Reference and Local History

Local History Resources

Wide selection of local history books, covering Co. Louth's towns of Dundalk, Drogheda and Ardee, as well as rural villages.
Tempest Annuals - local directories for Dundalk and surrounding areas, covering the period 1863-1976. Containing local events & advertisements for local businesses.
Louth Archaeological and Historical Journals, from 1904 to present.
Photographic histories of Dundalk town including the Lawrence Collection of photographs of Dundalk.
Maps of Co. Louth: Down Survey Maps 1657; Taylor and Skinner maps 1777; Ordnance survey maps 1835; Town maps of Dundalk for 1867-69 and 1880's; Maps pertaining to the former estate of the Marquis of Anglesey.
Our specialist collections includes that of Peadar O'Dubhda, scholar, author & folklorist.
Local Newspapers - hardcopy and microfilm editions of the Dundalk Democrat from1849 to present and hardcopy of The Argus 1973 - present.
Drogheda Independent on microfilm 1884 - Date (in Drogheda Library)
Drogheda Newsletter 1801-1813 on microfilm (incomplete run) (in Drogheda Library)
Drogheda Journal 1824 - 1842 on microfilm (in Drogheda Library)
Drogheda Conservative 1840 - 1896 on microfilm (in Drogheda Library)
Drogheda Argus 1830 - 1896 on microfilm (in Drogheda Library)
Schools Folklore Collection, 1937-38.

Local history books and directories.
Tithe Applotment Books - available on microfilm.
Freeholders Lists - 1820's - names of occupiers of land, and landowners' names.
Griffith's Valuation - 1854.
1901 & 1911 Census records of Co. Louth - available on microfilm.
The library offers a genealogical research service, for which the principal research sources is our database of Catholic church records of Co. Louth, which cover the period from the mid 1700's up to 1900. These records cover 20 parishes, with a total of over 258,000 entries.

For more information on family history/genealogy, email: referencelibrary@louthcoco.ie or tel: 042-9324323