Carlingford

Just over an hour's drive from Ireland's two major cities, Belfast and Dublin, Carlingford nestles between Slieve Foy, Carlingford Lough and the Mourne mountains. A unique blend of natural beauty, spectacular panoramas, myths and legends combine with a modern day cultural infrastructure. Carlingford takes its name from the Norse - 'the fjiord of Carlinn'. The town's sheltered harbour on tranquil Carlingford Lough, may well have provided a useful base for Viking raiding parties but no signs of a permanent settlement have been found. Today, Carlingford is one of Ireland's best preserved medieval towns, founded by the Anglo-Normans in the 12th century, a linear settlement with typical medieval patterns, burgage plots, defensive walls, narrow streets, Friary and Urban Tower Houses. Much of this heritage and atmosphere remains today.

For the visitor, Carlingford provides a tranquil, intimate base from which to enjoy the Cooley Peninsula and Carlingford Lough. Although hardly bigger than a village, the town has a variety of excellent accommodations, restaurants and traditional Irish pubs. The setting is delightful with magnificent views of sea and mountains, the warm stone of medieval buildings and a warm welcome everywhere - guaranteed.

Aside from the fishing, Carlingford can offer the visitor a wide range of activities: golf, hill walking, sailing, wind-surfing, outdoor activities centre, Heritage Centre, guided history tours, medieval buildings, Irish pubs, traditional music, restaurants, Carlingford Oysters are all available.

Accommodation

• McKevitts Village Hotel, Carlingford
• Ballmascanlon House Hotel, Dundalk
• Granvue House Hotel, Omeath
• Park Hotel, Omeath
• Beaufort House
• Jordans Guesthouse
• Grove House, Carlingford
• Trevor Lodge, Rostrevor
• Carrickdale Hotel, Ravendale, Dundalk

Warrenpoint

Warrenpoint has been a popular venue with holidaymakers for more than 100 years, although the town was founded as a port at the end of the 18th century.The town is compact and attractive with neat Victorian terraces and wide streets. Visitors are surprised to learn that this is still one of the busiest ports in Northern Ireland, commercial berthing being out of sight further up the Lough.

The port at Warrenpoint handles container traffic and substantial coal, timber, paper and grain tonnages, with a regular service to Rotterdam. When Newry port closed in the 1970s, this harbour was enlarged, and the town has an animated waterfront, long promenade, and a spacious square used mostly as a carpark but also for fetes and occasional markets.

Beyond the port area stands Narrow Water Castle, built in the 1560s as a garrison.

Newry

The cathedral City of Newry is well placed at the head of the 'Gap of the North'. Through this pass between two ranges of hills the men of Ulster sailed forth to harry the tribes of Leinster in the days of the Fianna legends. Because of its strategic position, the town of Newry was repeatedly destroyed in the wars for the control of the North. Having recently been granted city status, Newry now attracts shoppers in great numbers both from Northern Ireland and the Republic.

webmaster: milligan