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Memories of Stamullen from long ago

11/10/2026

Community Historian Brendan Matthews. Sunday Sport of yester-year. `Neighbourly Fisticuffs`. The headline in the pages of the Drogheda Independent says it all. Back in the third week of October in 1946 the Stamullen Rovers Gaelic Football Team were matched to play against their neighbourly rivals the Julianstown Stars in the first round of the `medal-tournament`. However, as can be seen from the newspaper reporter`s article, a heavy tackle between two players after about 15 minutes play developed into a full-scale boxing tournament with fights breaking out all over the pitch involving both players and spectators. There has been many an oral tale recalled across the district since that fateful day regarding this particular Gaelic Football Match which was played at C**k Hill Stamullen on Sunday afternoon October 20th 1946. A little over 4-years later the Julianstown Stars and the Stamullen Rovers were to amalgamate. At a special meeting of the clubs held at Stamullen on Saturday January 20th 1951 it was agreed and decided upon that each of the former clubs should have equal representation on the joint committee and teams and that the newly formed club would become known as Saint Patrick`s Gaelic Football Club. One of the first games the newly formed St. Pat`s club played was on Sunday May 20th 1951 when, it was reported by the regional Press that:` The Pat`s made a very favourable impression and sent a warning to other clubs when they defeated a fancied Ballinlough side at Kilberry by four-points, 2-5 to 0-7 during the Feis Cup Competition despite, what was further reported on was, an afternoon of heavy rain. The victorious team included P. Dixon, F. McCann, V. Matthews, N. McCullen, T. Power, A. Monks, J. Power, P .Donovan, J .Whyte, P. McCann, P. Durcan, P. Whyte and B .Boylan`. Recalling a memorable 15 minute Gaelic Football Match that turned into a “Free Fight at Stamullen” which took place on Sunday 20th of October back in 1946; 80-years-ago this very month. Researched, written & compiled by Community Historian Brendan Matthews. ©2026

10/10/2026

Community Historian Brendan Matthews. Servants of the Castle. Photo taken by Brendan Matthews in the month of July in the year 2020 depicts a fine decorative old gate within the former gardens on the Gormanston Castle demesne. The following advert appeared in the pages of the Drogheda Independent during the month of October 1899 `About 150 Larch, 325 Scotch, 275 Spruce, 55 Ash, 50 Elm, 80 Oak and 85 various, in all, about 1,050 trees. Terms; to be cut down by purchaser and removed within specified time. No timber to be removed until all the purchase money is paid. Timber may be seen and fuller particulars obtained on personal applications to Mr A Watt, Gormanston, or by letter to Viscount Gormanston. The, above-mentioned, Mr. A. Watt was a loyal servant of the Gormanston Household. He was originally from Ayrshire in Scotland and, along with his wife; they both served three consecutive generations of the Preston family at Gormanston Castle. Both Mr. Watt and his wife are interred in Stamullen cemetery, their grave-plot being marked by a fine headstone which was erected by the 15th Viscount Gormanston in the first decade of the 20th century.

09/10/2026

Community Historian Brendan Matthews. “Summer`s Past”. Advertisement that appeared in the pages of the Drogheda Independent during the summer of 1985; John McCullen`s Garden Centre off the old N1 (R132) road at Gormanston.

08/10/2026

Community Historian Brendan Matthews. “The birds of a Christmas Past”. Advert which appeared in the pages of the Drogheda Independent Newspaper at the close of July back in 1934.

07/10/2026

Community Historian Brendan Matthews. Photo depicts a view of the newly constructed Gormanston Camp in the early summer of 1918; the photo was taken looking towards the west. Inset, is an extract from the old Drogheda Argus Newspaper from the month of August in 1918 reporting on a plane crash at Gormanston in which one man tragically lost his life.

06/10/2026

Community Historian Brendan Matthews. “Former parishioners”. Photo depicts the small cottage, the humble abode of the late Joe & Paddy Mullholland (Hollie). Inset photo depicts the late Paddy Hollie. The cottage stood for many a year on the C**k Hill Road until it was placed on the property market back in 2007 and was subsequently demolished.

04/10/2026

Community Historian Brendan Matthews. “Sunday Sport”. Adverts that appeared side by side within the pages of the old Drogheda Argus Newspaper back in the month of July in 1902; two great sporting events that were held on the same Sunday, August 24th at Bellewstown and at Gormanston, both of which would have attracted a very large gathering back in the summer of 1902:

03/10/2026

Community Historian Brendan Matthews. “Millers Pride”. Advertisement that appeared in the pages of the old Freemans Journal from the month of August back in 1879. This Mill at Legdoory, off the Delvin Road in Gormanston was first constructed towards the close of the 18th century and it was in operation long before the adjacent Delvin Lodge residence was constructed. The mention here in this particular advertisement regarding a “substantial house and stabling” was in relation to a large building and outhouses that also once stood adjacent to this Mill which was known locally as “Legdoory House”. Legdoory House was set well back from the Delvin Road, close to the Delvin River and access to the house and Mill was reached via its own avenue, which was located about mid-way down the Delvin Road. The Mill here at Legdoory was operated for many years by a family by the name of Boylan; originally from Dublin City, the last of whom had vacated the premises at Gormanston in 1878, hence the advertisement for the Mill to be Let again in the summer of 1879. The remains of the old Mill here at Legdoory along with some of the older outhouses etc. were still standing in the 1960`s but were, unfortunately, demolished due to quarrying by the close of that decade.

02/10/2026

Community Historian Brendan Matthews. Sad ending for Mr. Kelsh. This piece was published in the pages of the old Drogheda Argus Newspaper on March 12th back in 1904. This incident took place on the lands of Baltray Gormanston which was the homestead of the Kelsh family. The Death Certificate however records that the man`s name was in fact James Kelsh, he had passed away on March 8th and he was aged 73-years-old. Between the money Cheque and the cash that was found on his person it amounted to £135; a princely sum back in 1912.

30/09/2026

Community Historian Brendan Matthews. “Times Past”. Photos, by Brendan Matthews were taken back in the 1990`s. Posted up before but worthy of showing again; depicts, on the right, the old Ballestrand House, as viewed from the rear or south, while on the left is the attached Blacksmith`s Forge , which was located at the eastern end of the dwelling. Ballestrand House was the first humble abode of many a new happily married couple. As far as I'm aware, it was also the birth place of the late, great Joe Collier of Balloy. The house was, unfortunately, demolished in recent years. There are a number of `Ghost Stories` also associated with that of Ballestrand House.

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