Ireland : Safety by CityDrogheda is a large town on the East coast of Ireland, in County Louth.
The city is conveniently located in the north of the country, and if you are traveling from Dublin to Northern Ireland, it will be a convenient point for your stop.
Newgrange. Neolithic burial mound. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, built in the Neolithic times before the Celts had arrived at the island.
St. Peter’s Church, Highlanes Gallery, with the most important visual art spaces in the area.
Laurence’s Gate. 13th-century Barbican tower, which once served as part of the walled defenses of the town as well as access in and out of the city from the east; Millmount Museum & Tower.
Warnings & Dangers in Drogheda
OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM
Drogheda is not the safest city in the region, but most crimes are car theft and robbery. If you take care of your safety and do not get involved in relations with drug dealers - the city will not bring problems to you.
TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
Public transport is reliable during the day, but may not be very safe at night. Choose a taxi if you return late at night to your hotel. Taxis are safe but use only a licensed service. You can call a cab from your smartphone app. Make sure the driver is using a taximeter.
PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM
In tourist regions, there are usually always a lot of pickpockets. This is not to say that there are few of them in Drogheda. However, if you use common sense and look after your pockets, then your values will remain with you.
NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW
There are not many natural disasters in the region, but floods or air pollution from ashes from a nearby erupting volcano (in Iceland) can occur. Most likely, natural disasters will not interfere with your trip to Drogheda.
MUGGING RISK: MEDIUM
Armed robberies are rare but still happen. They are usually associated with a showdown by a drug dealer. Avoid the remote areas of the city, and do not walk the streets late at night. If some incident had happened to you, you should immediately contact the police.
TERRORISM RISK: LOW
Attacks in Ireland can’t be ruled out. You should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks, which could be in public places, including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travelers. But overall, terrorism risk in Drogheda is low.
SCAMS RISK: LOW
Fraud does not often occur in Drogheda. Most often, it will be associated with an attempt to remove data from your card. To avoid this, withdraw money from ATMs inside banks. Also, be careful not to disclose your personal data in email and SMS correspondence.
WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: MEDIUM
The city is safe enough for women traveling solo. However, it is not recommended to appear on the streets of the town late at night unaccompanied. In a taxi, always have a seat only behind the driver.
So... How Safe Is Drogheda Really?
Drogheda has a reasonably high crime rate.
Most crimes involve robbery, car theft, drug problems, assaults, vandalism, and corruption.
In the city, there are often incidents of car theft and hacking for robbery.
Travelers are advised not to leave any things in the car and be sure to close it.
It is also worth parking in secure parking lots.
Also, do not get involved in drug trafficking under any circumstances.
Drugs in Ireland are illegal, and any relationship with them will result in punishment for you.
There are common petty theft, burglary, and other insignificant offenses, especially in tourist areas.
Violent crimes are very rare.
Therefore, tourists are not advised to leave their belongings unattended.
Do not carry a lot of cash and jewelry.
Also, try not to walk around the city at night – this is not entirely safe.
Tourism is one of the main components of the region’s economy, so the police whenever possible respond to all crimes, especially if they are related to tourists.
If a crime has occurred to you, immediately contact the nearest police station.
If you rent a car, take care of insurance.
Given the crime with cars in Drogheda, that would be a reasonable measure.
In general, you can feel relaxed in the city if you take increased security measures.
How Does Drogheda Compare?
| City | Safety Index |
|---|---|
| Drogheda | 72 |
| Dublin | 73 |
| Galway | 71 |
| Cork | 68 |
| Limerick | 85 |
| Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) | 43 |
| Sofia (Bulgaria) | 73 |
| Siem Reap (Cambodia) | 63 |
| Phnom Penh (Cambodia) | 61 |
| Niagara Falls (Canada) | 87 |
| Calgary (Canada) | 82 |
Useful Information
Visas
The visa policy of Ireland is similar to the visa policy of the Schengen Area. It grants visa-free entry to all Schengen Annex II nationalities. If someone other than a European Union, European Economic Area, Common Travel Area or Swiss citizen seeks entry to Ireland, they must be a national of a visa-exempt country or have a valid Irish visa issued by one of the Irish diplomatic missions around the world. A valid passport is a must.
Currency
In the Republic of Ireland, the official currency is the euro. One euro consists of 100 cents. It has a sign: € and code: EUR.
Weather
The best times to visit Drogheda for ideal weather are mid-June to September. Average temperatures in Drogheda vary somewhat, and the weather feels cold for most of the year with a chance of rain or snow throughout most of the year.
Airports
The Nearest to Drogheda airport is located 60 km from the city center. It's the Dublin International Airport. It services domestic and international flights.
Travel Insurance
The travel insurance policy is a must when visiting a foreign country. Make sure you got it before starting your journey, the customs officer may ask for it.
Drogheda Weather Averages (Temperatures)
Average High/Low Temperature
| Temperature / Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 8 | 8 | 10 | 13 | 15 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 17 | 14 | 10 | 9 |
| Low °C | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 3 |
| High °F | 46 | 46 | 50 | 55 | 59 | 64 | 68 | 68 | 63 | 57 | 50 | 48 |
| Low °F | 36 | 36 | 37 | 39 | 43 | 48 | 52 | 52 | 48 | 45 | 39 | 37 |
Ireland - Safety by City
| City | Safety Index |
|---|---|
| Cork | 68 |
| Drogheda | 72 |
| Dublin | 73 |
| Galway | 71 |
| Limerick | 85 |
Terrible place to live in
Ok for a short stay but if you plan on moving here it is not a Good Idea. People in the Town don’t like outsiders and can Start trouble Just because you aren’t from here. IV lived in This Town for over 10 year’s and have had nothing but trouble, can’t get Work and Nights out are very hit or Miss, trouble is all over this place and I’d think carefully before relocation.
Ulster says no
This place is an absolute dump and should be avoided at all costs. Full of toothless junkies and other annoying leprechauns.
Drogheda is amazing
Drogheda is amazing for drugs you can get them all her
A city vibe with a town heart
I have lived here for the last 14 months and loving it after living for 6 months in North Louth. I lived in Dublin for 30 years, Longford for 2 years, and Dundalk 6 months before I moved to Drogheda as I wanted to be closer to Dublin which is only 45 mins away. I am very happy here and surprised about how much I settled. Drogheda is a beautiful town with a lot of history. I have noticed a lot of cafes and restaurants but unfortunately due to Covid, I have not been unable to visit most of them. Interestingly it is a diverse town and I believe one of the most diverse towns in Ireland. The only problem is litter, which isn’t pleasing. The locals are very chatty which I guess is similar to most towns in Ireland. Drogheda has a large population and you really notice this with how busy the town can get and the traffic can also be challenging at times. Drogheda doesn’t feel like a small town like Longford or Dundalk as it has so much going on but it does have the local feel I am used to.
Great Location
Drogheda is a great location. The town has some lovely bars and restaurants. There are also interesting historic sights. Ancient abbeys, old town walls, barbican gates,a hill fort and museum. The hinterland includes a range of historical attractions including Newgrange, Monasterboice and the Boyne battle site. There are several world class golf courses near by. The seaside is only 5 minutes away. The crime rate is actually quite low. The town is very carefully policed due to a feud in 2020. The people involved in this feud have now been apprehended and are no longer a problem. Thus the town is now very safe.
Stay away for your own safety
Not safe here. There are regular collections for the IRA and woe to you if you refuse. Arms can be bought at some of the pubs. Drugs are freely available and there is an undercurrent of violence. Best to avoid unless you are a psychopathic Republican junkie.
I’ve lived in Drogheda for 17 years, like any other place there’s a few bad eggs, but the good outweigh the bad here. Drogheda has a bad reputation which is blown massively out of proportion. Everyone’s either really friendly or somewhat friendly and we’ll always ask how your day was even if your a stranger walking past we’ll give you a nod and a ‘how are you’, though I’ve met a few snobs, but not many. The risk of getting robbed or attacked is extremely low, and even walking at night is safe, Personally I’ve never had any bad experiences, and neither has anyone I know. People act like knife violence and getting randomly attacked is common but it’s not at all, we don’t go around carrying knifes or guns, the worst you’ll get is probably seeing some older teen smoke. But like any place it’s best to stay vigilant and avoid areas like Moneymore, The Ramparts, Rathmullan and Ballsgrove, especially Ballsgrove Hill and the 101 steps, after dark, during the day they are fine. Trust your gut, don’t entertain anyone sketchy and like We say ‘trouble only comes to you if you go looking for it.’ So as long as you’re not involved with bad crowds you’ll be fine. And we do love outside visitors!
Drogheda & especially nearby Dundalk should be avoided. Both to be honest have seen better days. Drug usage & young people with no outlook in life is commonplace sadly.
Louth in general is best avoided, there’s not much to see and it’s also the smallest county in the country.
Carlingford near the Northern Irish border is it’s only saving grace. It’s beautiful there, but that’s about all.
Shocking poverty that I've never seen on all my trips to Ireland. Be careful here
We visited Drogheda in the summer on our European holiday. We were a bit wary after hearing about the gang violence and bad reputation. In Dublin and Galway people told us to avoid Drogheda (we should have listened to them).
The majority of buildings in the centre seem to be derelict and boarded up but I actually noticed the shadow of a person lit up by candle light in a window that wasn’t boarded up. There seems to be a lot of poverty which is quite shocking and something I never saw in my trips to Ireland. There are no open public spaces in the whole town centre and a lot of homeless people. I was asked for money more than a dozen times the weekend we stayed. Inside a pub we noticed open drug taking outside on the street. A fight broke out in the pub we were in and the staff walked away and ignored it. There are Asian massage shops and small casinos on every street I saw and quite clearly they aren’t just offering massages. There are lots of pubs, bars and nightclubs, lots of takeaway food options but very little else.
To look on the positives I’m sure it’s a lot of fun to go out there if you’re young and wanted to party. We had a family and didn’t feel safe in some situations.