TIME TO LIGHT UP THE GATEWAY TO BALLSGROVE
IN many ways it’s taken for granted. It has stood overlooking the town, at the bottom of Ballsgrove Hill, for over 200 years, but in truth, do we know anything about it.
Ballsgrove Gate, at the foot of Grove Hill, was erected in recognition of work done by Henry Ball MP who led Drogheda’s anti-union movement in 1796.
As a token of their gratitude, the people of Drogheda raised a large sum of money to install the gate.
It features natural limestone and other aspects.
It underwent major works in 2001/2002 when £250,000 was spent on its overhaul. Chairperson of thr Ballsgrove Residents Association, Eugene Geraghty, expressed his delight with the project at the time. but surely it’s time to bring the gate back to its glory again.
Areas for floodlighting are now covered in moss (pictured bottom right) but surely it wouldn’t cost that much to get the process operational again.
Many great moments have been celebrated here, not least when the leaders of the Peace Movement arrived to talk at its gates in December of 1976.
The Peace People spoke of a new Ireland, and although it took time to come, they won the day.
Cutting the hedge back at the front of it and a bit of sandblasting and suddenly you have an iconic building in that part of the town again.