Explore : Heritage Trail

Proleek Dolmen Cooley Carlingford Mountains Slieve Lough King John’s Foy Edward Bruce Ravensdale Castle

Hill of Faughart

Ballymascanlan Carlingford Cú Chulainn's Castle Grange

Gyles Quay Blackrock M1 Louth Driving Routes Why not take the road less travelled and Explore Louth, Land of Legends and Full of Life® Route 1: & Louth’s Coastal Villages Route 2: Dundalk & The Route 3: Mid Louth & The Boyne Valley

Castlebellingham

Annagassan M1 The Jumping Dunany Church Point

Dunleer

Clogherhead

COLLON M1 Mellifont Monasterboice Abbey

Belfast M1

Laurence’s Gate Tullyallen Beaulieu House

Dublin Galway Louth DROGHEDA The Tholsel

Cork

www.visitlouth.ie www.drogheda.ie

Designed & Printed at Anglo Printers 041 9835000 Explore Louth: Heritage Trail Routes Route 2: Dundalk & The Cooley Peninsula Route 3: Mid Louth & The Boyne Valley

in single-combat at the fording point on the River DUNDALK TOURIST OFFICE Mourne, Cooley & Gullion region enjoy this stunningly beautiful KNOCKBRIDGE Dee and fought furiously. Cúchulainn finally Market Square, Dundalk, Co. Louth and historic area of Ireland. Knockbridge won, and after fatally wounding Ferdia he carried Route 1: Drogheda & Louth’s Coastal Villages T: +353 (0)42 9352111 GPS: 53.972305, E: [email protected] CARLINGFORD -6.484100 him across the ford so he could die in honour. A www.visitlouth.ie | 54.004307, -6.403209 DROGHEDA TOURIST INFORMATION OFFICE is in the ‘artisan GPS: Carlingford Tourist Office Stephenstown bronze sculpture, created by Ann Meldon-Hugh, The Tholsel, West St., Drogheda mannerist’ style, Old Railway Station, Carlingford, Pond GPS: commemorates the mythical battle. Co. Louth 53.962871, T: +353 (0)41 9872843 Beaulieu House and COUNTY MUSEUM 54.004546, -6.397108 [email protected] -6.459917 E: [email protected] four acre walled GPS: E: Jumping Church One of Ireland’s finest Local www.visitlouth.ie 53.835870, www.drogheda.ie | GPS: 53.714833, -6.350469 garden are open GPS: to visitors and Authority Museums is located in GPS: 54.040764, -6.185189 Stephenstown Pond Knockbridge village -6.520906 a restored 18th Century distillery, takes its name from Cnoc Bhríde (Brigid’s Hill) About 1.5km outside THE THOLSEL small groups – with which once boasted the tallest a site connected with local Saint Brigid. On the Ardee at Kildemock, GPS: 53.714833, -6.350469 advance booking King outskirts of Knockbridge is Cúchulainn’s Stone Built in 1770, the Tholsel has been used for required. chimney in Ireland. The museum John’s Castle & Other you will find The (Clochafarmore) standing at over 3m high. This corporation meetings, court functions and chronicles the history of Buildings Jumping Church. Louth through a combination 54.043288, -6.186881 stone is traditionally associated with the greatest also served as a gaol. In 2007 the ground BALTRAY GPS: Believe it or Not: of interactive displays and , overlooking hero of Irish folklore - Cúchulainn. Nearby Legend says that the wall of the Kildemock floor became the tourist office. It features a GPS: 53.737415, -6.267267 King John’s Castle Stephenstown Pond is a unique nature park with Church ‘jumped’ to exclude the remains of an free multimedia tourist exhibition, “Drogheda, The view from Baltray, is worth the short trip artefacts, over three galleries. , was the first lakeside walkways, woodlands, and a wide array excommunicated man from the sacred enclosure Gateway to the Boyne Valley.” from Drogheda. Baltray beach is a protected stone building in Carlingford. The of wildlife. The cottage situated here was once within the church nesting site of one of Ireland’s rarest breeding DUNDALK LIBRARY – ANCESTRY RESEARCH eastern half of the castle was 54.004531, -6.397931 added to in 1261 AD. Wander the home of Agnes Burns, sister of Scotland’s ST. PETER’S CHURCH sea birds, the Little Tern. On the north of the GPS: National Poet, Robert Burns. & ST. OLIVER estuary, near Baltray, you will find two imposing The Louth County Library offers a genealogical research around medieval Carlingford service. Their Catholic church records cover 20 parishes, with a village and discover it’s many GPS: 53.779724, -6.486762 PLUNKETT’S SHRINE standing stones that have watched over the river total of over 258,000 entries, from the mid 1700’s up to 1900. other historic buildings including: LOUTH VILLAGE Collon House, ancestral home of the Foster family, GPS: 53.7149377, for 5,000 years. GPS: 53.950888, -6.540540 dominates the crossroads in the village. Collon -6.352514 Taaffes Castle, built in the 1600’s, The Tholsel, a late medieval town gate, , with five highly decorated limestone St Mochta, a disciple of St Patrick, established Church is a prominent landmark dominating the St. Peter’s Church TERMONFECKIN ST. PATRICK’S PRO-CATHEDRAL The Mint a monastery in Louth around 528, though no southern approach to the village. Commissioned is among the finest 53.761334, -6.270134 GPS: 54.003724, -6.399030 windows and the Dominican Priory, believed to be founded High Cross GPS: remains survived. The ruined buildings at the by Speaker John Foster, of Collon House, and Gothic Revival 53.760342, -6.266881 This cathedral took 12 years to build and was completed in by Richard de Burgo in c. 1305. Castle GPS: site today are of the 13th century church of St designed by the talented architect Rev Daniel Churches in Ireland A monastery was founded here by St. Feichin 1847. The imposing gothic design was inspired by the chapel at Mary’s Augustinian Priory known as St Mochta’s Augustus Beaufort, the church is thought to have and is famous for housing in the 7th century. In the graveyard of St. King’s College in Cambridge and its impressive interior features Carlingford Heritage Centre House, which dates to the second half of the 12th been modelled on the chapel of King’s College, the shrine of St. Oliver Plunkett, who was hanged Fechins COI is a smaller than usual high cross splendid mosaic sanctuary walls. GPS: 54.038951, -6.185398 Located in a beautifully restored medieval church, a permanent century. The village itself was once the seat of the Cambridge. at Tyburn in England on 1st July 1681. standing at around 9ft. Termonfeckin Castle, Bishops of Clogher and also the royal residence of was constructed in the 15th or 16th century and ORIEL CENTRE, DUNDALK GAOL display documents Carlingford’s history from references to the 53.999820, -6.410210 Vikings circa 850 AD, through the Norman & Medieval eras to the O’Carrolls, Kings of Oriel. IRISH MILITARY WAR MUSEUM ST. LAURENCE’S GATE stands three stories tall with a vaulted second GPS: Located in the historic Dundalk Gaol, the centre is open modern times. GPS: 53.764030, -6.470753 GPS: 53.715897, -6.347091 level and spiral stairs. There is a key available for throughout the year, with regular concerts featuring traditional Ancestry Research – information on genealogy, baptisms, TALLANSTOWN About 3.5km outside Collon you will find the Irish St Laurence’s Gate is access to the castle from a local caretaker (see GPS: 53.919456, -6.547838 Military War Museum, Ireland’s largest private widely regarded as one notice at site). Irish music. Explore the history of the Gaol and region’s marriages and deaths in parishes on the Cooley Peninsula can cultural legacy through its interactive audio–visual displays. be found online at www.carlingfordheritagecentre.com Picturesque Tallanstown Village, a former National military collective housed in a 5,000 sq ft ‘hands of the finest of its kind in Tidy Towns winner, lies on the banks of the River on’ museum with WW1 and WW2 trenches and Europe. Twice the walls CÚCHULAINN’S CASTLE/ FAMINE VILLAGE (SLIEVE FOY MOUNTAIN) Glyde. Here you will find a statue to Vere Foster, vehicles, original decommissioned weapons and and gates held strong, GPS: 53.790935, founder and first president of the Irish National equipment. The museum is set across a 22 acre firstly against Edward -6.239128 CASTLETOWN MOTTE Take the Barnavave Loop Walk from Carlingford, and pass GPS: 54.013940, -6.429959 through a deserted Famine Village located on the mountain, Teachers organisation, who considered education site and tank rides can be booked on request Bruce in 1317 and again Clogherhead, a as a liberator from poverty. along with guided tours of the exhibits. in 1642 against Sir Special Area of It was built by a well-known pirate which was last occupied in the 1800’s. Phelim O’Neill. Conservation, Patrick Byrne, in 1780 AD. The motte is built on the site of a pre- OMEATH ARDEE TOWN OLD MELLIFONT is also listed ABBEY as an Area of Christian fort called Dún Dealgan, GPS: 54.088969, -6.257108 GPS: 53.855425, -6.539090 The Fort of Dealga’. This site is Omeath village, on the shores of Carlingford Lough, was home GPS: 53.742824, HIGHLANES GALLERY Outstanding Ardee, a busy market town, gets its name from important in Irish mythology as to native Irish speakers until the mid 20th Century. From here the Irish, Áth Fhirdhia (the Ford of Ferdia). In -6.465694 GPS: 53.715417, -6.348481 Natural Beauty due to its rare coastal the birthplace of the legendary Cúchulainn. you can join the Carlingford Lough Greenway, built along the medieval times, Ardee was at the northern edge was Highlanes Municipal Art Gallery is located in a heath land vegetation. Its blue flag beach one of the wealthiest former Franciscan Church and houses the town’s boasts stunning views and miles of sand. The old railway line, and travel south along the shores of the Lough of the Pale, the area of Ireland controlled by the English Government. Border battles between the and most influential most treasured heirlooms: a ceremonial sword headland is the only high, rocky headland on the DUNDALK BAY to Carlingford. Dundalk Bay contains five habitats listed under the EU Anglo-Normans and the Irish were frequent along monastic houses in and mace presented to Drogheda Corporation east coast between the Mournes and Howth in medieval Ireland. St. Habitats Directive, i.e. perennial vegetation of stony banks, THE LONG WOMAN’S GRAVE the frontier, leaving a legacy of two castles on the by King William III after the Battle of the Boyne. County Dublin. Of geological significance, it’s the Malachy along with tidal mudflats, salt marshes, Salicornia mudflats and estuaries. GPS: 54.061170, -6.274610 main street. site where the Iapetus Suture reaches Ireland’s a community of Irish and French monks founded The bay is one of the most important wintering waterfowl sites Fact or Fiction: The Long Woman’s Grave is said to be the Interesting fact! The mace is solid silver and east coast. At Port Oriel, grey seals are often this beautiful abbey, the first Cistercian Abbey in in the country. resting place of a 7ft tall Spanish noblewoman who was St Mary’s C.O.I. GPS: 53.857753, -6.539169 weighs 108 ounces. It was restored in 2010 seen in the harbour and black guillemots nest in Ireland in 1142. Facilities include a visitors centre, married the Chieftain of Omeath’s youngest son. The pair The church is built on the site of the original and grew three inches (76mm) when it was special ‘burrows’ in the harbour wall. exhibition and self guided trail. Guided tours are PROLEEK DOLMEN eloped from Cadiz arriving in Carlingford Lough. So great was medieval church established by the Normans. A straightened out. available on request 54.037391, -6.348275 her disappointment at her new husband’s exaggerated wealth GPS: terrible massacre happened here in 1315 when The Proleek Portal Tomb in the that she fell to the ground and died. Edward Bruce’s soldiers set fire to the church, DROGHEDA MUSEUM, MILLMOUNT GPS: 53.882320, -6.342927 grounds of the Ballymascanlon House killing men, women and children who had sought MONASTERBOICE HIGH GPS: 53.711800, -6.350319 Annagassan was once the site of a significant CROSS & ROUND TOWER Hotel is one of the finest examples of FAUGHART sanctuary there from his invading army. Millmount Museum and Martello Tower are Viking Longphort built in 841 AD and known GPS: 53.777841, -6.417737 its kind in Ireland. At 3m high it has GPS St. Brigid’s Shrine: 54.053503, situated on high ground in the heart of as Linn Duchaill, which was later abandoned. This remarkable monastic site a huge capstone weighing approx -6.397368 Chantry College GPS: 53.857979, -6.538271 Drogheda. Hugh de Lacy constructed the motte Today, Annagassan is a quiet seaside village and contains two of the finest high 35 tons. There’s also a Bronze Age GPS Hill of Faughart: 54.051072, This was built as a home for the chaplains of St and bailey circa 1172. The castle formed part of harbour with views from the beach overlooking crosses in Ireland. The 9th wedge tomb nearby. -6.383833 Mary’s Church, sometime before 1487. Chantry the defences of the town during Cromwell’s siege the Cooley Peninsula and Mourne Mountains. century Cross of Muirdeach Fact or Fiction: Legend says that a Known as the birthplace of St. chaplains used to chant or celebrate mass for of Drogheda in 1649. Today, Millmount Museum is one of the best surviving wish will be granted to anyone who can throw a pebble on its Brigid (453 AD), the site has a wealthy individuals and families. houses various DROMISKIN examples of Irish religious art, capstone so that it stays there!. small medieval ruined church, St. exhibitions on GPS: 53.922061, -6.398267 and the Tall Cross (or West Brigid’s bed, St. Brigid’s Pillar and Hatch’s Castle folk life, local The history of Dromiskin goes back to the 6th Cross) the highest cross in GRANGE St. Brigid’s Well. The entire top of GPS: 53.856988, -6.539506 industry and Century. There are 16 historical locations on the Ireland, standing around 7m. 54.008884, -6.180860 the hill was a hill fort in Iron Age The smaller of two castles in the centre of Ardee, military history Dromiskin Heritage Trail starting at the Round GPS: There is also a magnificent round tower, approx Grange Church, is one of Ireland’s oldest surviving pre- times. In 732, the King of Ulaidh, Hatch’s Castle is a fine example of a late 14th and the Cultural Tower, Celtic cross, Monastic ruins and 19th 35m high which was used as a watch tower and Emancipation Catholic churches. The crenellated tower, was defeated by the Northern Uí Century urban fortified house that was once Quarter has an Century St. Margaret’s Protestant Church. A map refuge for monks and valuables during times of whitewashed exterior and round-headed window openings Néill and his head was cut off on found in many towns throughout Ireland. Gifted to array of craft is available to download on www.visitlouth.ie. Viking attack. the Hatch family by Oliver Cromwell in the 1600’s, shops and add to its character. The nearby John Long’s thatched the ‘Stone of Decapitation’ (Cloch an Commaigh), located near pub is believed to be at least 200 the door of the old church at Faughart. Edward Bruce, was it is still in use as a private family home today artists’ studios. BLACKROCK BATTLE OF THE BOYNE VISITOR CENTRE, years old. A number of looped hill buried in Faughart Graveyard following his defeat at the Battle GPS: 53.962236, OLDBRIDGE walks start from here. of Faughart on October 14, 1318. Ardee Castle ST. PETER’S C.O.I. -6.366414 53.723538, -6.423498 GPS: 53.855125, -6.538778 GPS: 53.716873, -6.350205 Blackrock (Na GPS: This is the largest surviving This is the site of the infamous Battle of the The organ in Church of St. Peter’s was built Creaghacha Dubha) is THE VICTORIAN RAILWAY CASTLE ROCHE fortified medieval tower house Boyne. On the 1st of July 1690 (old Julian by John Snetzler in London. “Cadaver Stones” a seaside village on the VILLAGE OF GREENORE GPS: 54.046711, -6.488371 in Ireland. The original structure calendar) King William III commanded 36,000 from the tomb of Sir Edmond Goldyng and his shores of Dundalk Bay. GPS: 54.031877, -6.130923 Castle Roche, one of the most troops against King James II and his 24,000. At Built in 1870’s by the London & striking Anglo-Norman castles on this site was founded by wife Elizabeth Fleming can be found on the Explore its beautiful an Anglo-Norman lord called stake were the British throne, churchyard wall. Interesting gravestones include beaches and wetlands, North West Railway Company for in Ireland, once marked the French dominance in Europe, the port and railway workers, it is reputedly boundary between the Gaelic Roger de Peppard in 1207. In John Duggan, a private in the 17th Lancers, who tranquil coves and the 1700s the building was and power in Ireland. The survived the Charge of the Light Brigade. rock pools. The entire the only completely planned village in Ireland. The entire province of Ulster and the site includes a visitor centre village is an Architectural Conservation Area. Today, the Anglo-Norman ‘Pale’. used as a prison, and more Interesting fact! The magnificent font, standing shoreline is designated recently was the towns Courthouse. with audio-visual show and by the door at the West end, is the only surviving as a Special Protection Greenore Co-Op houses the Railway & Maritime Museum and a Fact or Fiction: Thought to have laser battlefield model, a tea miniature railway. Walking tours of Greenore are also available. been built in 1236 by Lady Rohesia de Verdun. The story goes pavilion, walled garden and relic of the medieval church still in use Area (SPA) and a Special Area of Conservation Cúchulainn & Ferdia’s Epic Battle (SAC). Call into the local outlets to pick up a that she promised her hand in marriage to the architect who self guided walks. Living would build her a castle at Roche. When he went to claim her GPS: 53.853840, -6.538462 BEAULIEU HOUSE & GARDENS copy of the Blackrock Tourist Guide and Walking SCENIC CARLINGFORD FERRY history events are held during 54.033906, -6.131771 hand, she threw him from one of the windows, which to this Ardee has a special place in Irish mythology as GPS: 53.728333, -6.295000 Map and take a self guided tour of the village. GPS: the summer months. The first ferry sailed between the medieval castles at day is known as the ‘murder window. the site of the four day battle between Cúchulainn Built around a Plunkett tower house by Sir Henry and Ferdia described in the Cattle Raid of Cooley, Tichbourne in the 1620s, its unique architecture Carlingford and Greencastle over 800 years ago. Today, the Scenic Carlingford Ferry allows visitors to Carlingford Lough’s An Táin Bó Cúailnge. Cúchulainn and Ferdia met