Essential Ireland > County Louth > Attractions
Battle of the Boyne Visitor Centre
Oldbridge
Drogheda
County Louth
Republic of Ireland
Tel: +353 (0)41 980 9950
The Battle of the Boyne, one of the most famous and influential battles in Irish and indeed British history, was fought near Drogheda between the forces of the Catholic James II and the Protestant King William III. The visitor centre contains a display of replica weapons including cannons, flintlock and matchlock muskets and swords, with guided tours taking place between May and September. There are also weapons demonstrations every Sunday.
Oldbridge
Drogheda
County Louth
Republic of Ireland
Tel: +353 (0)41 980 9950
The Battle of the Boyne, one of the most famous and influential battles in Irish and indeed British history, was fought near Drogheda between the forces of the Catholic James II and the Protestant King William III. The visitor centre contains a display of replica weapons including cannons, flintlock and matchlock muskets and swords, with guided tours taking place between May and September. There are also weapons demonstrations every Sunday.
Boyne Viaduct
Drogheda
County Louth
Republic of Ireland
Constructed by Irish engineer Sir John MacNeill during the 1850s, the Boyne Viaduct was only the seventh such bridge of its type when it was completed in 1855. Comprised on 12 stone arches on the south side with a further three on the north, to this day it is considered one of the world’s great engineering marvels.
Drogheda
County Louth
Republic of Ireland
Constructed by Irish engineer Sir John MacNeill during the 1850s, the Boyne Viaduct was only the seventh such bridge of its type when it was completed in 1855. Comprised on 12 stone arches on the south side with a further three on the north, to this day it is considered one of the world’s great engineering marvels.
Carlingford Castle
Carlingford
County Louth
Republic of Ireland
Tel: +353 (0)42 933 5484
Carlingford Castle, also known as King John’s Castle, is of beautiful Anglo-Norman construction and enjoys spectacular views overlooking Carlingford. Constructed in 1210, King John is thought to have spent time at the castle in its position on the southern side of Carlingford Lough. While the main part of the castle was built in 1210 later additions were made while more alterations were also made later on.
Carlingford
County Louth
Republic of Ireland
Tel: +353 (0)42 933 5484
Carlingford Castle, also known as King John’s Castle, is of beautiful Anglo-Norman construction and enjoys spectacular views overlooking Carlingford. Constructed in 1210, King John is thought to have spent time at the castle in its position on the southern side of Carlingford Lough. While the main part of the castle was built in 1210 later additions were made while more alterations were also made later on.
County Museum Dundalk
Carroll Centre
Jocelyn Street
Dundalk
County Louth
Republic of Ireland
Tel: +353 (0)42 932 7056
Set in a beautifully restored 18th century distillery warehouse, the County Museum in Dundalk tells the history of County Louth from the Mesolithic period to present day using audiovisual displays and demonstrations. The museum opened in its current guise in 1994 and its exhibits include examples of rock art, Oliver Cromwell’s shaving mirror, a famous piece of flint and the Mell flake.
Carroll Centre
Jocelyn Street
Dundalk
County Louth
Republic of Ireland
Tel: +353 (0)42 932 7056
Set in a beautifully restored 18th century distillery warehouse, the County Museum in Dundalk tells the history of County Louth from the Mesolithic period to present day using audiovisual displays and demonstrations. The museum opened in its current guise in 1994 and its exhibits include examples of rock art, Oliver Cromwell’s shaving mirror, a famous piece of flint and the Mell flake.
Magdalene Tower
Magdalene Street
Drogheda
County Louth
Republic of Ireland
Although Magdalene Tower is itself of 14th century construction, today it is all that remains of the 13th century Dominican Friary founded by Lucas de Netterville. Located near the St Sunday's Gate which has since been demolished, it was here that the Ulster chiefs submitted to Richard II of England in 1367.
Magdalene Street
Drogheda
County Louth
Republic of Ireland
Although Magdalene Tower is itself of 14th century construction, today it is all that remains of the 13th century Dominican Friary founded by Lucas de Netterville. Located near the St Sunday's Gate which has since been demolished, it was here that the Ulster chiefs submitted to Richard II of England in 1367.
Millmount Museum and Martello Tower
Millmount
Drogheda
County Louth
Republic of Ireland
Tel: +353 (0)41 983 3097
The Martello Tower looming above the town is the dominant feature of Drogheda. Built in 1808, the tower is one of a series of defences built by the British to protect Ireland from a possible invasion by Napoleon's forces. Milmount Museum chronicles the history of Drogheda. The museum contains an authentic Irish kitchen and dairy, a Boyne corricle, an Industries Room, a curiosities section and a geological collection as well as many other exhibits.
Millmount
Drogheda
County Louth
Republic of Ireland
Tel: +353 (0)41 983 3097
The Martello Tower looming above the town is the dominant feature of Drogheda. Built in 1808, the tower is one of a series of defences built by the British to protect Ireland from a possible invasion by Napoleon's forces. Milmount Museum chronicles the history of Drogheda. The museum contains an authentic Irish kitchen and dairy, a Boyne corricle, an Industries Room, a curiosities section and a geological collection as well as many other exhibits.
Monasterboice Monastery
Monasterboice
County Louth
Republic of Ireland
Tel: +353 (0)41 983 7070
Monasterboice Monastery was founded by Saint Buite, who died in 521 AD. It contains two of the finest High Crosses to be found in Ireland, both of which are made of sandstone and date to around the 9th century. The site also features a round tower in excellent condition that reaches up some 100 feet.
Monasterboice
County Louth
Republic of Ireland
Tel: +353 (0)41 983 7070
Monasterboice Monastery was founded by Saint Buite, who died in 521 AD. It contains two of the finest High Crosses to be found in Ireland, both of which are made of sandstone and date to around the 9th century. The site also features a round tower in excellent condition that reaches up some 100 feet.
Old Mellifont Abbey
Tullyallen
County Louth
Republic of Ireland
Tel: +353 (0)41 982 6459
Mellifont Abbey was Ireland’s first Cistercian Abbey, founded by St Malachy the archbishop of Armagh in 1157. Lying in the beautiful valley of the Mattock River, today the abbey is in ruins, making for a charming location for a walk. A visitor centre houses an exhibition about masons of the Middle Ages while guided tours are also available around the ruins too.
Tullyallen
County Louth
Republic of Ireland
Tel: +353 (0)41 982 6459
Mellifont Abbey was Ireland’s first Cistercian Abbey, founded by St Malachy the archbishop of Armagh in 1157. Lying in the beautiful valley of the Mattock River, today the abbey is in ruins, making for a charming location for a walk. A visitor centre houses an exhibition about masons of the Middle Ages while guided tours are also available around the ruins too.
Saint Laurence Gate
Laurence Street
Drogheda
County Louth
Republic of Ireland
Widely considered to be the finest example of a Barbican or outer defence gate in Europe, St Laurence Gate is of 13th century construction. Permitting visitors to see the scale of the mediaeval walls which once encircled Drogheda, St Laurence Gate has a long and bloody history behind it.
Laurence Street
Drogheda
County Louth
Republic of Ireland
Widely considered to be the finest example of a Barbican or outer defence gate in Europe, St Laurence Gate is of 13th century construction. Permitting visitors to see the scale of the mediaeval walls which once encircled Drogheda, St Laurence Gate has a long and bloody history behind it.
St Peter’s Church of Ireland
Peter Street
Drogheda
County Louth
Republic of Ireland
Considered to be an essential stop on any tour of Drogheda, St Peter’s Church of Ireland is open to the public only when services are being held or by prior appointment. The present structure dates from 1791 after Cromwellian forces burned the original church to the ground with more than 100 people inside. The graveyard is also worth visiting, containing the grave of a survivor of the Charge of the Light Brigade and a number of truly original stone carvings.
Peter Street
Drogheda
County Louth
Republic of Ireland
Considered to be an essential stop on any tour of Drogheda, St Peter’s Church of Ireland is open to the public only when services are being held or by prior appointment. The present structure dates from 1791 after Cromwellian forces burned the original church to the ground with more than 100 people inside. The graveyard is also worth visiting, containing the grave of a survivor of the Charge of the Light Brigade and a number of truly original stone carvings.
The Tholsel
Tholsel Street
Carlingford
County Louth
Republic of Ireland
Standing on the site of the first municipal town hall established by the Normans, the Tholsel building dates from 1770. Used as an Assizes and a prison, public hangings were carried out on gallows across the street.
Tholsel Street
Carlingford
County Louth
Republic of Ireland
Standing on the site of the first municipal town hall established by the Normans, the Tholsel building dates from 1770. Used as an Assizes and a prison, public hangings were carried out on gallows across the street.