Louth, the 'Wee County' is the smallest county in Ireland with an area of only 317 square miles.

Louth is bordered by Meath to the south, Monaghan and Armagh to the north-west and across Carlingford Lough is County Down. County Louth was the scene of important events throughout the years and there are many archaeological sites and relics from the past to be seen. Ancient ecclesiastical sites are at Monasterboice and Old Mellifont Abbey.

From the beautiful heather-clad Cooley Penninsula and Carlingford Lough in the North to the Boyne Valley in the south, this little county has lot to offer.

Towns & Cities
Drogheda, (Droichead ?tha, meaning 'bridge of the ford') is situated on the River Boyne. The bridge referred to is the medieval bridge built over the River Boyne in the early 15th century by the Normans. Drogheda, the 'gateway to the Boyne Valley' is most famous for the head of the martyr St. Oliver Plunkett, which is on display in St.Peters Church in the centre of the town. The town is only about half an hour from Dublin and a good spot for the arts, shopping, pubs and restaurants.

Dundalk (D?n Dealgan, prehistoric fort and home of the legendary C?chulain) is situated about halfway between Dublin and Belfast. Dundalk is of Norman origin and grew up around the Motte and Bailey of Castletown. The town was a significant market town throughout the middle ages. Today Dundalk is the administrative centre of the county. The town has many historic buildings including the neo-Gothic courthouse on the corner of Clanbrassil Street and St.Patricks Cathedral off Jocelyn Street. The splendid award-winning County Museum, housed in a renovated 18th century warehouse on Jocelyn Street, is a must-see for those interested in the history of the county.

Carlingford is in a beautiful location with Slieve Foye, the highest mountain in Louth, in the background. Many remnants of its medieval origins are to be seen in the Holy Trinity Heritage Centre. Carlingford is also a gourmet centre of the region, as it boasts no less than eight excellent restaurants.

Ardee is a market town situated on the principle road from Dublin to Derry and is the third largest town in the county. It derives its name from the folklore tradition of a duel between the legendary Irish heroes, Ferdia and Cuchulainn near the river Dee. There are a number of places of interest in both the town and the hinterland of historic and recreational interest. The area also offers a wide range of fishing options, golf, woodland walks and equestrian pursuits. Encompassing Ardee is restful and unspoiled countryside. The town is situated on a major road junction and is an ideal base from which to explore the mysteries of the Boyne Valley and Cooley Peninsula.

Baltray is a pretty village lying on the northern shore of the Boyne Estuary in the south-eastern corner of the county. It is an oasis of tranquility surrounded by the river Boyne on one side and sandy dunes on the other and is famous for its golf club. The area is also of considerable importance for its wildlife preservation, which includes frequent visits from ducks, Brent geese, waders and ringed-plovers.

Blackrock is located 3 miles south of Dundalk and has a very fine view of the whole range of Cooley Mountains and the north side of Dundalk. A walk along the promenade of this unique seaside village with the magnificent scenery lying to the north can be a most exhilarating experience. The Dundalk Golf Club is situated here.

Annagassan is a coastal village with a surprisingly eventful past. Originally a small port with a busy harbour pier, the Norsemen captured the settlement in 831. It wasn't until 928 that the Vikings were eventually defeated by the native Irish and driven from the locality. Resources in the area include salmon and trout fishing in the confluent rivers of the Dee and the Glyde.

Castlebellingham gets its name from the manor house (now a hotel) in the village, once the site of the Bellingham Castle and dates from the nineteenth century.

Clogherhead is a busy fishing village at the western foot of the dominant head of Clogher. For centuries life revolved around the harbour and the town developed, protected from the sea winds. The harbour is a regular spot for local fishermen of all ages. Views from the hills around the village are quite dramatic. There are water sports and related recreational activities available throughout the year.

Dunleer is located halfway between Drogheda and Dundalk and nearby has Whiteriver Mill, an 18th century corn mill open to visitors.

Collon is a village with medieval origins and is most famous for being the base of the Cistercian Abbey of New Mellifont where visitors are always welcome. The village is well served with a gourmet licensed restaurant and pubs which are always worth a visit.

Attractions/Activities
Monasterboice, founded in the 5th century by St. Buite, is one of the most famous religious sites in the country. The ruins of the medieval monastery are enclosed within a graveyard, just north of Drogheda. The site includes a roofless round tower and two churches and its famous 10th century High Crosses.

Old Mellifont Abbey, in the valley of the River Mattock is the ruins of the first Cistercian monastery to be established in Ireland in 1142 by St.Malachy. The new monastic order was successful in re-introducing discipline into what has become a very lax Irish Church. It was here, following his defeat at the Battle of Kinsale, that the great Hugh O' Neil formally surrendered to Mountjoy in 1603.

Carlingford Castle reportedly founded by King John in the late 11th /early 12th century.

County Museum, Dundalk has an exhibition containing original artifacts from farms, local industries, the railway and the port.

Holy Trinity Heritage Centre is a beautifully restored medieval church exhibiting Carlingfords development from its Norman origins.

Dun Dealgan Motte and Bailey is a Norman motte and bailey built possibly by the de Verdons in the last 30 years of the 12th century.

The Magdalene Tower, Drogheda, crowns the highest point in the northern part of the town and is a landmark for many miles around.

Proleek Dolmen is a 'tripod-dolmen', 12 feet in height, standing at the edge of a field near a ruined gallery-tomb. It is reached by a signposted path from the grounds of Ballymascanlon Hotel.

St.Laurence's Gate, Drogheda, is regarded as the finest example of a barbican or fortress gate still to be seen in the country.

Chantry College, Ardee, was built in the early fifteenth century as the residence of the priests who were employed to continuously chant the mass for church benefactors.

Jumping Church of Kildemock is a remarkable ancient ruin in which the western gable wall has jumped and now stands two feet inside of its foundations. Tradition relates that this phenomenon took place in order to exclude from the church area the grave of an excommunicated person who had been buried within its walls.

D?n Dealgan, Castletown, Co. Louth is a mound rising over 60 feet high that is said to be the birthplace of the legendary hero C?chulain.. On the summit is the ruin of a house built in 1780.

Dromiskin Round Tower, Dromiskin

Knockabbey Castle has 30 acres of gardens - from the formal Victorian garden and herbaceous border to the medieval waterways and parkland. The castle contains an interpretative centre.

County Louth Golf Club, Baltray was established in 1892 and is reckoned to be one of the best in the country.

Bissell Pitch N Putt, Donore Road, Drogheda.

Horse racing takes place at Dundalk Racecourse, Dowdallshill, Dundalk.

Carlingford Adventure Centre offers windsurfing, sailing and rock-climbing.

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