2023 in review - Looking back on July in Louth

July 4th 2023

The SEEK Urban Arts Festival returned in July with an array of renowned artists adorning the walls of our town.

The artist duo Studio Giftig, made up of Kasper van Leek and Niels van Swaemen, from the Netherlands, created a mural on the wall of the Imperial Hotel of Roesia de Verdun.

While street artist Mister Copy from Johannesburg, South Africa, now living in Paris, created the fantastic mural of Setanta on Church Street.

Returning artist Arthur 'ONER' was back again this year to commemorate to US President Joe Biden's visit to Dundalk.

The Railway Heritage Blueprint by Irish artist Cormac Dillon and Joe Biden / An Irish Emigration Story by French artist Creaero were also created during this year's SEEK Festival.

Town Centre Commercial Manager, Martin McElligott told the Dundalk Democrat in July it was great to see such a buzz in the town with the start of the SEEK festival and another star-studded line up of artists coming to our town.

Martin said: “Over the past four years we have all witnessed the transformation of Dundalk Town centre and the pivotal role this creative festival has played.

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The community of Louth Village and the surrounding areas had a great time celebrating the 5oth anniversary of St Mochtas National School in July with a family fun day.

The school, which opened at its current site at Feran Drive, Louth Village, in 1973, also marked the tenth anniversary of the opening of the impressive extension, which was overseen by former principal Niall Sloan and completed in 2013.

July 11th 2023

A new era for Ardee Educate Together began in earnest as the sod was finally turned on the site of their new state of the art building.

It’s been a long wait for the school which first received approval for a new building fourteen years ago with a completion date of September 2014.

The €7.6 million new school building is hoped to be completed by Christmas 2024.

July 18th 2023

Work on Louth GAA stadium was halted in July following a Croke Park directive resulting in the County Board having to put the project on hold.

Having completed levelling works on the site, July 17th 2023 was supposed to see building work getting underway, alongside an official launch ceremony marking the occasion.

However, the GAA relayed communications the previous day that they were not to proceed with the launch.

A GAA bulletin released to the media read: “Meetings of An Coiste Bainistíochta and Ard Chomhairle took place last night (July 14th) and today (July 15th) respectively.

“The following decisions were taken: It was agreed to instruct Coiste Contae an Lú not to proceed with the current plans for a new Stadium pending a reassessment.”

July 25th 2023

A piece of Dundalk history was revived when the old Dundalk Democrat sign above 3 Earl Street was restored to its former glory.

The work was carried out by Mack Signs as part of the SEEK festival and was one of the latest historical signs to be revamped as part of an ongoing project led by Dundalk BIDS.

The sign was restored to its original gold lettering using gold leaf with the outline based off a trace of the original which was designated to be specially preserved by Dundalk Town Council over a decade ago.

The historic building housed the offices of the Democrat for much of the paper's 174 year history until it moved to Crowe Street over twenty years ago.