County Louth

County Louth is in Ireland's East Coast and Midlands.

This is a county steeped in myth, legend and history, going back to the pre-historical days of the Táin Bó Cúailnge (Cooley Cattle Raid, see Cú Chulainn). Later it saw the influence of the Vikings as seen in the name of Carlingford Lough. There are a number of historic sites in the county, including religious sites at Monasterboice and Mellifont Abbey. In the early fourteenth century the Scottish army of Edward Bruce (brother of Robert of Bannockburn fame) was defeated in the Battle of Faughart near Dundalk, Edward losing not only his claim to the High Kingship Of Ireland, but also his life. The sixteenth and seventeenth centuries featured many skirmishes and battles involving Irish and English forces. Oliver Cromwell attacked Drogheda in 1649 slaughtering the Royalist garrison and hundreds of the town's citizens (Siege of Drogheda). Towards the end of the same century the armies of the warring Kings, James and William, faced off in South Louth during the build-up to the Battle of the Boyne - the battle takes its name from the river Boyne which reaches the sea at Drogheda.

• In 1798 the leaders of the United Irishmen included Bartholomew Teeling, John Byrne and Patrick Byrne, all from Castletown; Anthony McCann from Corderry; Nicholas and Thomas Markey from Barmeath , Arthur McKeown, John Warren and James McAllister from Cambricville. They were betrayed by informers, notably a Dr. Conlan, who came from Dundalk, and an agent provocateur called Sam Turner, from Newry. Several leaders were hanged.
• In 1816 the Wildgoose Lodge Murders took place in the west of the county.
• The priest and scientist Nicholas Joseph Callan (1799–1864), from Darver, was a famous son of the county.

• Ardee
• Carlingford
• Clogherhead
• Drogheda
• Dundalk
• Dunleer

• Louth Village
• Gyles Quay

The M1 from Dublin to Belfast passes through the county.
Get off at

• Exit 8, 9 and 10 for Drogheda
• Exit 16, 17 and 18 for Dundalk

The towns of Dunalk and Drogheda are on the Dundalk - Dublin - Arklow and Dublin Connolly - Belfast train lines.

County Louth is beside the sea. Getting there by boat shouldn't be too dificult.

• The easiest way to get around Louth is by car. The M1 motorway goes up straight through the middle of the county which brings you anywhere.
• If you're going between the two main towns, Drogheda and Dundalk, then you can use the train.

• The Cooley Mountains