5|km|spell=in}} from the town centre), which has three public beaches. Blackrock was a fishing village before it became popular as a resort destination in the late 19th century.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Blackrock history |url=https://www.visitblackrock.ie/history |access-date=10 September 2020 |website=visitblackrock.ie |archive-date=6 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200206143019/https://www.visitblackrock.ie/history |url-status=live}}</ref> The promenade and sea wall, originally built in 1851, run along the length of the main beach and main street of the village. There are wetlands on both the north and south sides of the village, which are wildlife sanctuaries.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Blackrock Places of Interest |url=https://www.visitblackrock.ie/places-of-interest |access-date=10 September 2020 |website=visitblackrock.ie |archive-date=6 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200206143303/https://www.visitblackrock.ie/places-of-interest |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2000, to mark the millennium year, a sundial / statue was erected in Blackrock on the promenade. The {{cvt|3|m|ft|0|adj=on}} high [[gnomon]] is a bronze sculpture of a female diving figure, which was subsequently named 'Aisling'.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Millennium Sundial (Blackrock) |url=https://www.blackrockvillage.ie/sundial/ |access-date=1 September 2020 |website=blackrockvillage.ie |date=17 August 2015 |archive-date=1 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001125833/https://www.blackrockvillage.ie/sundial/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

{{cvt|7|km|spell=In}} to the south-west of the town, between [[Haggardstown]] and [[Knockbridge]], is Stephenstown Pond—a nature park. It was originally commissioned by Matthew Fortescue, owner of the nearby Stephenstown House, which is in ruins. It was designed by William Galt, husband of Agnes Burns.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Stephenstown Pond |url=http://stephenstownpond.com/ |access-date=1 September 2020 |website=stephenstownpond.com |archive-date=18 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200918222812/http://stephenstownpond.com/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

{{cvt|11|km|spell=In}} to the north of the town, within the municipal district, is Ravensdale Forest. It is mixed woodland rising steeply to the summit of [[Clermont Carn|Black Mountain]], rising {{cvt|510|m|ft}}, with many kilometres of forest roads and tracks. There are three way-marked trails in the forest, the ''Táin Trail'', the ''Ring of Gullion'' and the shorter ''Ravensdale Loop''. It is managed by the Irish Forestry Service, ''[[Coillte]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ravensdale forest |url=https://www.coillte.ie/site/ravensdale-forest/ |access-date=1 September 2020 |website=coillte.ie |archive-date=27 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127080602/https://www.coillte.ie/site/ravensdale-forest/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Education==
===Primary schools===
There are over 20 primary schools in Dundalk including some [[Irish language]]-medium schools (''[[Gaelscoil]]eanna'') like ''Gaelscoil Dhún Dealgan''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gaelscoil Dhún Dealgan |url=http://www.gaelscoildd.ie/ |access-date=8 September 2020 |website=gaelscoildd.ie |archive-date=29 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929100846/http://www.gaelscoildd.ie/ |url-status=live}}</ref> The largest schools in the area include Muire na nGael National School (also known as Bay Estate National School) and Saint Joseph's National School, which (as of early 2020) had an enrolment of over 670 and 570 pupils respectively.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.education.ie/en/Find-a-School/School-List/?level=Primary&geo=Louth&ethos=-1&lang=-1&gender=-1 |title=Department of Education |access-date=9 February 2020 |archive-date=22 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122213043/https://www.education.ie/en/Find-a-School/School-List/?level=Primary&geo=Louth&ethos=-1&lang=-1&gender=-1 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.education.ie/en/find-a-school/School-Detail/?roll=19598V |title=Department of Education |access-date=9 February 2020 |archive-date=22 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122213044/https://www.education.ie/en/find-a-school/School-Detail/?roll=19598V |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.education.ie/en/find-a-school/School-Detail/?roll=19673J |title=Department of Education |access-date=9 February 2020 |archive-date=22 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122213045/https://www.education.ie/en/find-a-school/School-Detail/?roll=19673J |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Secondary schools===
[[Education in the Republic of Ireland#Secondary education|Secondary schools]] in the town include Coláiste Lú (an Irish medium secondary school or ''[[Gaelcholáiste]]''),<ref>{{Cite web |title=Coláiste Lú |url=https://colaistelu.ie/ |access-date=8 September 2020 |website=colaistelu.ie |archive-date=29 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929074241/https://colaistelu.ie/ |url-status=live}}</ref> [[De La Salle College Dundalk|De la Salle College]], [[Dundalk Grammar School]], [[Saint Mary's College of Dundalk|St. Mary's College]] (also known as the Marist), O'Fiaich College,<ref>{{Cite web |title=O'Fiaich College, Secondary School |url=http://ofiaichcollege.ie/ |access-date=2 December 2016 |archive-date=11 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161111075520/http://www.ofiaichcollege.ie/ |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Coláiste Rís]], St. Vincent's Secondary School,<ref>{{Cite web |title=St. Vincent's Secondary School |url=http://www.stv.ie/ |access-date=1 December 2016 |archive-date=2 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161202034843/http://www.stv.ie/ |url-status=live}}</ref> [[St. Louis Secondary School, Dundalk|St. Louis Secondary School]], and Coláiste Chú Chulainn.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home |url=http://colaistecc.ie/index.php |website=colaistecc.ie |access-date=2 December 2016 |archive-date=2 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161202104656/http://colaistecc.ie/index.php |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Tertiary education===
[[Dundalk Institute of Technology]] (abbreviated to DkIT) is the focal point for higher education and research on the Belfast-Dublin corridor, serving the North Leinster, South Ulster region.<ref>{{Cite web |title=President's Welcome |url=https://www.dkit.ie/about-dkit/ |access-date=1 September 2020 |website=dkit.ie |archive-date=13 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200813210854/https://www.dkit.ie/about-dkit/ |url-status=live}}</ref> It was established in 1970 as the Regional Technical College, offering primarily technician and apprenticeship courses.<ref>{{Cite news |date=16 October 1969 |title=Regional Technical College |work=Irish Press |url=https://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/Olive/APA/INA/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=IPR%2F1969%2F10%2F16&id=Ar01113&sk=468C7E50 |access-date=1 September 2020 |archive-date=22 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122213107/https://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/Olive/APA/INA/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=IPR%2F1969%2F10%2F16&id=Ar01113&sk=468C7E50 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The Ó Fiaich Institute of Further Education also offers further education courses.<ref>{{Cite web |title=O Fiaich Institute of Further Education Dundalk |url=http://www.ofi.ie/ |website=ofi.ie |access-date=2 December 2016 |archive-date=2 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161202190016/http://www.ofi.ie/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Culture==
===Music and arts===
Dundalk has two centres for the arts—''An Táin'' Arts Centre, an independent arts space in the former ''Táin'' Theatre, Town Hall, Crowe Street;<ref name="antain" /> and The Oriel Centre in the former Dundalk Gaol, a regional centre for ''[[Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann]]''. The Oriel Centre is a resource centre and performance space, and has facilities for teaching, archives, recording, rehearsal, and performance.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About us Oriel Centre |url=https://orielcentre.ie/about-us/oriel-centre/ |access-date=1 September 2020 |website=orielcentre.ie |archive-date=14 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200814014716/https://orielcentre.ie/about-us/oriel-centre/ |url-status=live}}</ref> The Spirit Store, located at George's Quay in the Port of Dundalk, is a gig venue in the town.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Spirit Store |url=https://www.spiritstore.ie/about.html |access-date=1 September 2020 |website=spiritstore.ie |archive-date=4 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180704022845/http://www.spiritstore.ie/about.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Spirit Store, Dundalk |url=https://www.ticketmaster.ie/spirit-store-tickets-dundalk/venue/199411 |access-date=9 September 2020 |website=ticketmaster.ie |archive-date=10 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170910054016/http://www.ticketmaster.ie/Spirit-Store-tickets-Dundalk/venue/199411 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Dundalk Institute of Technology Department of Creative Arts, Media and Music has several groups and ensembles, including the ''Ceol Oirghiallla'' Traditional Music Ensemble, the DkIT Choir, the Music Theatre Group, the Oriel Traditional Orchestra, and the Fr. McNally Chamber Orchestra.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Groups & Ensembles |url=https://www.dkit.ie/about-dkit/academic-schools/school-of-informatics-and-creative-arts/department-of-creative-arts-media-and-music/groups-and-ensembles/ |access-date=1 September 2020 |website=dkit.ie |archive-date=13 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200813204725/https://www.dkit.ie/about-dkit/academic-schools/school-of-informatics-and-creative-arts/department-of-creative-arts-media-and-music/groups-and-ensembles/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

The Cross Border Orchestra of Ireland (CBOI) is a youth orchestra based at Coláiste Chu Chulainn, Dundalk. It was started as a peace initiative. Since 1996, it has toured internationally and has played at venues such as [[Carnegie Hall]] and the [[Royal Albert Hall]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cross Border Orchestra of Ireland |url=http://peaceproms.com/cboi-background/ |access-date=1 September 2020 |website=peaceproms.com |date=July 2013 |archive-date=29 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929012651/https://peaceproms.com/cboi-background/ |url-status=live}}</ref> The Dundalk Brass Band was established in 1976 and performs a cross-section of big band and brass music.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dundalk Brass Band |url=https://www.musicnetwork.ie/instrument-hub/listing/dundalk-brass-band |access-date=1 September 2020 |website=musicnetwork.ie |archive-date=19 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210719180221/https://www.musicnetwork.ie/instrument-hub/listing/dundalk-brass-band |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Festivals===
[[File:Edward Bruce Mural Dundalk.jpg|thumb|alt=Mural of King Edward Bruce, 'Seek Dundalk' urban art festival|Mural of King Edward Bruce, 'Seek Dundalk' urban art festival]]
The Dundalk Show (also known as the Dundalk Agricultural Show and the County Louth Agricultural Show) has run since the 19th century. It was originally held at the Dundalk racecourse in Dowdallshill, before moving to the Fair Green, the grounds of [[St Mary's College, Dundalk|St Mary's College]], [[Castlebellingham|Bellingham Castle]], and latterly Bellurgan Park.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dundalk Show 2021 |url=https://dundalkshow.com/home/ |access-date=1 September 2020 |website=dundalkshow.com |archive-date=15 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200815131300/https://www.dundalkshow.com/home/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

Other festivals / events in the town include the ''Frostival'' winter festival, which is held at the end of November, and an urban art festival called 'Seek Dundalk'. Street murals painted as part of ''Seek'' include [[Edward Bruce]], the engineer [[Peter Rice (structural engineer)|Peter Rice]], and ''[[Cú Chulainn]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Frostival |url=https://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/Olive/APA/INA/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=DDT%2F2023%2F07%2F18&id=Ar00800&sk=5F028357&viewMode=image |access-date=3 August 2023 |website=irishnewsarchive.com |date=18 July 2023|via=dundalkdemocrat.ie}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Events in Louth Dundalk |url=https://www.visitlouth.ie/whats-on/events/?tag=dundalk |website=visitlouth.ie |access-date=3 August 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Upcoming Events |url=https://createlouth.ie/events/ |website=createlouth.ie |access-date=3 August 2023}}</ref>

Within the wider Dundalk Municipal District, festivals and events also include the [[All-Ireland Poc Fada Championship]] held every year since 1960 on Annaverna Mountain on the Cooley Peninsula,<ref>{{cite web |title=Events in Louth Carlingford |url=https://www.visitlouth.ie/whats-on/events/?tag=carlingford |website=visitlouth.ie |access-date=3 August 2023}}</ref> and the Brigid of Faughart Festival.<ref>{{cite web |title=Brigid of Faughart Festival |url=https://createlouth.ie/event/brigid-of-faughart-festival-2023/ |website=createlouth.ie |access-date=3 August 2023}}</ref>

The [[St. Gerard Majella Annual Novena]] is an annual religious festival held over nine days in St. Joseph's [[Redemptorist]] Church in Dundalk. It runs in October.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lynch |first=David |title=Guide to 2019 St Gerard's Novena in Dundalk |work=Dundalk Democrat |url=https://www.dundalkdemocrat.ie/news/home/481560/guide-to-2019-st-gerards-novena-in-dundalk.html |access-date=3 September 2020 |archive-date=7 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191207015240/https://www.dundalkdemocrat.ie/news/home/481560/guide-to-2019-st-gerards-novena-in-dundalk.html |url-status=live}}</ref> A [[Pattern (devotional)|patron]] takes place on 15 August at Ladywell Shrine, during the [[Assumption of Mary|Feast of the Assumption]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=20 August 2014 |title=Pilgrims make annual trip to Ladywell Shrine |work=The Argus |url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/argus/localnotes/pilgrims-make-annual-trip-to-ladywell-shrine-30521989.html |access-date=31 August 2020 |archive-date=22 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122213036/https://www.independent.ie/regionals/argus/localnotes/pilgrims-make-annual-trip-to-ladywell-shrine-30521989.html |url-status=live}}</ref> The Seatown Patron is held annually on 29 June (the feast day of [[Saint Peter]], who is the patron saint of Seatown).{{sfn|D'Alton|1864|p=265-266}} The patron is celebrated by night-time bonfires, which is a tradition believed to have originated in medieval times.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kavangh |first1=Peter |title=The Great Patron of Seatown |url=https://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/Olive/APA/INA/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=DDT%2F2021%2F06%2F22&id=Ar02200&sk=D2DAD850 |access-date=1 August 2021 |work=[[Dundalk Democrat]] |date=22 June 2021 |archive-date=1 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210801193730/https://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/Olive/APA/INA/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=DDT/2021/06/22&id=Ar02200&sk=D2DAD850 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Dundalk Maytime Festival was the town's largest festival and ran for 40 years starting in 1965. It started out as a 'Grape and Grain' festival before later centring around amateur drama. It eventually ceased because of difficulties in securing sponsorship.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Roddy |first=Margaret |date=29 April 2017 |title=Why no festival? |work=The Argus |url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/argus/lifestyle/why-no-festival-35648791.html |access-date=1 September 2020 |archive-date=4 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171204064146/https://www.independent.ie/regionals/argus/lifestyle/why-no-festival-35648791.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Twin towns==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in the Republic of Ireland}}
Dundalk is [[Twin towns and sister cities|twinned]] with the following towns:
*{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Rezé]], France (1990).<ref>{{Cite news |date=19 October 1991 |title=Reze visitors here |work=Dundalk Democrat |url=https://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/Olive/APA/INA/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=DDT%2F1991%2F10%2F19&id=Ar00814&sk=9EEDC7BB |access-date=8 September 2020 |archive-date=22 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122213051/https://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/Olive/APA/INA/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=DDT%2F1991%2F10%2F19&id=Ar00814&sk=9EEDC7BB |url-status=live}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|USA}} [[Pikeville, Kentucky]], United States (2015)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dundalk agrees to twin with Pikeville, Kentucky - Independent.ie |url=http://www.independent.ie/regionals/argus/news/dundalk-agrees-to-twin-with-pikeville-kentucky-30998817.html |access-date=19 March 2015 |archive-date=3 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403052041/http://www.independent.ie/regionals/argus/news/dundalk-agrees-to-twin-with-pikeville-kentucky-30998817.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Sport==
[[File:Oriel Park, Home ground of Dundalk FC.jpeg|thumb|right|alt=Photo of Oriel Park, home of Dundalk Football Club|[[Oriel Park]], home of Dundalk Football Club]]
[[Dundalk F.C.|Dundalk Football Club]] is a professional [[association football]] club that competes in the [[League of Ireland]]. The club was founded in 1903 as Dundalk G.N.R., the [[Works team#Europe|works-team]] of the [[Great Northern Railway (Ireland)|Great Northern Railway]].<ref name="AFC">{{Cite news |url=https://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/Olive/APA/INA/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=DDT%2F1903%2F09%2F26&id=Ar01305&sk=ECC58212 |title=Association Football |work=[[Dundalk Democrat]] |page=18 |date=26 September 1903 |access-date=22 April 2019 |via=Irish Newspaper Archives |archive-date=9 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709195939/https://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/Olive/APA/INA/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=DDT%2F1903%2F09%2F26&id=Ar01305&sk=ECC58212 |url-status=live }}</ref> They were a junior club until they joined the [[Leinster Senior League (association football)|Leinster Senior League]] in 1922–23.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/Olive/APA/INA/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=IND%2F1922%2F09%2F28&id=Ar00942&sk=EEFAA8FB |title=Football in Leinster |work=[[Irish Independent]] |date=28 September 1922 |access-date=22 April 2019 |via=Irish Newspaper Archives |archive-date=9 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709195935/https://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/Olive/APA/INA/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=IND%2F1922%2F09%2F28&id=Ar00942&sk=EEFAA8FB |url-status=live }}</ref> They were elected to the Free State League (which later became the [[League of Ireland]]) in [[1926–27 Dundalk F.C. season|1926]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/Olive/APA/INA/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=IND%2F1926%2F06%2F16&id=Ar00919&sk=4585AF54 |title=Dundalk Get in on Ballot (headline) |work=[[Irish Independent]] |date=16 June 1926 |access-date=22 April 2019 |via=Irish Newspaper Archives |archive-date=9 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709195935/https://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/Olive/APA/INA/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=IND%2F1926%2F06%2F16&id=Ar00919&sk=4585AF54 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/Olive/APA/INA/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=IND%2F1926%2F06%2F16&id=Ar00920&sk=6DD71BCF |title=Dundalk Get in on Ballot (body) |work=[[Irish Independent]] |date=16 June 1926 |access-date=24 September 2019 |via=Irish Newspaper Archives |archive-date=9 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709195937/https://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/Olive/APA/INA/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=IND%2F1926%2F06%2F16&id=Ar00920&sk=6DD71BCF |url-status=live }}</ref> The club has played at [[Oriel Park]] since moving from its original home at the Dundalk Athletic Grounds in 1936.<ref name="Oriel">{{Cite news |url=https://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/Olive/APA/INA/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=DIN%2F1936%2F08%2F01&id=Ar00914&sk=55E1CEB6 |title=Association Football |work=[[Drogheda Independent]] |date=1 August 1936 |access-date=23 April 2019 |via=Irish Newspaper Archives |archive-date=9 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709200208/https://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/Olive/APA/INA/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=DIN%2F1936%2F08%2F01&id=Ar00914&sk=55E1CEB6 |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[Gaelic football]] clubs in the town include [[Dundalk Gaels GFC]], [[Seán O'Mahony's GFC]], [[Clan Na Gael GFC (Louth)|Clan na Gael]], [[Na Piarsaigh/Blackrock CLG|Na Piarsaigh]], [[Dowdallshill GF & AC|Dowdallshill]] and [[Dundalk Young Irelands GFC|Dundalk Young Irelands]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Louth GAA |url=http://louthgaa.ie/ |website=louthgaa.ie |access-date=20 March 2021 |archive-date=12 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210412230713/https://louthgaa.ie/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Young Irelands (representing Louth) contested the first All-Ireland football final in [[1887 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final|1888]], losing to the [[Commercials GAA (Limerick)|Commercials]] club, representing Limerick.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Club History |url=http://dundalkyoungirelands.com/about-us/dundalk-young-irelands-gfc-history/ |access-date=1 September 2020 |website=dundalkyoungirelands.com/ |archive-date=18 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200918080256/http://dundalkyoungirelands.com/about-us/dundalk-young-irelands-gfc-history/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

The two [[hurling]] clubs in the town are [[Knockbridge GAA]] and [[Naomh Moninne H.C.]], who are the leading club in Louth with 22 county titles as of 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 September 2019 |title=Louth SHC final: Moninne reclaim title |url=http://www.hoganstand.com/Article/Index/304199 |access-date=23 September 2019 |website=[[Hogan Stand]] |archive-date=23 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190923215452/http://www.hoganstand.com/Article/Index/304199 |url-status=live}}</ref> A founding member of Naomh Moninne, Father Pól Mac Sheáin, introduced the [[All-Ireland Poc Fada Championship]] in 1960.<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 August 1960 |title=Fatima Youth Club – Mountain Golf |url=http://anpocfada.net/index.php/the-first-poc-fada.html?showall=&start=1 |access-date=29 December 2014 |publisher=Dundalk Democrat |archive-date=11 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150111194358/http://anpocfada.net/index.php/the-first-poc-fada.html?showall=&start=1 |url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Dundalk R.F.C.]] is an amateur [[Rugby union in Ireland|Irish]] [[Rugby football]] club who compete in the [[Leinster League]]. The club first formed in 1877 and became founder members of the Provincial Towns Union, which then merged into what became the Northern Branch of the [[Irish Rugby Football Union]]. They moved to their present home ground at Mill Road in 1967.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Dundalk RFC |url=https://www.dundalkrfc.ie/about |access-date=1 September 2020 |website=dundalkrfc.ie |archive-date=1 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001021147/https://www.dundalkrfc.ie/about |url-status=live}}</ref>

The Dundalk Racecourse was reopened as [[Dundalk Stadium]] in 2007 and now holds both [[horse racing]] and [[greyhound racing]] meetings. It is Ireland's first all-weather horse racing track. The stadium also hosts the [[Dundalk International]] greyhound race.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Racecourse |url=https://www.goracing.ie/racecourses-and-events/racecourses/dundalk/information/ |access-date=1 September 2020 |website=goracing.ie |archive-date=9 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809202022/https://www.goracing.ie/racecourses-and-events/racecourses/dundalk/information/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Golf course near Greenore - geograph.org.uk - 415049.jpg|thumb|right|alt=Greenore golf course |Greenore golf course]]
Golf was first played in Dundalk when a nine-hole course was laid out at Deer Park in 1893. The Dundalk Golf Club was founded in December 1904 at Deer Park, then moved to its present location in Blackrock in 1922. The current layout was designed by [[Peter Alliss]] and completed in 1980.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History |url=https://www.dundalkgolfclub.ie/history/ |access-date=1 September 2020 |website=dundalkgolfclub.ie |archive-date=26 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026032547/https://www.dundalkgolfclub.ie/history/ |url-status=live}}</ref> The Ballymascanlon Hotel also has a parkland course.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ballymascanlon Golf |url=https://www.ballymascanlon.com/golf.html |access-date=10 September 2020 |website=ballymascanlon.com |archive-date=21 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200921020343/https://www.ballymascanlon.com/golf.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Greenore Golf Club (which is within the municipal district) was opened in October 1896 by the [[London and North Western Railway]] company, who owned a hotel in Greenore and the [[Dundalk, Newry and Greenore Railway]]. The members bought the club when the railway company closed the line and pulled out of Ireland. The modern course layout was designed by [[Eddie Hackett]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=History |url=http://www.greenoregolfclub.com/about/history/ |access-date=1 September 2020 |website=greenoregolfclub.com |archive-date=18 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200918064305/http://www.greenoregolfclub.com/about/history/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

Dundalk has several game angling waters including the [[River Dee (Ireland)|Dee]], [[River Glyde|Glyde]], [[River Fane|Fane]], Ballymascanlan and [[Castletown River|Castletown]] rivers. All these rivers flow into the Irish sea at Dundalk Bay. The rivers contain wild brown trout as well as salmon and sea trout.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Trout fly fishing around Dundalk |url=https://fishinginireland.info/trout/east/dundalk/ |access-date=23 December 2020 |website=Fishing in Ireland.info |date=20 April 2018 |archive-date=22 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200422010510/https://fishinginireland.info/trout/east/dundalk/ |url-status=live}}</ref> There is a Salmon Anglers Association and a Brown Trout Anglers Association.<ref>{{cite web |title=Fly fishing in Dundalk. Salmon and trout fishing. |url=https://www.fishingireland.net/fishing/salmonandtrout/dundalk/fane.html |website=fishingireland.net |access-date=3 January 2021 |archive-date=22 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122213055/https://www.fishingireland.net/fishing/salmonandtrout/dundalk/fane.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Sea Angling is available in several locations in the wider Municipal District and there is also a Sea Angling Club.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sea Fishing in Irelands North East |url=https://fishinginireland.info/sea/east/dundalk/ |website=fishinginireland.info |date=18 April 2018 |access-date=3 January 2021 |archive-date=26 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200926124247/https://fishinginireland.info/sea/east/dundalk/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

The Dundalk Lawn Tennis and Badminton Club was established in 1913. It is located at the Ramparts in the town centre. The club has nine tennis courts, two Olympic-standard badminton courts and two squash courts.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Our Club |url=https://www.dundalkracketsclub.com/ |access-date=1 September 2020 |website=dundalkracketsclub.com |archive-date=14 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190214100448/https://www.dundalkracketsclub.com/ |url-status=live}}</ref> A Dundalk and District Snooker League has been active since the 1940s. It was re-branded as the Dundalk Snooker League in 2010 and plays in the Commercial Club in the town centre.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Thrills galore at snooker finals week |url=https://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/Olive/APA/INA/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=DDT%2F2015%2F05%2F19&id=Ar05300&sk=9C2B1629 |access-date=30 June 2021 |work=[[Dundalk Democrat]] |date=19 May 2015 |via=irishnewsarchive.ie |archive-date=9 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709183143/https://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/Olive/APA/INA/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=DDT/2015/05/19&id=Ar05300&sk=9C2B1629 |url-status=live }}</ref> The amateur boxing club, Dealgan ABC, was founded in 1938.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Amateur boxing returns to Dundalk |url=https://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/Olive/APA/INA/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=DDT%2F2004%2F05%2F15&id=Ar02301&sk=D8E5862F |access-date=30 June 2021 |work=[[Dundalk Democrat]] |date=15 May 2004 |archive-date=9 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709182110/https://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/Olive/APA/INA/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=DDT/2004/05/15&id=Ar02301&sk=D8E5862F |url-status=live }}</ref> The first Dundalk Cricket Club was established in 1853 and the current club was formed in 2009. They play in Hiney Park, the former Dundalk F.C. training ground.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dundalk |url=https://www.cricketleinster.ie/clubs/dundalk |website=cricketleinster.ie |access-date=8 August 2023}}</ref>

There are several [[sports club|athletics clubs]], including St. Gerard's A.C., St. Peter's A.C, Dun Dealgan A.C. and Blackrock A.C.,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Athletic Clubs in Louth |url=https://www.athleticsireland.ie/find-a-club?search=Louth |access-date=1 September 2020 |website=athleticsireland.ie |archive-date=22 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122213100/https://www.athleticsireland.ie/find-a-club?search=Louth |url-status=live}}</ref> and a triathlon club (Setanta Triathlon Club).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Setanta Triathlon Club |url=http://setantatriathlonclub.com/ |access-date=1 September 2020 |website=setantatriathlonclub.com/ |archive-date=20 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920132709/http://setantatriathlonclub.com/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Cuchulainn Cycling Club was formed in 1935.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cuchulainn Cycling Club - Established 1935 |url=http://www.cuchulainncc.com/cuchulainn-cycling-club-established-1935 |access-date=1 September 2020 |website=cuchulainncc.com |archive-date=8 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200808121111/http://www.cuchulainncc.com/cuchulainn-cycling-club-established-1935 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[Louth Mavericks]] American Football Club is based in Dundalk and was established in 2012. They play in [[American Football Ireland|AFI]] Division 1, train at DKIT, and play their matches at Dundalk Rugby Club.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Louth Mavericks Clinch Championship |work=Dundalk Democrat |url=http://www.dundalkdemocrat.ie/gallery/national-sport/266260/louth-mavericks-clinch-iafl1-championship.html |access-date=6 September 2020 |archive-date=9 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190809190800/https://www.dundalkdemocrat.ie/gallery/national-sport/266260/louth-mavericks-clinch-iafl1-championship.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Media==
Dundalk's local [[newspaper]]s are the ''[[Dundalk Democrat]]'' (established as the ''Dundalk Democrat and People's Journal'' in 1849),<ref>{{cite web |title=About us |url=https://www.dundalkdemocrat.ie/section/413/about-us |website=dundalkdemocrat.ie |access-date=20 March 2021 |archive-date=9 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210409231342/https://www.dundalkdemocrat.ie/section/413/about-us |url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[The Argus (Dundalk)|The Argus]]'' (established as the ''Drogheda Argus and Leinster Journal'' in 1835),<ref>{{cite web |title=The Argus |url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/argus/ |website=independent.ie |access-date=20 March 2021 |archive-date=14 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210314182110/https://www.independent.ie/regionals/argus/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and the ''Dundalk Leader'', a freely distributed newspaper.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dundalk Leader |url=http://www.dundalkleader.com/ |website=dundalkleader.com |access-date=27 February 2015 |archive-date=27 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150227170855/http://www.dundalkleader.com/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Online-only news media include ''Louth Now''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dundalk on Louth Now |url=https://louthnow.ie/dundalk/ |access-date=9 September 2020 |website=louthnow.ie |archive-date=25 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200925220727/https://louthnow.ie/dundalk/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

There are no local or regional television services. In radio, Dundalk is serviced by regional stations [[LMFM]] (Louth-Meath FM) on 96.5 FM,<ref>{{cite web |title=Ways to Listen |url=https://www.lmfm.ie/on-air/ways-to-listen/ |website=lmfm.ie |access-date=20 March 2021 |archive-date=1 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210301130841/https://www.lmfm.ie/on-air/ways-to-listen/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and [[iRadio|iRadio (NE and Midlands)]] on 106.2 FM.<ref>{{cite web |title=iRadio (Northeast & Midlands) |url=https://ieradio.org/iradio-northeast-midlands/ |website=ieradio.org |access-date=20 March 2021 |archive-date=18 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418165945/https://ieradio.org/iradio-northeast-midlands/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The local radio station is Dundalk FM, broadcasting on 97.7 FM.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dundalk FM » Dundalk's Local Community Radio Station |url=http://www.dundalkfm.com/ |website=Dundalk FM |access-date=27 February 2015 |archive-date=14 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150214213618/http://www.dundalkfm.com/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[List of people from Dundalk]]
*[[List of townlands of County Louth]]
*[[History of Dundalk F.C.]]
*[[List of abbeys and priories in the Republic of Ireland#County Louth|List of abbeys and priories in County Louth]]
*[[Lord Lieutenant of Louth]]
*[[High Sheriff of Louth]]
*[[Dundalk, Maryland]]

==Footnotes==
{{Reflist|group=lower-alpha}}

==References==
;Bibliography
*{{Cite journal |last=Gosling |first=Paul |date=1991 |title=From Dún Delca to Dundalk: The Topography and Archaeology of a Medieval Frontier Town A.D. c. 1187-1700 |journal=Journal of the County Louth Archaeological and Historical Society |volume=22 |issue=3 |pages=221–353 |doi=10.2307/27729714 |jstor=27729714}}
*{{Cite journal |last=Hall |first=Donal |date=2010 |title=Partition and County Louth |journal=Journal of the County Louth Archaeological and Historical Society |volume=27 |issue=2 |pages=243–283 |jstor=41433023}}
*{{Cite book |last=D'Alton |first=John |title=The History of Dundalk, and Its Environs: From the Earliest Historic Period to the Present Time, with Memoirs of Its Eminent Men |date=1864 |publisher=William Tempest |isbn=1297871308}}
*{{Cite book |last=McQuillan |first=Jack |title=Railway Town : The Story of the Great Northern Railway Works and Dundalk |publisher=Dundalgan Press |year=1993 |isbn=0852211201}}
*{{Cite book |last=Oram |first=Hugh |title=Old Dundalk and Blackrock |publisher=Stenlake Publishing |year=2006 |isbn=978-1840333756}}
*{{Cite book |last=O'Sullivan |first=Harold |title=Dundalk and North Louth: Paintings and Stories from Cuchulainn's Country |publisher=Dundalgan Press |year=1997 |isbn=978-1900935067}}
*{{Cite book |last=Sexton |first=Daniel |title=Dundalk Football Club: In Black And White |publisher=Amazon |year=2020 |isbn=979-8639712814}}
;Citations
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Wiktionary|Dundalk}}
{{Wikivoyage inline}}
{{Commons category}}
*[https://www.dundalk.ie Dundalk Chamber of Commerce]
*[https://dundalktown.ie/ Dundalk Business Improvement District Scheme]
{{Dundalk}}
{{Largest urban areas in the Republic of Ireland by population|state=collapsed}}
{{portalbar|Ireland}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Dundalk| ]]
[[Category:County towns in the Republic of Ireland]]
[[Category:Port cities and towns in the Republic of Ireland]]
[[Category:Railway towns in Ireland]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in the Republic of Ireland]]
[[Category:Populated places established in the 12th century]]
[[Category:Former urban districts in the Republic of Ireland]]
[[Category:Former boroughs in the Republic of Ireland]]