Chemical Manure site is part of history

IF you are passing down the Marsh Road, take the chance to admire the once bustling Drogheda Chemical Manure Company building (right), a part of old Drogheda that remains to this day.

A report from the DI in 1901 stated that the docking area on the Boyne could hardly handle the number of boats being loaded up, with the likes of ‘ The ‘Harmony,’ ‘ Kangaroo,’ ‘Naian‘ ‘Dalphin,’ Ketch’ ‘Mary Ellen, and ‘Hastings,’ all spotted.

The Drogheda Steampacket Company’s boats were also shipping from the site.

It was so popular the company had to build a store the length of the works, capable of holding upwards of 10,000 tons, being perhaps the largest of its kind in Ireland.. It was supported on 45 cast iron columns.

It had many popular workers down the decades, one being Owen Dullaghan, North Marsh, Drogheda, assistant manager, who passed away in 1904.

Deceased was the eldest son of Mr Edward Dullaghan, of Ballymascanlon, and for many years occupied the very important position which he held, enjoying the utmost confidence and respect, not alone of his employers, but of everyone with whom he came in contact.

Like a lot of manufacturing places of the time, tragedies did occur.

In August 1913, a labourer named Thomas Smith (35), Sampson’s Lane, Drogheda, was carrying out some repairs when the bolt of the upright upon which he was working broke, and he fell from a height of about 14 feet, fracturing the base of his skull. Medical aid were summoned, and Dr W Bradley, J P, ordered the man’s immediate removal to the Workhouse Hospital, where upon examination lite was found to be extinct.

At the inquest, a number of workers gave statements including James Mullen, a labourer in the same works, residing at Platten Road, Thos Smyth and Patk Plunkett, Cortown, Duleek, and John Tottenham, Chord Road, Foreman of Works.

In January 1923, a seaman, boarding his vessel on the Chemical Manure docks, drowned. Albert Edward Jones of the SS Cragside fell into the Boyne and drowned.

In June 1926, a very sad fatality occurred, resulting in the deprivation of a poor household, comprising a mother and nine children, of their father and breadwinner. John Byrne, of Mell, Drogheda, a labourer aged about 40 years.

A poignant feature of the tragedy is that the family’s youngest child was only born a few days before the accident and the poor mother, weakened by her confinement, collapsed when the news of the accident was conveyed to her.

Dr. P. D. McCullen deposed to having been called to the Drogheda Chemical Manure Works, where he found a man lying on the floor of a store. He appeared seriously injured.

Again, evidence was heard from workers such as Patrick Hodgins, labourer, of Priests Lane, Drogheda.