Drogheda City is seen as the way forward for our growing town

“WE’RE the people who can make the change; we have the greatest world class people in Drogheda, but the system is not working, and we need change.”

The words, not of one of the panel of experts and speakers at Wednesday’s ‘City Status’ Town Hall meeting, but a voice in the crowd, who is starting to believe that the radical change in title may be the best catalyst to Drogheda’s continued success. “We need a local enterprise office, somewhere to put local business in front and promote tourism and investment. We were a mess before Local Heroes, and that was the start of a journey. The Fleadh took six years, this will take time, but we should channel the energy towards achieving these goals.”

The comments post-meeting by the audience were wide and varied, but with one common thread; seeking to move forward in the most effective way to create real change and improvement.

And that might mean looking back to see what mistakes have been made. “We have and IDA park with one company State Street it in – and I have a daughter who commutes to Dublin for work at 7am every morning,” said another man. “With 1,400 jobs coming to this country per week, how come we can’t get any here? We have the talent, we have the profile, we are more than a commuter town.”

Some of the younger members of the audience, who said they dearly wanted to remain in the town to study and work, questioned how the distinct identity of the two counties could merge into one city, but the example was given by another audience member of Newry, which even though combined with Armagh to provide city status, but has retained its separate identities.

The most emotive words of the night were reserved for an audience member who has campaigned for decades to improve Drogheda’s lot. “I love Drogheda with all my heart and there was an apathy and lack of leadership, but the Fleadh shows what Drogheda can do.” he said with tears in his eyes.

“I look at the town as a lady, who has been badly abused, but we will protect, love and mind her and get her back to where she belongs.”