The Comhaltas NE Regional Centre
The Oriel Centre, based in Dundalk Gaol, is one of eight strategically placed regional resource centres under the auspices of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann servicing the five north eastern counties of Cavan, Monaghan, Louth, Meath and Armagh. The Oriel Centre combines the role of a resource centre, a visitor attraction, a social and a performance space and provides facilities for teaching, archives, recording, rehearsal, performance and session playing. The Centre aims to support the work of Comhaltas branches within the region, whilst being fully available to any individuals, group or organisations interested promoting and developing our cultural traditions – music, song, dance, An Gaeilge, story telling and art/craftwork. The Oriel Centre focuses primarily on the provision of educational initiatives and performance opportunities for developing artists, and works alongside other agencies with a number of target groups in raising awareness of local history, storytelling, An Gaeilge, songs of the region, music and dance.
We are delighted to welcome all individuals and groups and look forward to making your visit a special one.
Contact the Oriel Centre at 042 9328887 or e mail us at [email protected]
“The Traditional Arts….. should be accessible to all..”
“The traditional arts should be an enriching part of the lives of Irish people everywhere, particularly our young people; they should be a living, highly visible and vibrant part of society; They should be easily accessible to all; and their unique social, cultural and economic benefits should be fully realised by communities and individuals throughout the country and in Irish communities abroad.” – extract from ‘An Rod Seo Romhainn – Clár Forbartha do Ealaíona Traidisiúnta na hÉireann’ – Comhaltas Development Programme for the Traditional Arts
Did You Know …..
- Dundalk Gaol at the rear of Dundalk Garda barracks, ( home to the NE Regional Centre for Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann), was built in 1853 to relieve problems of overcrowding at the old town gaol already in existence at Crowe Street (now Dundalk Town Hall).
- It was designed as the new Louth County Gaol by Mr. John Neville, who was county surveyor for Louth ( 1840 – 1886). The total cost of the new gaol when completed reached £23,000: £5000 more than was originally estimated.
Visit Us to Learn More About The History Of Dundalk Gaol
When originally built, Dundalk Gaol was classed as a county borough gaol, for imprisonment admininistered by grand juries. The other class of gaol that existed at the time (up until the General Prisons Act (Ireland) was passed in 1877) was the convict prison or government prison used for penal servitude or transportation.
Unfortunately limited archive materials relating to Dundalk Gaol have been found. A prison inspector’s book for the period 1846-1852 is stored in Louth County Archives, while the remaining prison registers for Dundalk are stored in the National Archives along with a file of mugshots from former prison inmates at Dundalk. Copies of prison reports from 1851 onwards which were produced by the Irish Prisons Board are available for reference at the Oriel Centre Archive, along with a collection of photos, poems and letters from former inmates.
Some of the most famous inmates incarcerated at Dundalk Gaol were John Dillon, Frank Aiken, Austin Stack, Sean Treacy and Diarmuid Lynch.
The Governor’s residence / administration buildings and debtors prison section became Dundalk Garda Station in 1945. Between 1945 -1991 the remaining gaol buildings were used as stores by Louth County Council.
In 2008, Louth County Council presented the west wing of the Gaol to Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Éireann to house the Oriel Centre.
History Tours Available – Booking required – [email protected]