Ailbhe’s Guidebook of County Louth & the Boyne Valley

Ailbhe
Ailbhe’s Guidebook of County Louth & the Boyne Valley

Music

Traditional Irish music sessions on Tuesdays from 10pm.
Carberry's Pub (Tí Chairbre)
11 N Strand
Traditional Irish music sessions on Tuesdays from 10pm.
Traditional Irish music sessions on Wednesdays from 9pm.
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The Glyde Inn & Linn Duachaill restaurant
Main Street
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Traditional Irish music sessions on Wednesdays from 9pm.
Traditional Irish music sessions on Sundays from 6pm.
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The Spirit Store
George's Quay
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Traditional Irish music sessions on Sundays from 6pm.
Droichead Arts Centre Stockwell Street
Stockwell Lane
Concert venue situated in an old church
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Carlingford Heritage Centre
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Concert venue situated in an old church

Beaches

Blue Flag – sandy beach – parking - suitable for swimming - public toilets - harbour nearby - RNLI Lifeboat – near village shops – adventure centre - lifeguard (June Sat & Sun 11am-6pm, July & Aug Mon-Sun 11am-6pm)
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Clogherhead Beach
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Blue Flag – sandy beach – parking - suitable for swimming - public toilets - harbour nearby - RNLI Lifeboat – near village shops – adventure centre - lifeguard (June Sat & Sun 11am-6pm, July & Aug Mon-Sun 11am-6pm)
sandy beach – not suitable for swimming - excellent for promenade walks – near village shops
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Blackrock
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sandy beach – not suitable for swimming - excellent for promenade walks – near village shops
Blue Flag – sandy beach – parking - suitable for swimming – public toilets - lifeguard (June, Sat & Sun, 11am-6pm; July & Aug, Mon-Sun, 11am-6pm).
Port Oriel
Blue Flag – sandy beach – parking - suitable for swimming – public toilets - lifeguard (June, Sat & Sun, 11am-6pm; July & Aug, Mon-Sun, 11am-6pm).
sandy beach - ship-wreck- great for long walks - village shops nearby - car-parking
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Termonfeckin Beach
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sandy beach - ship-wreck- great for long walks - village shops nearby - car-parking

Golf

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Greenore Golf Club
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County Louth Golf Club
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Sightseeing

There once was a man named Conn O'Hanlon. On his deathbed he told his sons, Conn and Lorcan, that they could have all his land. Conn promised his father that he would take Lorcan to a height and tell him that as far as the eye could see was his. Conn did this but he tricked Lorcan and brought him to a hollow part of the mountain. Lorcan had a boat and used this to do trading with other countries. During a trip to Spain, Lorcan saved a Spanish lady and her daughter on their yacht. The Spanish woman held a banquet in honor of Lorcan. Cauthleen and Lorcan fell in love, but Cauthleens father wasn't happy because she was engaged to a nobleman. Cauthleen agreed with Lorcan to go to Ireland with him. The couple met in secret and went back to Ireland. When they got to Omeath, Lorcan took Cauthleen to the mountain and showed her the land he owned. Cauthleen was so shocked that she fell and suffered a heart-attack. Lorcan loved her so much that he jumped into Aennagh bog and killed himself. The local people looked for the couple and found Cauthleen, they made a grave and each person put a stone on it. They didn’t find Lorcan dead or alive. Here she sleeps today, in the hollow of her disappointment and unfilled promises, known as the Long Woman's Grave, and this can still be seen in the mountains overlooking Omeath today.
Long Womans Grave
There once was a man named Conn O'Hanlon. On his deathbed he told his sons, Conn and Lorcan, that they could have all his land. Conn promised his father that he would take Lorcan to a height and tell him that as far as the eye could see was his. Conn did this but he tricked Lorcan and brought him to a hollow part of the mountain. Lorcan had a boat and used this to do trading with other countries. During a trip to Spain, Lorcan saved a Spanish lady and her daughter on their yacht. The Spanish woman held a banquet in honor of Lorcan. Cauthleen and Lorcan fell in love, but Cauthleens father wasn't happy because she was engaged to a nobleman. Cauthleen agreed with Lorcan to go to Ireland with him. The couple met in secret and went back to Ireland. When they got to Omeath, Lorcan took Cauthleen to the mountain and showed her the land he owned. Cauthleen was so shocked that she fell and suffered a heart-attack. Lorcan loved her so much that he jumped into Aennagh bog and killed himself. The local people looked for the couple and found Cauthleen, they made a grave and each person put a stone on it. They didn’t find Lorcan dead or alive. Here she sleeps today, in the hollow of her disappointment and unfilled promises, known as the Long Woman's Grave, and this can still be seen in the mountains overlooking Omeath today.
The Magic Hill is where a slight downhill slope appears to be an uphill slope due to the layout of the surrounding land, creating the optical illusion that water flows uphill or that a car left out of gear will roll uphill. Give it a go!
Magic Hill Jenkinstown
The Magic Hill is where a slight downhill slope appears to be an uphill slope due to the layout of the surrounding land, creating the optical illusion that water flows uphill or that a car left out of gear will roll uphill. Give it a go!
The dolmen lies within the grounds of the Ballymascanlan Hotel. Proleek Portal Tomb is about 3m high and has a huge capstone weighing approximately 35 tons. Legend says that a wish will be granted to anyone who can throw a pebble on its capstone so that it stays there. The two front portal stones are 2m high. Known as the Giant’s Load, it is believed that it was carried to Ireland by a Scottish giant named Parrah Boug McShagean (who is said to be buried nearby). There is also a Bronze Age wedge tomb nearby.
Proleek Dolmen
The dolmen lies within the grounds of the Ballymascanlan Hotel. Proleek Portal Tomb is about 3m high and has a huge capstone weighing approximately 35 tons. Legend says that a wish will be granted to anyone who can throw a pebble on its capstone so that it stays there. The two front portal stones are 2m high. Known as the Giant’s Load, it is believed that it was carried to Ireland by a Scottish giant named Parrah Boug McShagean (who is said to be buried nearby). There is also a Bronze Age wedge tomb nearby.
Great walks around the Cooley Mountains.
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Ravensdale Forest Recreation Area
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Great walks around the Cooley Mountains.
Lovely café, children's playground and fantastic hikes and trails around the mountains.
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Slieve Gullion Forest Park
89 Drumintee Rd
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Lovely café, children's playground and fantastic hikes and trails around the mountains.
Long-established very popular adventure centre. They cater for almost every type of outdoor adventure activity imaginable - orienteering, water-sports, hiking, obstacle courses. They especially accomodate a lot of team-bonding sessions, ice-breakers, hens & stags groups etc.
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Carlingford Adventure Centre
Tholsel Street
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Long-established very popular adventure centre. They cater for almost every type of outdoor adventure activity imaginable - orienteering, water-sports, hiking, obstacle courses. They especially accomodate a lot of team-bonding sessions, ice-breakers, hens & stags groups etc.
Excellent for walking and cycling and brilliant for families. Beautiful views of Carlingford Lough.
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Carlingford Lough Greenway
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Excellent for walking and cycling and brilliant for families. Beautiful views of Carlingford Lough.
The mythological hero Cúchulainn was fatally wounded after fighting off Queen Maeve's forces single-handedly during the Cattle-raid of Cooley saga (The Táin). According to legend, Cúchulainn tied himself to this standing stone so that he could stay upright and face the opposing army. Even after his death, Cúchulainn's enemies would not approach the stone for fear he was still alive. It was not until Morrigan (the Celtic goddess of War and Death) appeared in the form of a raven and landed on his shoulder that they were sure he was dead. A bronze statue of this scene by Oliver Sheppard stands in the General Post Office on O'Connell Street, Dublin.
Clochafarmore Standing Stone (Chúchalainn's Stone)
The mythological hero Cúchulainn was fatally wounded after fighting off Queen Maeve's forces single-handedly during the Cattle-raid of Cooley saga (The Táin). According to legend, Cúchulainn tied himself to this standing stone so that he could stay upright and face the opposing army. Even after his death, Cúchulainn's enemies would not approach the stone for fear he was still alive. It was not until Morrigan (the Celtic goddess of War and Death) appeared in the form of a raven and landed on his shoulder that they were sure he was dead. A bronze statue of this scene by Oliver Sheppard stands in the General Post Office on O'Connell Street, Dublin.
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Dundalk Stadium
Racecourse Road
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Details the history of Louth from pre-historic times to modern day.
County Museum Dundalk
8 Jocelyn St
Details the history of Louth from pre-historic times to modern day.
It is believed Diomoc, a disciple of St. Patrick and St. Benen, founded this church. By c.1270 it was in the ownership of the Knights Templars of Kilsaran. They dedicated the church to St. Catherine. The Knights Templars held it until the suppression of their order in 1314. It then passed to the Knights Hospitallers until they were suppressed by Henry VIII in 1540. The church is more famously known as the 'Jumping Church'. The west gable wall of the church has jumped inward to a few feet from its foundations. This is believed to have happened in February 1715 during a storm. However, legend says the enchanting wall of the church moved in 1715 to exclude the grave of an excommunicated man outside the building.
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Jumping Church
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It is believed Diomoc, a disciple of St. Patrick and St. Benen, founded this church. By c.1270 it was in the ownership of the Knights Templars of Kilsaran. They dedicated the church to St. Catherine. The Knights Templars held it until the suppression of their order in 1314. It then passed to the Knights Hospitallers until they were suppressed by Henry VIII in 1540. The church is more famously known as the 'Jumping Church'. The west gable wall of the church has jumped inward to a few feet from its foundations. This is believed to have happened in February 1715 during a storm. However, legend says the enchanting wall of the church moved in 1715 to exclude the grave of an excommunicated man outside the building.
Get to walk alpacas across the (dry) bog of Ardee and feed them afterwards.
Long Acre Alpacas
Get to walk alpacas across the (dry) bog of Ardee and feed them afterwards.
Bring a picnic and some bread to feed the ducks. Also a playground & coffee shop on-site. Brilliant for families.
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Stephenstown Pond Nature Park
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Bring a picnic and some bread to feed the ducks. Also a playground & coffee shop on-site. Brilliant for families.
Fantastic for families.
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Irsk militært krigsmuseum
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Fantastic for families.
Very popular gin distillery experience. Advance booking highly recommended.
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Listoke Distillery & Gin School
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Very popular gin distillery experience. Advance booking highly recommended.
Old Cistercian Abbey ruins. No booking necesary. Check for details http://www.heritageireland.ie/en/midlands-eastcoast/oldmellifontabbey/
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Mellifont Abbey
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Old Cistercian Abbey ruins. No booking necesary. Check for details http://www.heritageireland.ie/en/midlands-eastcoast/oldmellifontabbey/
Monasterboice was founded in the 5th century by St. Buite, one of St. Patrick's original followers. Today the impressive set of ruins contains a graveyard, two churches, a sundial and a round tower. The site is best known for its collection of High Crosses. There are three fine examples most notably the South Cross (or Cross of Muiredach) and the West Cross (or Tall Cross). These crosses depict stories from the Old and New Testament that would have been used to educate early Christians.
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Monasterboice High Crosses
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Monasterboice was founded in the 5th century by St. Buite, one of St. Patrick's original followers. Today the impressive set of ruins contains a graveyard, two churches, a sundial and a round tower. The site is best known for its collection of High Crosses. There are three fine examples most notably the South Cross (or Cross of Muiredach) and the West Cross (or Tall Cross). These crosses depict stories from the Old and New Testament that would have been used to educate early Christians.
Lovely sea-side village. Incredible views over Carlingford Lough towards the Cooley Mountains. Take a walk down to the harbour.
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Annagassan
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Lovely sea-side village. Incredible views over Carlingford Lough towards the Cooley Mountains. Take a walk down to the harbour.
The castle gardens are open to the public in May and October.
Barmeath Castle
The castle gardens are open to the public in May and October.
Great for outdoor watersports including canoeing, kayaking, sup-boarding etc.
Celtic Adventures
Strand Street
Great for outdoor watersports including canoeing, kayaking, sup-boarding etc.
Lovely seaside village worth taking a drive through. The harbour is wonderful and there's a fish & chip shop called the Fisherman's Catch nearby.
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Clogherhead
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Lovely seaside village worth taking a drive through. The harbour is wonderful and there's a fish & chip shop called the Fisherman's Catch nearby.
More info available here: http://battleoftheboyne.ie/
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Battle of the Boyne Visitor Centre
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More info available here: http://battleoftheboyne.ie/
Brilliant for families.
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Funtasia Drogheda
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Brilliant for families.
A must-visit while in Drogheda. It has exhibitions on town's guild and trade banners, industry, folk kitchen, archaeology, geology, post office & Drogheda Rowing Club. Also includes access to the martello tower.
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Drogheda Museum Millmount
Millmount
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A must-visit while in Drogheda. It has exhibitions on town's guild and trade banners, industry, folk kitchen, archaeology, geology, post office & Drogheda Rowing Club. Also includes access to the martello tower.
Saint Laurence's Gate is a barbican which was built in the 13th century as part of the walled fortifications of the medieval town of Drogheda in Ireland.
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St. Laurence Gate
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Saint Laurence's Gate is a barbican which was built in the 13th century as part of the walled fortifications of the medieval town of Drogheda in Ireland.
Is a series of burial tombs situated on top of a steep hill. Take a trip to to Loughcrew Gardens and Nelly's Café at the Loughcrew Megalithic Centre afterwards.
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Loughcrew Cairns
Loughcrew Cairns
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Is a series of burial tombs situated on top of a steep hill. Take a trip to to Loughcrew Gardens and Nelly's Café at the Loughcrew Megalithic Centre afterwards.
Visit for more information http://www.heritageireland.ie/en/midlands-eastcoast/brunaboinnevisitorcentre/
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Brú na Bóinne besøkssenter Newgrange og Knowth
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Visit for more information http://www.heritageireland.ie/en/midlands-eastcoast/brunaboinnevisitorcentre/
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Slane Distillery
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WhiteRiver Karting
Exit 12 M1
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Food scene

One of the best restaurants in north-Louth. Old fashioned Irish kick-knacks & items cover every surface of the ceiling and walls. Has a lot of character and outdoor seating. Gets very busy so book in advance at the weekends.
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Fitzpatrick's Bar & Restaurant
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One of the best restaurants in north-Louth. Old fashioned Irish kick-knacks & items cover every surface of the ceiling and walls. Has a lot of character and outdoor seating. Gets very busy so book in advance at the weekends.
The best place for pub grub and live music in Carlingford especially at the weekends. Always a buzzing place.
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PJ O Hare's Carlingford
Tholsel Street
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The best place for pub grub and live music in Carlingford especially at the weekends. Always a buzzing place.
Lovely cafe after a long walk on the beach.
Belles Tea Room & Patisserie
20 Main St
Lovely cafe after a long walk on the beach.
Definitely in my Top 10 of places to eat in Louth. Long-established family run business. Great food and great pints. Their specialty is either steak or scampi. Booking highly recommended at the weekends.
Monasterboice Inn (Donegan's)
Drogheda Rd
Definitely in my Top 10 of places to eat in Louth. Long-established family run business. Great food and great pints. Their specialty is either steak or scampi. Booking highly recommended at the weekends.
Lovely old-fashioned Irish saloon-style pub & lounge. Great pints of Guinness and views out the back. They also do great food.
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The Glyde Inn & Linn Duachaill restaurant
Main Street
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Lovely old-fashioned Irish saloon-style pub & lounge. Great pints of Guinness and views out the back. They also do great food.
Really nice Italian restaurant nearby.
Carlitos Restaurant
Main Street
Really nice Italian restaurant nearby.
Excellent Italian restaurant only a 10 min drive away. Book a table in advance especially on the weekends.
Pizzeria
Main Street
Excellent Italian restaurant only a 10 min drive away. Book a table in advance especially on the weekends.
Gorgeous café & garden centre.
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Forge Field Farm Shop
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Gorgeous café & garden centre.
Great café & gardens open to the public all year around.
Listoke House
Ballymakenny Road
Great café & gardens open to the public all year around.
Great café in Drogheda that backs onto the Highlanes Gallery. The town Mace is on display inside.
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Relish Cafe & Foodhall
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Great café in Drogheda that backs onto the Highlanes Gallery. The town Mace is on display inside.
Small but its my favorite place to have breakfast or a light snack in Drogheda. Try and get a window seat. They take cash only.
The Copper Kettle
1 Peter St
Small but its my favorite place to have breakfast or a light snack in Drogheda. Try and get a window seat. They take cash only.
Very popular place to eat in Drogheda. Booking in advance is recommended.
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D'Vine Bistro & Tapas Bar
Dyer Street
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Very popular place to eat in Drogheda. Booking in advance is recommended.
Probably my favourite restaurant in Drogheda. Great service and great food. Book a table in advance as its a very busy spot.
Antica Toscana
32/33 Shop St
Probably my favourite restaurant in Drogheda. Great service and great food. Book a table in advance as its a very busy spot.
The interior in amazing and the food, while it is expensive, is very good.
Scholars Townhouse Hotel
King Street
The interior in amazing and the food, while it is expensive, is very good.
One of the most popular restaurants in Drogheda and has featured on many national best places to eat lists. Definitely book in advance.
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Eastern Seaboard
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One of the most popular restaurants in Drogheda and has featured on many national best places to eat lists. Definitely book in advance.

Bars & Pubs

Local country pub 2 min drive away.
Darbys Pub
Local country pub 2 min drive away.
My favourite pub in Drogheda. Old-timey with acoustic folk music at the weekend.
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Clarkes Bar
19 Peter St
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My favourite pub in Drogheda. Old-timey with acoustic folk music at the weekend.
Particularly good cocktails.
Bitter and Twisted
79 West St
Particularly good cocktails.
Gin-tastic!
Weavers Bar & Venue
83 West St
Gin-tastic!
Very popular for food and drinks
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Black Bull Inn
Dublin Road
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Very popular for food and drinks
Lovely pub only a 10 min drive away.
Shearmans Bar
Main Street
Lovely pub only a 10 min drive away.

Shopping

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Marshes Shopping Centre station
River Lane
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Longwalk Shopping Centre
Longwalk Road
Dundalk Retail Park
Inner Relief Road
Scotch Hall
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Laurence Shopping Centre
Saint Laurence Street
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