List of people from Dundalk
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This article provides a non-exhaustive list of notable people born, educated, or prominent in Dundalk, Ireland. The lists are in alphabetical order by surname.


Arts and Media

* Molly Barton (1861-1949), artist. *
Dave Callan David Gerard Callan (born 20 September 1975) is an Irish-born stand-up comedian, who has had a career in television and radio, and is based in Melbourne, Australia. Up until 2010 he worked as a Triple J disc jockey. Biography Callan was born ...
, comedian based in Melbourne, Australia. *
Paul Vincent Carroll Paul Vincent Carroll (10 July 1900 – 20 October 1968) was an Irish dramatist and writer of movie scenarios and television scripts. Carroll was born in Blackrock, County Louth, Ireland and trained as a teacher at St Patrick's College, Dublin ...
(1900–1968), playwright who founded two theatre groups in Glasgow, Scotland. * Zoë Conway, violinist, trained in both classical music and traditional fiddle-playing. * The Corrs, Celtic folk rock group and family (
Andrea Andrea is a given name which is common worldwide for both males and females, cognate to Andreas, Andrej and Andrew. Origin of the name The name derives from the Greek word ἀνήρ (''anēr''), genitive ἀνδρός (''andrós''), that ref ...
,
Sharon Sharon ( he, שָׁרוֹן ''Šārôn'' "plain") is a given name as well as an Israeli surname. In English-speaking areas, Sharon is now predominantly a feminine given name. However, historically it was also used as a masculine given name. In I ...
,
Caroline Caroline may refer to: People * Caroline (given name), a feminine given name * J. C. Caroline (born 1933), American college and National Football League player * Jordan Caroline (born 1996), American (men's) basketball player Places Antarctica * ...
, and Jim Corr). * Nigel Cox, figurative artist. *
Maria Doyle-Cuche Maria Doyle-Cuche (born 6 May 1965) is an Irish singer who represented Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest 1985. In 2016, she auditioned for ''The Voice of Ireland'', and was selected by coach Una Foden in the audition round. In 2020, she too ...
, singer who represented Ireland in the 1985
Eurovision Song Contest The Eurovision Song Contest (), sometimes abbreviated to ESC and often known simply as Eurovision, is an international songwriting competition organised annually by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), featuring participants representing pr ...
, finishing 6th. *
The Flaws The Flaws were an Republic of Ireland, Irish indie-rock quartet, hailing from Carrickmacross in County Monaghan. The band released their self entitled debut EP in the Summer of 2005 which attracted a flurry of label attention and eventually cul ...
, indie rock band. *
Catherine Gaskin Catherine Gaskin (2 April 19296 September 2009) was an Irish–Australian romance novelist. Biography Gaskin was born in Dundalk Bay, County Louth, Ireland in 1929. When she was only three months old, her parents moved to Australia, settling i ...
(1929–2009), romance novelist. *
David Keenan David Keenan (born April 1971) is a Scottish writer and author of four novels. Career He used to run the Glasgow record shop, distribution company and record label Volcanic Tongue. Journalism His work for ''The Wire'' (who he wrote for from ...
, musician. *
Nuala Kennedy Nuala Kennedy (born 30 January 1977) is an Irish composer, singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. Career She grew up in Dundalk, County Louth, Ireland Dundalk where she played piano and flute in a local ceili band Cèilidh and studied c ...
, composer, singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. *
Jinx Lennon David "Jinx" Lennon (born 20 August 1964 in Dundalk, County Louth, Ireland) is an Irish punk and urban poet. As of Sep 2022, he has released 12 albums with songs on a broad range of themes. He uses a rap-like vocal style, in a heavy Dundalk acc ...
, Musician. *
Tómas Mac Anna Tomás Mac Anna (born Thomas Francis McCann; 5 March 1924 – 17 May 2011) was an Irish theatre director and playwright. He was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Direction of a Play in 1970 for ''Borstal Boy''. Born in Dundalk, he was educate ...
(1924–2011), Tony Award-winning theatre director and playwright. *
Donald Macardle Donald Macardle was an Irish film and stage actor and writer. He also directed the 1933 film ''The King's Cup''. Filmography Actor * ''Wee MacGregor's Sweetheart'' (1922) * ''The Fair Maid of Perth'' (1923) * ''The Loves of Mary, Queen of Scots'' ...
(1900–1984), actor, screenwriter, and director. * Dorothy Macardle (1889–1958), revolutionary, author and playwright. *
Cathy Maguire Cathy Maguire is an accomplished singer, songwriter, model and TV presenter who was born in Dundalk, County Louth, Republic of Ireland, on 11 October 1981. At a young age Maguire became a child star, recording her first album at age twelve. At th ...
, singer-songwriter. *
Dawn Martin Dawn Martin (born 1976 in Dundalk) is an Irish people, Irish singer who represented Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest, Ireland in the 1998 Eurovision Song Contest. Career and Eurovision Dawn Martin left school at the age of 14 and began w ...
, singer who represented Ireland in the 1998 Eurovision concert, finishing 9th. * Patrick McDonnell, actor in '' Naked Camera'' and '' Father Ted''. * John Moore, film director, producer, and writer. *
Just Mustard Just Mustard are an Irish rock band. They formed in Dundalk in County Louth in 2016. Career Their debut album, ''Wednesday'', was released in 2018 through Pizza Pizza Records. Self-produced and recorded by the band in their home studio in Dundal ...
, music group. * Dónal O'Connor, multi-instrumentalist, producer and television presenter. * Gerry O'Connor, traditional
Irish fiddle The Celtic fiddle is one of the most important instruments in the traditional repertoire of Folk music of Ireland, Celtic music. The fiddle itself is identical to the violin, however it is played differently in widely varying regional styles. In t ...
player, and founding member of bands, Skylark and La Lúgh. *
The Mary Wallopers The Mary Wallopers are a contemporary Irish folk music group based in Dundalk, County Louth, consisting of brothers Charles and Andrew Hendy, and Sean McKenna. Background Charles Hendy has stated that the band's biggest thematic influence has ...
, Irish folk group *
Brendan O'Dowda Brendan O'Dowda (1 October 1925 – 22 February 2002) was an Irish tenor who popularised the songs of Percy French. Early life O'Dowda was born in Dundalk, County Louth and was educated at the De la Salle Brothers' school in the town. His ...
(1925–2002), Irish tenor who popularised the songs of Percy French. * Peadar Ó Dubhda (1881–1971), Patriot, musician, politician, musician, and author of the first translation the Bible into Irish. * Liam Reilly (1955–2021), singer who represented Ireland in the 1990 Eurovision Song Contest, finishing 2nd; singer in the group Bagatelle. *
Megan Walsh Megan Ruby Walsh (born 19 February 1997) is an Irish singer who joined the singing group Celtic Woman in 2018. Biography Early life and education Megan Ruby Walsh was born on 19 February 1997. Her middle name "Ruby" comes from her maternal gran ...
, singer who joined the singing group
Celtic Woman Celtic Woman is an all-female Irish musical ensemble conceived and created by David Kavanagh, Sharon Browne and David Downes, a former musical director of the Irish stage show ''Riverdance.'' In 2004, Downes recruited five Irish female music ...
in 2018.


Academia and Science

* Nicholas Callan (1799–1864), scientist who made the first induction coil. *
Steven Collins Steven Collins is a computer scientist who has founded and acted as CTO of several companies in the area of computer graphics and video games. Formerly a professor of computer graphics in the Department of Computer Science in Trinity College, D ...
, Adjunct Associate Professor of Computer Graphics in the Department of Computer Science in
Trinity College, Dublin , name_Latin = Collegium Sanctae et Individuae Trinitatis Reginae Elizabethae juxta Dublin , motto = ''Perpetuis futuris temporibus duraturam'' (Latin) , motto_lang = la , motto_English = It will last i ...
. * Thomas Coulter (1793–1843), botanist and doctor. * Eamon Duffy, professor of the history of Christianity at the University of Cambridge, and a Fellow and former president of Magdalene College.Alphabetical list of all fellows
Magdalene College, Cambridge Magdalene College ( ) is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college was founded in 1428 as a Benedictine hostel, in time coming to be known as Buckingham College, before being refounded in 1542 as the College of St Mary ...
. * Richard FitzRalph (c. 1300–1360), Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford; Archbishop of Armagh from 1346 to 1360; his remains are interred at St Nicholas's Church. * Fred Halliday, (1946–2010) writer and academic. *
John Phillip Holland John Philip Holland ( ga, Seán Pilib Ó hUallacháin/Ó Maolchalann) (24 February 184112 August 1914) was an Irish engineer who developed the first submarine to be formally commissioned by the US Navy, and the first Royal Navy submarine, ''Hol ...
(1841–1914), inventor of the submarine, worked as a teacher in Colaiste Ris, Dundalk. *
Peter Kerley Sir Peter James Kerley KCVO CBE (1900–1979) was an Irish radiologist famous for his role in the lung surgery of King George VI and the naming of the radiological sign in heart failure, Kerley lines. Kerley had his initial radiological tr ...
(1900–1979), radiologist known for describing
Kerley lines Kerley lines are a sign seen on chest radiographs with interstitial pulmonary edema. They are thin linear pulmonary opacities caused by fluid or cellular infiltration into the interstitium of the lungs. They are named after Irish neurologist and ...
of heart failure. * Brian MacCraith, physicist and the third president of Dublin City University (DCU). *
John Benjamin Macneill Sir John Benjamin Macneill FRS (1793 – 2 March 1880) was an eminent Irish civil engineer of the 19th century, closely associated with Thomas Telford. His most notable projects were railway schemes in Ireland. Life He was born in Mountpleasant ...
(1793–1880), civil engineer associated with Thomas Telford. His most notable projects were railway schemes in Ireland. * Danny O'Hare, the first president of Dublin City University. *
Peter Rice Peter Rice (16 June 1935 – 25 October 1992) was an Irish structural engineer. Born in Dublin, he grew up in 52 Castle Road, Dundalk in County Louth, and spent his childhood between the town of Dundalk, and the villages of Gyles' Quay and ...
(1935–1992), engineer, worked on the
Sydney Opera House The Sydney Opera House is a multi-venue performing arts centre in Sydney. Located on the foreshore of Sydney Harbour, it is widely regarded as one of the world's most famous and distinctive buildings and a masterpiece of 20th-century architec ...
,
Louvre Pyramid The Louvre Pyramid (Pyramide du Louvre) is a large glass and metal structure designed by the Chinese-American architect I. M. Pei. The pyramid is in the main courtyard ( Cour Napoléon) of the Louvre Palace in Paris, surrounded by three smalle ...
and Centre Pompidou. * Thomas Maurice Rice, theoretical physicist specializing in condensed matter physics. * Laurie Winkless, physicist and science writer.


Politics

* Gerry Adams, Sinn Féin Teachta Dála (TD) for the Louth constituency since 2011. * Dermot Ahern, former Fianna Fáil TD and government minister. * Philip Callan (1837–1902), Liberal MP for Dundalk. *
James Coburn James Harrison Coburn III (August 31, 1928 – November 18, 2002) was an American film and television actor who was featured in more than 70 films, largely action roles, and made 100 television appearances during a 45-year career.AllmoviBi ...
(1889–1953),
National League Party The National League was a political party in Ireland. It was founded in 1926 by William Redmond and Thomas O'Donnell in support of the Anglo-Irish Treaty, a close relationship with the United Kingdom, continued membership of the British ...
(TD) for Louth. * Pádraig Faulkner (1918–2012), Fianna Fáil TD and minister who served as
Ceann Comhairle The (; "Head of heCouncil"; plural usually ) is the chairperson (or speaker) of , the lower house of the (parliament) of Ireland. The person who holds the position is elected by members of the from among their number in the first session a ...
of
Dáil Éireann Dáil Éireann ( , ; ) is the lower house, and principal chamber, of the Oireachtas (Irish legislature), which also includes the President of Ireland and Seanad Éireann (the upper house).Article 15.1.2º of the Constitution of Ireland read ...
. * Edward Haughey (1944–2014), entrepreneur and politician. * Tim Healy (1855–1931), anti-Parnellite MP for North Louth and later first
Governor-General Governor-general (plural ''governors-general''), or governor general (plural ''governors general''), is the title of an office-holder. In the context of governors-general and former British colonies, governors-general are appointed as viceroy t ...
Irish Free State. *
Brendan McGahon Brendan McGahon (22 November 1936 – 8 February 2017) was an Irish Fine Gael politician who served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Louth constituency from 1982 to 2002. Often described as 'colourful', with a reputation as a social conservative ...
(1936–2017), Fine Gael Teachta Dála (TD) for the Louth constituency from 1982 to 2002. *
John McGahon John McGahon (born 20 November 1990) is an Irish Fine Gael politician who has been a senator for the Cultural and Educational Panel since April 2020. Early life and career McGahon is from Dundalk, County Louth, and attended Dundalk Grammar Scho ...
, Fine Gael
Senator A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...
since 2020. *
Joseph Nolan Joseph Nolan may refer to: * Joseph Nolan (politician), Irish nationalist politician * Joseph Nolan (organist), English-born Australian organist and conductor. * Joseph A. Nolan, United States Army soldier and Medal of Honor recipient * Joseph R ...
(1846–1928), Irish Parliamentary Party, MP for North Louth. *
Daniel O'Connell Jnr Daniel O'Connell (Jnr) (1816 – 14 June 1897) was one of seven children (the youngest of four sons) of Daniel and Mary O'Connell of Ireland. He served in the British Parliament from 1846 to 1847 as Member of Parliament (MP) for Dundalk, from 18 ...
(1816–1897), youngest son of Daniel O'Connell, ''The Liberator''. O'Connell Jnr was MP for the constituency of Dundalk from 1846 to 1847. *
John J. O'Kelly John Joseph O'Kelly ( ga, Seán Ua Ceallaigh; known as Sceilg; 7 July 1872 – 26 March 1957) was an Irish republican politician, author and publisher who served as President of Sinn Féin from 1926 to 1931, Minister for Education from 1921 t ...
(1872–1957), first (and last) Sinn Féin MP for North Louth. * Ruairí Ó Murchú, TD for Louth constituency since 2020. * William O'Reilly (1792–1844), was MP for the constituency of Dundalk from 1832 to 1835.


Religion, historical, and legend

* Cú Chulainn * Bertram de Verdun (died 1192), founder of the Norman settlement of Dundalk. *Saint Brigit of Kildare (453–524). * Richard FitzRalph (1300–1360),
Archbishop of Armagh In Christian denominations, an archbishop is a bishop of higher rank or office. In most cases, such as the Catholic Church, there are many archbishops who either have jurisdiction over an ecclesiastical province in addition to their own archdio ...
during the 14th century. * Thomas Fortescue (1683–1769), sat in the Irish House of Commons for Dundalk from 1727 to 1760. *
James Hamilton, 1st Earl of Clanbrassil James Hamilton, 1st Earl of Clanbrassil PC(I) (14 August 1694 – 17 March 1758) was a British politician and peer. Hamilton was the son of James Hamilton and Hon. Anne Mordaunt, the daughter of The 1st Viscount Mordaunt. He first stood for el ...
(1694–1758), member of the Irish House of Commons for Dundalk between 1715 and 1719. His father, also James, purchased the lands at Dundalk from Mark Trevor, 3rd Viscount Dungannon. *
Robert Jocelyn, 1st Earl of Roden Robert Jocelyn, 1st Earl of Roden (baptised 31 July 1731 – 21 June 1797) was an Irish peer and politician. He was the only son of Robert Jocelyn, 1st Viscount Jocelyn and his first wife Charlotte Anderson. Jocelyn was MP for Old Leighlin from ...
(1731–1797), inherited most of the lands at Dundalk on marrying Lady Anne Hamilton (1730-1803), daughter of James Hamilton, 1st Earl of Clanbrassill. *
Columba Murphy Columba Murphy, SS.CC. (born James Murphy; 1806 – by 1848) was French Catholic priest of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, a religious institute of the Roman Catholic Church. He helped found the Roman Catholic mission in ...
(1806–1848), founder of the Roman Catholic mission in the Gambier Islands. * Joseph Anthony Murphy (1857–1939), Vicar Apostolic for the Catholic mission in British Honduras ( Belize), Central America. * Marcus Trevor, 1st Viscount Dungannon (1618–1670), granted much of the land at Dundalk by King
Charles II of England Charles II (29 May 1630 – 6 February 1685) was King of Scotland from 1649 until 1651, and King of England, Scotland and Ireland from the 1660 Restoration of the monarchy until his death in 1685. Charles II was the eldest surviving child of ...
.


Sport

* * Niall Breen, racing driver. *
Amy Broadhurst Amy Sara Broadhurst (born 17 March 1997) is an Irish amateur boxer. She is the 2022 IBA World Light-welterweight champion, and won the gold medal in the lightweight division at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. Broadhurst represented Ireland in ...
, amateur boxer. * Tommy Byrne, former Formula 1 racing driver. *
Jimmy Hasty James Hasty (born 1936; died 11 October 1974) was a Northern Irish footballer who is best known for his time playing as a forward for Dundalk between 1960 and 1966. He was nicknamed 'the One-Armed Wonder' because of his goalscoring abilities des ...
(1936–1974), Dundalk F.C. footballer who was murdered during the Troubles. * David Kearney, rugby player. * Rob Kearney, rugby player. *
Frank Lynch (Gaelic footballer) Frank Lynch (born 1938) is an Irish Gaelic games administrator, Gaelic football manager and former player. His league and championship career with the Louth senior team lasted fourteen seasons from 1956 until 1970. Born in Haggardstown, Cou ...
. *
Pete McArdle Peter Joseph McArdle (22 March 1929 – 24 June 1985) was an Irish born long-distance runner who became a U.S. citizen, taking a gold medal for the United States at the 1963 Pan American Games in São Paulo, Brazil. Ireland As a resident of ...
(1929–1985),
long-distance runner Long-distance running, or endurance running, is a form of continuous running over distances of at least . Physiologically, it is largely Aerobic exercise, aerobic in nature and requires endurance, stamina as well as mental strength. Within e ...
who became a U.S. citizen, taking a gold medal for the United States at the
1963 Pan American Games The 1963 Pan American Games were held from April 20 to May 5, 1963, in São Paulo, Brazil. Host city selection For the first time, two cities submitted bids to host the 1963 Pan American Games that were recognized by the Pan American Sports O ...
in São Paulo, Brazil. * Tom McCormick, (1890–1916), professional welterweight boxer, who won the British welterweight title, British Empire welterweight title, and the World Welterweight Title. * Jim McQuillan, Irish international darts player. *
Kyle Moran Kyle Moran (born 7 June 1987 in Dundalk, Ireland) is an Irish footballer who playing as a forward for Perth SC in the NPL Western Australia. Moran played with Manchester United in his teens but was later released in 2006. Prior to the kick-off ...
, football player. * Grace Murray, football player. *
Israel Olatunde Israel Olatunde (born 29 May 2002) is an Irish professional track and field athlete specializing in the sprints. He competed at the 2022 World Athletics Indoor Championships, and reached the final of the 100 metres at the 2022 European Athletic ...
, sprinter *
Emmanuel Osadebe Emmanuel Ebuka Osadebe (born 1 October 1996) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for club Forest Green Rovers. Club career Osadebe started playing football with his local side Dundalk. He joined Gillingham from Tott ...
, football player. * Tom Sharkey (1873–1953), heavyweight boxer. * Steve Staunton, former
football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kicking a ball to score a goal. Unqualified, the word ''football'' normally means the form of football that is the most popular where the word is used. Sports commonly c ...
player and former
Republic of Ireland national football team , FIFA Trigramme = IRL , Name = Republic of Ireland , Association = Football Association of Ireland (FAI) , Confederation = UEFA (Europe) , website fai.ie, Coach = Stephen Kenny (foot ...
manager. * Tommy Traynor (1933–2006), former footballer,
Republic of Ireland national football team , FIFA Trigramme = IRL , Name = Republic of Ireland , Association = Football Association of Ireland (FAI) , Confederation = UEFA (Europe) , website fai.ie, Coach = Stephen Kenny (foot ...
and Southampton FC left-back.


Military

*
George Martin Lees George Martin Lees MC DFC FRS (16 April 1898 – 5 January 1955) was a British soldier, geologist and leading authority on the geology of the Middle East. Early life and military service Lees was born on 16 April 1898 at Dundalk to George Mu ...
(1898–1955), British soldier, geologist and leading authority on the geology of the Middle East. * Francis Leopold McClintock (1819–1907), Royal Navy Rear Admiral, Arctic explorer, discoverer of the fate of Franklin. *
Lisa Smith (soldier) Lisa Smith (born c. 1981) is a former Irish soldier who converted to Islam and later travelled to Syria during the Syrian Civil War to join the militant group the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) during the Syrian Civil War. Born i ...
, a former Irish soldier who converted to
Islam Islam (; ar, ۘالِإسلَام, , ) is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic Monotheism#Islam, monotheistic religion centred primarily around the Quran, a religious text considered by Muslims to be the direct word of God in Islam, God (or ...
and later travelled to
Syria Syria ( ar, سُورِيَا or سُورِيَة, translit=Sūriyā), officially the Syrian Arab Republic ( ar, الجمهورية العربية السورية, al-Jumhūrīyah al-ʻArabīyah as-Sūrīyah), is a Western Asian country loc ...
during the Syrian Civil War to join Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS). *
Anthony Coningham Sterling Colonel Sir Anthony Coningham Sterling KCB (1805 – 1 March 1871) was a British Army officer and historian, author of ''The Highland Brigade in the Crimea.'' Life Sterling, eldest son of Captain Edward Sterling, by Hester, daughter of John ...
(1805–1871), British Army officer and historian, author of ''The Highland Brigade in the Crimea.''


Business

*
Phil Flynn Philip Flynn (born 1940 in Dundalk, Ireland) is an Irish businessman. He was previously a vice-president of Sinn Féin, a trade unionist, an industrial relations consultant, a government advisor and a financier. He was the eldest of five children ...
, trade unionist, industrial relations consultant, government advisor, and financier. *
Larry Goodman Laurence "Larry" Goodman (born 15 September 1937) is an Irish businessman, chiefly involved in the beef processing industry. He is the 6th generation of a livestock and meat exporting family and founded what is now ABP Food Group in 1954. He is ...
, entrepreneur in the beef industry. #22 on the Irish Independent Rich List 2017. *
Pearse Lyons Thomas Pearse Lyons (3 August 1944 – 8 March 2018) was an Irish businessman and the founder and President of Kentucky-based Alltech Inc., an American animal health and nutrition company that is centred on innovation, research and development. ...
(1944–2018), entrepreneur; founder of Kentucky-based Alltech Inc.; number 5 on the Irish Independent Rich List 2017. * Martin Naughton, entrepreneur founded
GlenDimplex GlenDimplex (formerly known as Glen Electric) is an Irish based consumer electrical goods firm headquartered in Dublin, Ireland. The company is privately held, with manufacturing and development centres in the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingd ...
. #11 on the Irish Independent Rich List 2017. * Brendan Ogle, trade union official. * John Swift (1896–1990), trade union leader.


Other

* Agnes Burns (1762–1834), sister of the poet Robert Burns lived at Stephenstown with her husband William Galt between 1817 and 1834. *
Sheila Hodgers Sheila Hodgers (1956/57 – 19 March 1983) was an Irish woman from Dundalk, County Louth, who died of multiple cancers two days after giving birth to her third child.O'Reilly, Emily (1992). Masterminds of the Right. Attic Press. . She was deni ...
(1957–1983), died of cancer after being denied treatments while pregnant, because the Catholic ethos of the hospital did not wish to harm the foetus. *
Katherine Plunket Katherine Plunket (born as Catherine Plunket; 22 November 182014 October 1932) was an Anglo Irish aristocrat and artist from Ballymascanlan, County Louth, a prolific Botanical illustrator and painter. and the oldest person ever to be born and d ...
(1820–1932), the oldest person ever to be born and die in Ireland, at 111 years and 327 days.


References

{{portal, Ireland, Biography Dundalk People Dundalk