Return power to Drogheda call made on Charter Day 2018
CALLS were made for the restoration of local power to Drogheda Borough Council as part of a special Charter Day celebration in the Tholsel on November 1.
It marked the 606th anniversary of the signing of the charter that united the town.
Up to then, there was Drogheda in Meath and Drogheda in Oriel. After years of fighting and disputes between both sides, local Dominican Fr Philip Bennett called for the unification of the town.
Fr Jim Donleavy spoke of the pride the Dominican community had in their role in uniting Drogheda all those years ago.
Local historian Liam Reilly outlined the path to the ‘new’ Drogheda. Boyne Folk and singers Maria Clarke and Jean Kelly Eldershaw both performed to close the celebration.
‘I pay tribute to the mayor of the day, Mayor Symcock, who, along with Fr Philip Bennett, a Dominican monk, unified the two sides of the town, also uniting the people, and the two corporations.
Symcock was a businessman and exporter, and a generous benefactor to the town along with his wife, Agnes. At that time, business in Drogheda was booming! There were two ports - a northside port and a southside port!
He said he’d like to see the seat of power return to Drogheda at Borough Council level. He added that he would like to see a Drogheda week where all charters and memorabilia relating to the town are shown to the public, as they are unique to Drogheda.