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The Guide
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 Map of Louth
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Other Attractions
 Mellifont Abbey
 Carlingford - lively town on the Cooley Peninsula and the shore of Carlingford
Lough, backed by the Sliabh Foye peak of the Cooley Mountains,
founded by the Vikings. The entrance to Carlingford Lough and
the surrounding area was ruled by the English from King John's
Castle built in the 12th century. The King visited the castle
for a few days in 1210 before heading north to a battle with Hugh
de Lacy at Carrickfergus Castle in Antrim. Saint Patrick was also
said to have landed at Carlingford briefly in the 5th century
before travelling on to County Down.
The Holy Trinity Heritage Centre (Tel: 042 73454. Entry IR£1)
is housed in an old church has exhibitions and shows a video about
the history of the area. Other points of interest include the
16th century Taffe's Castle tower house which has a statue commemorating
Thomas D'Arcy McGee who was born in Carlingford in 1825 and emigrated
to Canada, where he rose to prominence, old Thosel town gate and
a ruined 14th century Dominican friary. One hour and day cruises
on Carlingford Lough leave from Carlingford (Tel: Carlingford
Pleasure Cruises on 042 73239). Carlingford also has a very popular
oyster festival and fair in August, accommodation, eateries and
pubs. There are also lovely views to the Mourne Mountains in County
Down across the Lough.
Cooley Peninsula - Carlingford makes a good base to explore the wild boggy, mountainous
and forested countryside of the Cooley Peninsula, which was the
setting for the Celtic legend The Cattle Raid of Cooley (or the
Tain Bo Cuailnge) in which Queen Maeve of Connaught marched her
armies to Ulster to steal the famous brown bull of Cooley to match
her husband's white bull. When she came to Ulster, the men of
Ulster were struck down with labour pains and only Cuchulainn
was able to guard the pass at Glendhu, near Slieve Gullion. He
fought day and night until he was forced to kill his own half
brother Ferdai. While Cuchullain was struck down with grief Maeve
stole the bull during the Cattle raid of Cooley, but it was subsequently
killed by the white bull, which also died after the fight.
The Tain Trail, a 25 mile walking trail around the Peninsula,
which runs through the Cooley Mountains and the Peninsula ring
road both start at Carlingford. There is a beach and caravan and
camping park at Gyles Quay near the end of the peninsula. A passenger
ferry runs to Warrenpoint in County Down across Carlingford Lough
from Omeath (Tel: 016937 72001).
Castleroche - ruined castle built by the prominent de Verdon ruling family
in the 13th century, near Dundalk
Jumping church of Kildemock - near Ardee town, the jumping church of Kildemock was so named
because legend says its walls moved in 1715 to leave the grave
of an excommunicated member outside the church
Proleek dolmen - Neolithic dolmen tomb just north of Dundalk on the Cooley Peninsula
reputed to be the grave of the Scottish giant Para Bui Mor MhacSeoidin
who came to Ireland to fight the legendary Ulster Giant Finn McCool.
The dolmen has a massive cap stone resting on three upright boulders.
There is also a wedge tomb near the dolmen.
Mellifont Abbey - site of the first Cistercian abbey in Ireland founded by Saint
Malachy, Archbishop of Armagh who invited members of this strict
French order of monks to Ireland to set an example to the Irish
monks in 1142. Mellifont, (from the French for honey fountain),
was Ireland's first monastery built in the formal French style
and became the mother house for 21 Cistercian monasteries in Ireland,
housing up to 400 monks at its peak and 150 monks up until 1539,
when the Cistercian monasteries were outlawed by Henry VIII. A
Tudor Manor House was built on the site of the monastery in the
16th century by the Moore family and the Irish leader Hugh O'Neill
stayed here after he was defeated by the English at the Battle
of Kinsale, before he left Ireland during the flight of the earls.
However the ruins of some of the original monastery buildings
remain on the site including a well preserved octagonal lavabo
built in 1200, where the monks washed their hands before meals,
the chapter house, the abbey church part of the Romanesque cloister.
(Tel 041 26459. Entry IR £1.60)
Saint Mochta's church - small 11th century church on the site of a monastery founded
by Saint Mochta an English follower of Saint Patrick in the 6th
century
Termonfeckin high cross - 10th century high cross in the graveyard of a 6th century monastery
founded by Saint Feichin from Cong County Mayo
Quick guide to Louth
Inis recommends - Monasterboice Monastic Site
Tourist Attractions
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