Dundalk

Dundalk, a thriving Irish seaport-town, the capital of County Louth, situated on Dundalk Bay, 55 miles north of Dublin, and 58 south of Belfast by rail. It has salt-works, a distillery, an iron-foundry, flax-spinning, tanning, and shipbuilding. There is a brisk export trade, especially in the grain, dairy products, and live-stock of counties Louth, Monaghan, and Cavan, with Liverpool and Holyhead (79 miles across), and through its branch railway to Greenore, also with other ports. The harbour has been much improved. Pop. (1871) 11,327, nine-tenths Roman Catholics; (1891) 12,449. It sent one member to parliament till 1885. Edward Bruce took Dundalk in 1315, and held his court here till killed in battle three years later. It was taken by Cromwell (1649) and by Schomberg (1689).