They say you should never meet your hero. Don’t listen to that! When it comes to passion for Drogheda, we met ours, Community Historian, Brendan Matthews, and this time it was to present him with a BD/Drogheda and District Chamber ‘Community Champion’ award for his outstanding commitment to preserving the stories and tales of old Drogheda.
Brendan first took an interest in history at the age of 11. That love grew and grew, taking in everything from writing books to working in archaeology. About 20 years ago, he became a Community Historian and suddenly, he was bringing the past to life for generations of people, of all ages and all parts of the world.
During the summer, he hosts ‘Walk and Talk’ tours of the town and they are incredible.
People have come from South America, Australia, Canada, the UK, Europe as well as all over Ireland. Some love the stories, the characters and the conversation, but a lot come to celebrate the town’s greatest treasure, its architecture.
“People find the story of Drogheda incredible. The houses, dating back to the 1830s and 1840s, is where the gentry lived, real Downton Abbey stuff, with underground cellars and tunnels. The facades haven’t changed in centuries in many cases. Fair Street is all Georgian and could be used as a film set today,” he states.
He’d love to see local history celebrated more in local schools and would be only too willing to engage with schools to tell the stories that define the place.
“The stories are remarkable. I had people from Montana on a tour and they were looking for information on their great, great grandfather. It turned out he was born in Peter Street, went to Montana and became known as ‘The Irishman’ and traded with the native American Indians. They loved him.”
The Dutch Billy style houses on West Street have great tales and are of world interest.
“With Catherina and Ronan from our awards partners, BD, we found Brendan’s love of his town simply infectious. This is just a recognition for a man who has done so much to paint the town in a positive manner. He is truly one of a kind,” Chamber CEO, Hubert Murphy, stated.