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Irish Independent

140-year-old Drogheda boundary stones to be restored in major heritage project

The historic landmarks were erected by the then Corporation in 1896 as the town boundary line expanded to include new areas such as Mell, Ballsgrove, Beamore, Rathmullen, and Newfoundwell. There were a total of 13 stones originally, but nine are known to have survived, and some of them have been worn down by time, neglect, and overrun with vegetation. The restoration operation is to be carried out by Drogheda Tidy Towns, thanks to a grant of €25,000 from the Heritage Council of Ireland. Each stone stands 43 inches in height, is 18 inches wide, and seven inches thick. They have a pointed top along with an engraved inscription with the mayor's name at the time, plus symbols of the municipal authority. The whole project was conceived and researched by a member of the Tidy Towns committee, Alan Lynch, whose great-grandfather Peter Lynch was mayor during the Drogheda boundary expansion from 1896 to 1897. Drogheda Tidy Towns said Alan did a huge amount of work on the stones, studying historical records and ordnance survey maps to locate each one of them. Alan said: "I am pleased that my research has contributed to the development of a conservation programme for these historic stones. As the great-grandson of Mayor Peter Lynch, this project holds personal meaning for me, and I am glad to see these important markers being preserved." The Tidy Towns Committee is now holding a public information night so the general public can learn all about the boundary stones. This will be held on Thursday, August 21, at 7pm, as part of National Heritage Week in the Louth Local Development Office at the Haymarket, John Street, Drogheda. The chairperson of Drogheda Tidy Towns, Gerry Leydon, said: "This funding allows us to safeguard an important piece of Drogheda's past. The upcoming information evening is a great opportunity for the community to learn more about these remarkable markers and to see how we plan to ensure they endure for future generations."