Louth

Louth is the smallest county in the country and it gets the most out of its size. The Cooley peninsula carries the north with a mountain on one side and Carlingford Lough on the other, and the Boyne mouth carries the south. The carved stone at Monasterboice and Mellifont is as good as anything in Leinster.

Village · Co. LouthCarlingfordNarrow medieval lanes on the shore of Carlingford Lough, with the Cooley mountains going up straight behind them.

Castle · CarlingfordKing John's Castle, CarlingfordThe ruined stone castle is built on the rock above the harbour at the north end of the village.

Monastic site · DroghedaMonasterboiceA walled graveyard north of Drogheda holds a round tower and three carved high crosses.

1. Old Mellifont AbbeyAbbey · CollonWhat is left of the first Cistercian abbey in Ireland. The octagonal washing house beside the river is still standing.
2. Slieve FoyeMountain · CarlingfordSlieve Foye rises directly above Carlingford, and a marked loop climbs off the edge of the village.
3. Proleek DolmenMegalithic tomb · DundalkThe capstone weighs about forty tonnes and balances on three uprights, in a field near Ballymascanlon.
4. Castleroche CastleCastle · DundalkThe thirteenth century castle sits on a rock outcrop northwest of Dundalk, gable wall and window still upright.
5. Beaulieu House and GardensHouse and gardens · DroghedaA seventeenth century house east of Drogheda, with walled gardens and grounds running down towards the Boyne.
6. St Laurence's GateRuin · DroghedaTwo towers of the old town wall stand over a street in the middle of Drogheda.
7. Millmount Museum and Martello TowerMuseum · DroghedaThe museum and round tower sit on the mound above the south bank, looking straight down on the town.

1. Kildemock Jumping ChurchAbbey or church · ArdeeThe Kildemock Jumping Church is a fascinating religious ruin found 4km south of Ardee in Millockstown, County Louth.
2. Long Acre AlpacasVisitor farm · ArdeeLong Acre Alpacas is a small family run alpaca trekking company situated in the heart of County Louth.
3. Blackrock BoathouseCastle or historic house · BlackrockBlackrock Boathouse was built in 1900 as a direct result of the sinking of the Mary Stoddart ship.
4. Blackrock PromenadeBeach · BlackrockBuilt in 1851 the two-walled promenade was a feature of Blackrock for over a century.
5. Carlingford CastleAncient site · CarlingfordCounty Louth is home to an atmospheric landmark, Carlingford Castle, on the southern shores of Carlingford Lough.
6. Carlingford Heritage CentreAbbey or church · CarlingfordCarlingford Heritage Centre is located in the beautifully restored medieval Church of the Holy Trinity, in Carlingford, County Louth, and is home to local history from Viking times to the present day.
7. Collon HouseCastle or historic house · CollonCollon House, Collon, County Louth, was built in 1740 and was the home of John "Speaker" Foster, the last Speaker of the Irish House of Commons.
8. Áine Dunne - Fine Art Tapestry WeaverGallery · DroghedaÁine Dunne has produced some major works that included, a commission from the Augustinian Community Drogheda celebrating 700 years in the town and for the Stephens Green Hotel Dublin.
9. Drogheda Museum MillmountMuseum · DroghedaDrogheda Museum Millmount is one of County Louth’s most significant heritage sites.
10. Droichead Arts CentreGallery · DroghedaEstablished in 1989, Droichead Arts Centre is a multi disciplinary centre in the heart of Drogheda, County Louth.
11. Highlanes Municipal Art GalleryAbbey or church · DroghedaHighlanes Municipal Art Gallery in Drogheda, County Louth, is an art space presenting a dynamic and diverse programme of exhibitions, drawn from the Drogheda Municipal Art Collection.
12. Magdalene TowerAbbey or church · DroghedaMagdalene Tower is all that now remains of the once important Dominican Friary It is the belfry tower of the friary which Lucas de Netterville, then Archbishop of Armagh, founded ery in about 1224.
13. St Peter's Roman Catholic Church, DroghedaAbbey or church · DroghedaSt Peter’s Roman Catholic Church, situated on West Street in Drogheda Town, is famous for housing the shrine of St Oliver Plunkett.
14. An Táin Arts CentreGallery · DundalkAn Táin Arts Centre is based in the former Táin Theatre, Town Hall, Crowe Street, Dundalk, County Louth.
15. Basement Gallery at An Táin Arts CentreGallery · DundalkDiscover contemporary art in the intimate setting of the Basement Gallery at An Táin Arts Centre in Dundalk, County Louth.
16. Bridge Street StudiosGallery · DundalkBridge Street Studios is a thriving hub of art, design and craft in Dundalk, County Louth.
17. County Museum DundalkCastle or historic house · DundalkCounty Museum Dundalk is located in a beautifully restored late 18th century warehouse in the town of Dundalk, County Louth.
18. St Joseph's Redemptorist ChurchAbbey or church · DundalkThe Redemptorists arrived in Dundalk, County Louth in 1876, but it wasn’t until 1892 that the Church of St Joseph was constructed.
19. Stephenstown Pond Nature Park & The Dairy Maid Coffee ShopMuseum · DundalkStephenstown Pond Nature Park & The Dairy Maid Coffee Shop is an 8km lakeside amenity with a wide array of wildlife in Dundalk, County Louth.
20. Seapoint Beach, TermonfeckinBeach · NewtownSeapoint Beach is located less than 2 kilometres from the nearby village of Termonfeckin and 9 kilometres from Drogheda.
21. Carlingford Brewing CompanyMuseum · RiverstownDiscover Carlingford and the Carlingford Brewing Company by enjoying a guided tour.
22. An GrianánCastle or historic house · TermonfeckinThe magnificent stately home in County Louth was originally built in the 18th century by the McClintock family.
23. Blackrock WetlandsNature and wildlife · LouthBlackrock Wetlands marsh in County Louth, is a special area of conservation and is an important location for wading birds, salt water flora and fauna.
24. Haggardstown Old Church and GraveyardAbbey or church · LouthThis ancient church and graveyard dates back to the 1700’s with intricately carved headstones which are almost 300 years old.
25. Monasterboice High Cross and Round TowerAbbey or church · LouthMonasterboice is a fascinating monastic site with an impressive round tower and two high crosses, located in County Louth.
26. Port, LurganboyBeach · LouthPort, Lurganboy beach in County Louth, is a Blue Flag Beach situated 5kms north of the fishing village of Clogherhead.
27. Saint Brigid’s Shrine FaughartAbbey or church · LouthSaint Brigid shares her name with the pre-Christian goddess Brigid and is strongly associated with healing, fertility, poetry, abundance and the coming of Spring.
28. Templetown - Shelling Hill BeachBeach · LouthTempletown - Shelling Hill Beach is called after the crusading Knights Templars.

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