‘We can’t allow this to happen’ – Louth mum leads fight to protect Cú Chulainn’s Castle from 1,000-home plan

By ol, The Drogheda Independent

A Louth mum has called for the “legends of Louth to be protected for the next generation” as opposition grows to a proposed 1,000-home development near the historic Cú Chulainn’s Castle in Dundalk.

Local photographer Nicola Bishop has launched a petition against plans by Grandspect Limited for a Large-scale Residential Development (LRD) on lands off the Castletown Road. The company applied to Louth County Council at the end of 2025 for permission to construct 1,058 homes across a site of approximately 38.89 hectares (96.1 acres), with a 10-year planning period.

The site lies adjacent to Mount Avenue and takes in townlands close to Cú Chulainn’s Castle, a landmark deeply associated with the legendary hero of Irish mythology.

Speaking to independent.ie, Ms Bishop said her immediate reaction to the plans was one of disbelief.

“When I saw these plans I just thought… no. We can’t allow this to happen to an area of such beauty, so steeped in the legends which are at the heart of Louth’s story.”

She recalls playing in the area as a child with her brothers and “going on adventures to Cú Chulainn’s Castle.”

“My brothers even went into the tunnels, so the legends are true. I just really feel we need to protect them for our own children, and the next generation.”

Nicola decided to put together a petition and post it online, calling for local people to voice their concerns about a large-scale housing development adjacent to a historic site.

In the space of just a few days over 1,500 people had signed the petition.

“The reaction to it has been incredible,” she said. “I’m so glad to see the support from the local community.”

Nicola intends to lodge the petition as a submission to Louth County Council, which has reopened a public consultation on the proposed development after it sought further information from the developer.

She argued that the area would be better served as a tourist attraction, complete with visitor centre to allow visitors to explore the legend of Cú Chulainn, who has been described as “the greatest hero and demigod of Irish mythology’s Ulster Cycle.”

Nicola adds: “I am not against housing, we all know that there is a housing crisis, but we cannot justify building over a 1,000 houses in an area that is of such huge historical significance.”

“It is just off Junction 17, and would be ideal as a stop off for visitors travelling from Dublin to Belfast,” she said, suggesting that it could be a feature of Louth County Council’s first-ever Tourism Strategy which is due to launch next week.

“There is definitely a lot of over-building going on in certain areas. We have seen it in Blackrock too, where there is now an accident black spot at Sexton’s junction because the road hasn’t changed and there is too much traffic with all of the houses that have been built.”

She fears the same could happen if more than 1,000 houses are built in the western part of Dundalk which relies on the already busy Castletown Road to filter traffic in and out of the Louth town.

“Even if we didn’t have a beautiful, historic structure to protect here, and the amazing heritage and potential for tourism, this area is not able to cope with another 1,000 houses and the cars that a development like this would bring.”

The formal petition asks Louth County Council to limit any further housing construction in the area, and appeals for “heritage protection for the castle and surrounding lands” and archaeological excavation and investigation into any underground tunnels that have long been part of local folklore.

“This site is part of the identity and history of Dundalk. Once its surrounding landscape is lost, it can never truly be restored.”

“We respectfully urge the relevant authoritise to reconsider any proposed development plans and prioritise the protection and preservation of this unique heritage site.”