County: Louth Site name: MILLMOUNT, Drogheda
Sites and Monuments Record No.: SMR 24:25 Licence number: 95E0199
Author: Breandán Ó Ríordáin
Site type: Martello tower
Period/Dating: Modern (AD 1750-AD 2000)
ITM: E 708327m, N 775317m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.716276, -6.358826
The Martello tower at Millmount, Drogheda, Co. Louth, was built c. 1808. In 1922, as a result of a bombardment by Free State troops, it was considerably damaged, and some 2m of spoil, mainly bricks and mortar, remained within the building until recently. In 1995 Drogheda Corporation decided that the tower should be renovated and, as a first step in this project, the removal of spoil down to the original floor level was carried out by a team of FÁS operatives. As the tower is sited on the summit of a motte, archaeological monitoring of the work was necessary and was engaged upon in the period 11 September to 8 December 1995. The only find of archaeological interest was a military button; though not yet positively identified, it may be that of The King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry regiment - the final British Army regiment stationed at Millmount, which vacated the site on 28 January 1922.
Burgage More, Blessington, Co. Wicklow, and V.J. Keeley, 29/30 Duke St., Athy, Co. Kildare
