The Military Exhibition

The recently opened permanent Military Exhibition is located in the Martello Tower . It consists of weapons , uniforms , photos and other meorabilia.

Included in the collection are a selection of shotguns and handguns, used in the War of Independence, along with hand grenades made in the local foundry. Come and view our vast collection of old guns dating from as far back as 1640, perhaps used during Phelim O’Neill’s siege of Drogheda of 1641, or Oliver Cromwell’s siege of 1649, through to the Battle of the Boyne of 1690.

Our great collection of guns includes “The Fenian Rifles”. These large guns with bayonets attached were discovered hidden in the attic of the Franciscan Friary here in Drogheda (now The Highlanes Gallery) unopened for over a century, and found by workmen recently.

Also on display is a model of Captain Stapleton “holding the fort” at Millmount when the Free State Forces took control after it was shelled on the 4th July 1922. Casing and shrapnel from the bombardment of the Martello Tower are also included in this great exhibition as are a number of other military uniforms .

We also have a death mask of the great local Fenian and Poet John Boyle O’Reilly,together with photo’s and other memorabilia from the Fenian movement also from the War Independence, and the Civil War.