The parish comprising Clogherhead and Walshestown claims approximately 570 Catholic families in 2011. Baptisms are currently at an all time high with over 60 babies and children christened in 2010. This is partly due to the ‘boom’ years of the Celtic Tiger when housing expanding at unprecedented rates and many young couples from the nearby town of Drogheda moved to the countryside for comparatively cheaper housing and the scenic locations close to beaches and fields. Today the long time fishing and maritime tradition of Clogherhead is still alive with trawlers bringing in their daily catch to the new harbour. Farming continues in Walshestown among families stretching back several generations. The farming and fishing traditions are represented in two small stained glass windows in the front porch of St.Michael’s Church. But many more inhabitants commute to work each day to nearby towns and to Dublin returning to their country haven often late in the evening. For most people it is still an idyllic area in which to live and to bring up families; a parish with strong community ties, opportunities for many outdoor pursuits and a historic football team ‘The Dreadnots’ which is the only serious contender the Church has for members! There are two thriving primary schools in the parish, St.Peter & St.Paul N.S. Walshestown, and Callystown N.S. clogherhead which between them contain almost 400 pupils. In 2011 the parish is at an exciting moment in its history and a point from which we hope the Christian faith which has sustained its people for many generations will continue to find new energy and outlets. (Photo- Courtesy of Teddy Caffrey) St.Michael's Church was built by parishioners of Clogherhead under the leadership of Fr.Richard Everard P.P. (1853-63) The architect was John Murray who also designed St.Columbcille's Church Togher in 1866 as well as th Dundalk Town Hall. The church was built -it's said - between two showers of rain. It was constructed in such a way that parishioners could attend Mass in the early wooden structure while the new church was built around it. The Stations of the Cross with reflections by the parish priest donated by the Markey family in 1914 have been beamed around the world on the Catholic TV channel EWTN since 2010 and can also be viewed on  the Irish Bishop's website.