Incredible work of art being uncovered on the Collon Road
DRIVING between Collon and Drogheda in recent times, I have noticed the astonishing work taking place at Drummond Gate.
It is a structure covered in ivy for many years, but some careful work has seen parts of the ivy removed at the bottom of the gate, giving a hint of the full picture.
Back in 2011, I secured an image of the gate from 1911, supplied by the late Brendan Kerr, and it shows an incredible piece of stonework.
Prior to seeing it, I presumed it was just two trees covered in ivy, succumbing to the ivy to form an archway. But the real secret lies beneath the facade.
The gate is associated with William Drummond Delap of Monasterboice House. The gate is actually called Victoria Drummond Gate, in honour of William’s mother.
Hand in hand with it is Drummond Tower, built in 1858, so I presume the gate is from a similiar period.
It is said that Delap was a strange individual, and that the specimen trees in the garden at Drummond Tower were arranged in the position of the British and French armies at the Battle of Waterloo. He was part of that conflict and came to Ireland directly afterwards and married Anne, daughter of Thomas Henry Foster Skeffington.
I think it would be another great attraction in mid Louth if full work did take place on it and what a focal point on that road it would be.
The original image looks to have a coat of arms, I presume the Drummond crest, on the arch.