History of Drogheda

In 1837 the population of Drogheda area was 17,365 of whom 15,138 lived in the town.

Town arms

A Norman element on Drogheda's coat of arms is its centre piece, St. Laurence's Gate. The three lions which flank the Norman barbican and the star and crescent, similar to those on the coat of arms of Portsmouth, are taken from Richard The Lionheart's coat of arms who gave both towns their charters. On the other side of the barbican is a ship denoting Drogheda's status as an important port. The town's motto Deus praesidium, mercaturadecus translates as "God our strength, merchandise our glory".

A local myth has it that the star and crescent were included in the town arms after