Dundalk, the capital of County Louth is, by dint of history and geography, a border town which gives it a very particular and intriguing character. At the height of the troubles in Northern Ireland it played host to fugitives, smugglers, and dissidents, as the border with Northern Ireland was just a couple of miles outside the town.
In recent years, though, with the development of its institute of technology, its proximity to both Dublin and Belfast, and its lower property prices, the town has grown considerably and taken on new elements to its character, meaning there are plenty of top-notch bars, restaurants and clubs bringing the town’s small city centre alive.
Add to this the proximity of some great beaches, Carlingford Lough, Ravensdale forest and the beautiful Cooley peninsula, and you’ll see why this town, once considered a dusty backwater, is becoming a great place to visit.
Here we’ve put together a guide of what to see and do in Dundalk.
Dundalk has a huge amount to offer as a weekend break destination in Ireland. It’s perhaps not as trendy as locations like Galway, West Cork, or Kilkenny, or the major cities of Dublin or Belfast, but that’s part of the charm. Here are some of the reasons that Dundalk makes a great weekend break destination […]
Carlingford Lough is a glacial fjord which forms part of the border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland (United Kingdom), with county Down on its northern shore and County Louth on its southern shore. It’s easily reachable from Dundalk, and is one of Ireland’s most beautiful natural spots, flanked by the Mountains of […]
Dundalk’s Louth County Museum, in Jocelyn Street is well worth a visit during your trip to Dundalk. The Museum, housed in a restored late 18th century warehouse in the Carroll Centre at Roden Place, Jocelyn Street – Carroll’s Tobacco were once Dundalk’s main employers, and produced one of Ireland’s leading cigarette brands, so the warehouse […]
Greyhound racing has an important history in Ireland, as one of its most loved sports; greyhound racing has its own semi-state body, the Irish Greyhound Board, and there are tracks throughout the country. Dundalk has always had an important dog racing culture, so its no surprise that its greyhound stadium is one of the most […]
Dundalk isn’t necessarily famed for its architecture, but St. Patrick’s church in Roden place is a stunning exception. The church, which many mistakenly term a cathedral, was built between the 1840s and 1860s. In 1842, the English author William Makepeace Thackeray visited the town and noted the new chapel in construction: “a little way from […]
