Ardee Baile Átha Fhirdhia
Location
WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: 53.855362° N 6.537895° W
Irish Grid Reference N958906
Statistics
Province:	Leinster
County:	County Louth
Population (2006)  - Town:  - Rural:	4,318 [1]  2,599 [2]

Ardee (Baile Átha Fhirdhia in Irish) is a town in County Louth, Ireland. It is located at the intersection of the N2, N52, and N33 roads. Ardee is on the banks of the River Dee and is approximately 12 miles (20 Kilometres) from Dundalk, Drogheda, Slane and Carrickmacross. It currently has a population of about 4,318. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Bullet for locations in Ireland, displays location and not area. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... The Global Positioning System (GPS), is currently the only fully functional Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS). ... The Irish national grid reference system is a system of geographic grid references commonly used in Ireland. ... During late Gaelic and early historic times Ireland was divided into provinces to replace the earlier system of the tuatha. ... Statistics Area: 19,774. ... For much of its history, the island of Ireland was divided into 32 counties (Irish language contae or condae, pronounced IPA: ). Two historical counties, County Desmond and County Coleraine, no longer exist. ... Statistics Province: Leinster County Town: Dundalk Code: LH Area: 820 km² Population (2006) 110,894 Website: www. ... Statistics Province: Leinster County Town: Dundalk Code: LH Area: 820 km² Population (2006) 110,894 Website: www. ... The N2 road is a National Primary Route in the Republic of Ireland, connecting Dublin with the border near Aughnacloy, in county Tyrone. ... A National Secondary Route is a category of road in the Republic of Ireland. ... The N33 road is a National Primary Route in the Republic of Ireland. ... A directional road sign in the Republic of Ireland on an other road (not a national road) at Portlaoise, County Laois, including patches for national roads and advance warning of bridge height restrictions. ... WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: 54. ... WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: 54. ... WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: 53. ... Carrickmacross is a town in County Monaghan, Ireland. ...

History

Originally called Atherdee, its name is derived Áth Fhirdia (the Ford of the Ferdia), from the mythological four day battle between Cúchulainn and Ferdia, for the defence of Ulster from Queen Maeve of Connacht. Ferdia fell after 4 days of battle and is buried on the southern banks of the river alongside the Riverside Walk. Ardee is a town of great historical interest, Ardee Castle (St. Leger's) is the largest fortified medieval tower house in Ireland and perhaps in Europe.

A 5 mile/8km railway line once linked the town to the main Dublin - Belfast line. Passenger services ended in 1934, and the line survived as a freight service until final closure in 1975, serving the local fertiliser factory and livestock transport. The trackbed was lifted in the late 1980s, and much of the short route is now a designated walkway.

The river Dee was the northern border of The Pale in medieval times. The Pale refers to at least two geographic areas: The Pale of Settlement in which imperial Russia allowed Jews to live. ...

Another item of interest worth visiting is the "Jumping Church" which is located about 3 miles outside the town. Legend has it that a non-Christian was buried inside the Church walls and that later that night, the Church jumped so as to leave his remains outside of the scared ground. It's a good yarn but I'm afraid it's not true.

Recent Developments

An October day on Market Street, Ardee

Ardee has grown much in the last ten years, mainly as a result of easy access to new roads including the M1 motorway which links Dublin to Belfast. The development of the town has resulted in a dramatic rise in house prices in the area. 2007 has been set by the NRA for work to begin on the Ardee by-pass which will run to the west of the town taking in the N52 and joining up with the N2 north of Ardee. Ardee File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Ardee File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... The Boyne River Bridge, one of the main engineering features of the M1 in Ireland, crosses the River Boyne west of Drogheda. ...

The Norman castle in Ardee has been recently refurbished and houses the disctrict courthouse.

Sports Facilities

Ardee has an 18-hole golf course whose clubhouse has been improved. The course is an Eddie Hackett design with improvements by Declan Branigan in the mid 1990s.

Recently developed at Townparks, just outside Ardee are the new home grounds of Ardee Celtic Football Club. The ground features 2 full size sand-based pitches and a 7-aside underage pitch, dressing rooms and covered spectator area. The club has 18 underage teams and 3 senior sides. The land for which was provided by a local businessman.

Ardee is home to St. Marys GAA club. The club competes in the senior level of Louth GAA competition.It is one of the most successful clubs in Louth over the past 50 years. It was established in 1928.

Clubs such as Hunterstown Rovers and John Mitchells are also in very close proximity to Ardee. Hunterstown Rovers has 2 adult and several juvenile teams.The senior team competes in the Intermediate Championship.Hunterstown's floodlit Pitch is located just south of Ardee on on the N2.

Ardee & District Athletic Club currently has 70 members both male and female ,all ages are represented from U-7 up to several Veteran athletes.Athletes compete in the various athletic disciplines (Track & Field ,Cross Country, Indoors and Road Racing) at local ,national and international levels.

The Ardee Concert Band is the oldest organistation in the town with a history spanning some 147 years. See Ardee Concert Band[1]

See also

• List of towns in the Republic of Ireland
• Ardee (constituency)

This is a link page for cities and towns in the Republic of Ireland, including larger villages, and villages and townlands of note, as well as towns, townships or urban centres in Dublin. ... Ardee (also known as Ardee Borough) was a constituency represented in the Irish House of Commons from 1378 to 1801. ...

External links

• The Ruxtons of Ardee
• Ardee on the 'From Ireland' genealogy website
• www.ardeeanddistrictac.com 'Ardee & District Athletic Club'
• www.stmarysgfc.com 'Ardee St.Mary's G.A.A website'
• www.ardeeconcertband.com 'Ardee Concert Band official website'

References