BOYNE

boyne, a river of ireland, which, rising in the bog of allen, near carbery in co. kildare, and flowing in a north-easterly direction, passes trim, navan and drogheda, and enters the irish sea, 4 m. below the town last named. it is navigable for barges to navan, 19 m. from its mouth. much of the scenery on its banks is beautiful, though never grand. about 2 m. west of drogheda, an obelisk, 150 ft. in height, marks the spot where the forces of william iii. gained a celebrated victory over those of james ii., on the 1st of july[1] 1690, known as the battle of the boyne. footnote: [1] this was the "old style" date, which in the new style (see calendar) would be july 11th (not 12th, as lecky says, _hist, of ireland_, iii. p. 427). the 12th of july is annually celebrated by the orangemen in the north of ireland as the anniversary, but this is a confusion between the supposed new style for july 1st and the old style date of the battle of aughrim, july 12th; the intention being to commemorate both.