Dundalk Voyage Tips and guide

Dundalk is the county town of County Louth on the east coast of the Republic of Ireland, 7 km south of the border with Northern Ireland. It's industrial and residential but there are scenic areas to the north, especially the Cooley peninsula. Its Irish name Dún Dealgan means "Dealgan's Fort" and there are several ancient sites nearby, such as Dromiskin monastery and Louth village.

Dundalk has long been a border town, even in legend and prehistory. To the south is low-lying fertile Leinster, settled by many invaders, such as the Normans from the 12th century. To the north rise the mountains of Ulster: the Ring of Gullion and the Mourne Mountains, with a gap between. Communications are funnelled into this gap, towards Newry.

Dundalk was wrecked and its townsfolk slain on so many occasions, but a long peaceful period began from 1801 and created the 19th-century town you see today. It developed into a miniature Belfast with linen and other textiles, food-processing, metal-bashing, shipping, the shoe trade, tobacco and distilling, and the Dublin-Belfast railway arrived in 1849. It grew even in the famine years when rural Ireland was being eviscerated. A slump set in when the 1921 partition of Ireland drew the border with Britain a few km north of town, traditional industries were lost to foreign competition, and from the 1960s "The Troubles" blighted the border. But in December 2000 after the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, 60,000 people heard U.S. President Bill Clinton's open-air speech in Market Square, heralding "a new day in Dundalk and a new day in Ireland."

The new day was more like a long grey morning here, as industry and tourism were slow to recover. Currency and tax differences drove cross-border shoppers north to Newry not south to Dundalk. But the area is dotted with prehistoric and medieval sites that you can have to yourself, and there's coastal and hill scenery especially on the Cooley Peninsula. It takes little more than an hour to reach Dublin or Belfast, so Dundalk is very accessible. It's thus become a commuter town for both cities, and in 2022 had a population of 43,000.

The Tourist Information Office is in the municipal building on Magnet Rd, south end of Long Walk. It's open M-F 10AM-4PM.

The Enterprise Train runs hourly from Dublin Connolly via Drogheda to Dundalk, taking 90 min, and continues to Newry, Portadown and Belfast. There are also morning and evening commuter trains from Dublin. See Irish Rail for timetables and ticket deals.

54.0015-6.41281 Dundalk Clarke Railway Station is 500 m west of town centre. It has a ticket office open M-F 5:30AM-6PM, Sa 7AM-5PM, Su 10:30AM-2:30PM and ticket machines, toilets and a cafe. It's the original 1894 station, named for Tom Clarke (Tomás Séamus Ó Cléirigh 1858-1916), executed for his part in the Easter Rising; along with Pearse and MacDonagh he was one of its chief instigators.

Expressway Bus 100X runs hourly, daily from Dublin (several city stops but not Busáras) via the airport and Drogheda to Dundalk, taking two hours. The Aircoach and Belfast buses bypass the town.

54.0053-6.40412 Dundalk bus station in town centre is called the Long Walk. Remarkably for an Irish transport facility, this name is nothing to do with being executed by the British.

By car from the south follow M1: there's a toll at Drogheda. From the north follow A1, which sweeps across the border at Killeen to become N1.

54.0341-6.13133 Carlingford Ferry plies across the lough between Grenore east of Dundalk and Greencastle in County Down, taking 15 min. It sails Apr-Sep hourly, daily 9AM-9PM.

Dundalk has a busy port but it only handles freight.

54°0′0″N 6°24′0″W

Map of Dundalk

Walk the town, but you need your own wheels to explore Cooley Peninsula.

Taxi fares are nationally regulated and taxis must use the meter. See TFI for rates.

Taxi firms include Sevens (+353 42 937 7777) and Fives (+353 42 935 5555).

In town, Bus Éireann has three routes from Long Walk bus station, every 30 min: 174 to Muirheavna, 174A to Fatima / Cox's, and 174B to Bay Estate.

Out of town: see above for the inter-city bus from Dublin, the airport and Drogheda. Other district routes are:

• Bus 100 south to Castlebellingham, Dunleer and Drogheda, hourly daily.
• Bus 160 north to Ravensdale, Carrickcarnon and Newry, daily every 2 hours.
• Bus 161 loops round the Cooley Peninsula, via Greenore, Carlingford and Omeath to Newry, M-Sa every 2 hours.
• Bus 166 west to Inniskeen and Carrickmacross, M-F every 2 hours but with only four on Saturdays. M-F one bus extends to Cavan.
• Bus 167 southwest to Louth Village, Tallanstown and Ardee, M-Sa every 2 hours.
• Bus 168 south to Dromiskin (for monastery), Castlebellingham, Baltry and Drogheda, M-Sa every 2 hours with four on Sunday.

For route maps see the TFI route mapper.

• 54.003821-6.3991061 St Patrick's Church, Roden Place A91 T623, ☏ +353 42 933 4648. Large Roman Catholic church built 1842-60 in Gothic style, with the exterior modelled on Kings College Cambridge and the interior on Exeter Cathedral. It's sometimes called a "pro-cathedral" as it was the archbishop's seat in the 1860s while Armagh cathedral was a-building.  (updated Jan 2026)
• Kelly's Monument next to St Patrick's commemorates the 1858 loss of four lifeboat men while attempting to rescue the crew of the wrecked Mary Stoddart.
• St Nicholas on Church St is Church of Ireland (Anglican), and called "the green church" for its verdigris spire. There's a monument to the poet Robert Burns, whose sister Agnes moved to Dundalk; her husband William Galt built the reservoirs for Stephenstown House, now a sad ruin. She retained her Ayrshire rural accent and recited her brother's poetry just as he would have spoken it, so nobody could understand a word. Agnes and William are buried here.
• Seatown Castle at the corner of Mill St and Castle Rd is a bell tower, all that remains of a Franciscan friary.
• 54.0046-6.39672 County Museum, 8 Jocelyn St A91 EFY9, ☏ +353 42 939 2999. Tu-Sa 10AM-5PM. Museum in an 18th century warehouse depicts county life. Free.  (updated Jan 2026)
• 53.964-6.3653 Blackrock is a coastal village. In the 1950s / 60s this was the Costa Cavan, a budget beach resort for the nearby landlocked counties. The beach is artificial, as it keeps washing away to silt up the harbour. What the place lacks in sand it recompenses in mud, with mudflats stretching out for 5 km at low tide, a habitat for sea birds. Saint Oliver Plunkett Church (Catholic) is attractive with a round tower, but it was only built circa 1920.
• 54.0138-6.43024 Dún Dealgan Motte in legend was the birthplace or castle of Cú Chulainn, and in fact was a motte-and-bailey, an earth mound topped with a palisade. But what you see now is "Byrne's Folly", a single tower of an incomplete 18th-century Gothic house. Byrne was said to be a pirate though it was probably just the common sport of smuggling. The house was rebuilt in the 1850s, to fall down again, so the folly has outlasted more sensible constructions.
• 54.0466-6.48845 Castle Roche is the substantial ruin of a 13th century castle perched on a rocky outcrop 10 km northwest of town. It's free to stroll around.

• Proleek Dolmen or "Giant's Load" is within the grounds of Ballymascanlon House, see Sleep. There's also a wedge tomb nearby.
• 54.052-6.3856 Hill of Faughart is a viewpoint north of town. There's a shrine to St Brigid to the west. Faughart Old Graveyard southeast of the hill has the grave of Edward Bruce, brother of Robert the Bruce, who was High King of Ireland for two tumultuous years then slain in battle here in 1318.
• 53.986-6.2340837 Gyles' Quay is a historic wharf (popular with 18th- and 19th-century smugglers) and beach strip on the Peninsula.
• 54.04294-6.186098 Carlingford is a small resort town on the north coast of Cooley Peninsula, looking across the lough to the Mourne Mountains in County Down. The Tholsel is the medieval gatehouse, The Mint is a 15th- or 16th-century tower house, and there's a ruined friary and castle. Lots of accommodation here.
• 53.922-6.49 Dromiskin is a village 10 km south of Dundalk with a monastery, active from the 6th to 12th century. There's a squat but impressive Round Tower, High Cross and ruined church.
• 53.9745-6.465910 Clochafarmore is a standing stone 3 m high, on R171 four km southwest of town towards Knockbridge. In legend Cú Chulainn was slain here, but while his body was lashed to the stone he was able continue hacking bits off his foes.
• 53.951-6.54111 Louth village is the tiny place that gave its name to the county. St Mochta founded a monastery here circa 528 AD. Nothing remains that, but there are the ruins of the 12th-century St Mary's Priory, and St Mochta's House a medieval oratory reconstructed in the 1920s.
• Louth Hall Castle 3 km south of the village is just a shell. it's on private land but you see enough from the road towards Ardee.

• What's on? Listen to Dundalk FM on 97.7 MHz, or read the Dundalk Democrat, The Argus and Dundalk Leader.
• An Táin Arts Centre has a theatre and art gallery.
• Cinemas: IMC is on Long Walk in town centre. Omniplex is just beyond N52 at the east edge of town, junction with Avenue Rd.
• Look up your Irish ancestors at Louth County Archives in the old gaol on Ardee Rd, and at the Genealogy Research Service in the County Library on Roden Place.
• Dundalk FC, Carrickmacross Rd. "The Lilywhites" were promoted in 2025, so they play soccer in the League of Ireland top tier. Their home ground Oriel Park (capacity 4500) is 200 m south of the railway station. The playing season is Feb-Nov.  (updated Jan 2026)
• 53.973-6.3731 Dundalk Golf Club is towards the coast 1 km east of town centre. White tees 6024 m, par 72.
• 54.016-6.3852 Dundalk Stadium, 2 km north of town on N52, stages both horse racing and greyhounds. Horse racing is flat, on a 1¼ mile left-handed oval with a Polytrack surface. Most races are Friday evenings, with the principal meetings being the Diamond Stakes and the Mercury Stakes in October. The dog track within the oval hosts greyhound races most Friday and Saturday evenings after the horses depart; the principal event is the Dundalk International.
• 54.044-6.2183 Slieve Foy is the 58 m (1932 ft) mountain behind Carlingford, the highest point in the county. Easy loop trails ascend from the village.
• Féile na Tána is a festival and masterclass in Irish trad music, song and dance, held in February in Carlingford.

• The main retail strip is The Marshes, just south of the centre. Aldi on Rampart Lane is open M-SA 8AM-10PM, Su 9AM-9PM.
• Dundalk Retail Park is 1.5 km east on the Relief Road N52.
• Cross-border shopping since the Good Friday Agreement has usually gone north to Newry, but this waxes and wanes with the relative strengths of pound and euro.

• Europa, 16 Earl St A91 KRP3 (by Imperial Hotel), ☏ +353 42 933 4498. M-Th noon-1AM, F-Su noon-2AM. Italian and Irish food, cheap and cheerful. (updated Jan 2026)
• Atami is Japanese food at 19 Park St A91 Y09W by Imperial Hotel, open W-M 1-10PM.
• 54.0145-6.40111 Lisdoo, Newry Rd, Lisdoo A91 TF30, ☏ +353 42 933 4829. M-Sa 9AM-11:30PM, Su noon-11:30PM. Lively bar and grill, you won't go hungry, good value.  (updated Jan 2026)
• 53.9908-6.40032 Malt House, 21 Dublin Rd A91 KN2Y, ☏ +353 42 940 1698. M-Sa 10AM-11:30PM, Su noon-11:30PM. Serves pub grub opposite County Hospital.  (updated Jan 2026)
• 54.0087-6.29383 Fitzpatrick's, Rockmarshall, Jenkinstown A91 VE42, ☏ +353 42 937 6193. Daily noon-10:30PM. Rustic pub bistro does great seafood and other Irish cuisine.  (updated Jan 2026)
• 53.9634-6.38694 Sextons Bar & Restaurant, Dublin Rd, Haggardstown AP91 PP28, ☏ +353 42 932 1593. W-Sa 4-9PM, Su 2-8PM. Traditional Irish fare.  (updated Jan 2026)

• 54.0018-6.40471 Brubakers, 39 Park St A91 Y9HN, ☏ +353 42 932 0720. M W Th F 4-11PM, Sa Su 2PM-2:30AM. Bru's Bar, Courtyard, and Henry's upstairs are the offerings in this bright jazzy place.  (updated Jan 2026)
• Oscars, 21 Park St A91 VY28 (next to Imperial Hotel), ☏ +353 87 418 5820. M-Th 5-11:30PM, F-Su 2PM-12:30AM. Friendly sports bar, it's the blue one on the corner of Francis St. (updated Jan 2026)
• The Bartender, 12 Park St A91 V120 (by Imperial Hotel), ☏ +353 42 933 5175. M-Th 4-11:30PM, F-Su 3PM-midnight. Lively place with beer-garden, dog-friendly, wide selection of beers. (updated Jan 2026)
• The Phoenix, 15 Park St A91 WE04 (next to Imperial Hotel). This property is closed and for sale. (updated Jan 2026)
• 54.0091-6.392 Spirit Store, George's Quay A91 NR79, ☏ +353 42 935 2697. Su-Th 4-11:30PM, F Sa 4PM-12:30AM. Great bar and live entertainment venue on the harbour side.  (updated Jan 2026)
• Cooley Distillery on the peninsula produces a variety of whiskeys. No tours.
• Dundalk Bay is a brewery and distillery on the east edge of town, producing beer, whiskey and gin. No tours.

• 54.0035-6.40221 Imperial Hotel, Park St A91 ND6P, ☏ +353 42 933 2241. Well-run hotel in town centre, good food and service. B&B double €190.  (updated Jan 2026)
• Ardrose is a B&B 100 m east of the railway station at 5 The Crescent A91 K521.
• Glen Gat House is a B&B 100 m south of Ardrose at 18 The Crescent A91 WT78.
• Innisfree House, Carrickmacross Rd A91 V504 (west side of railway station), ☏ +353 42 933 4912. Charming B&B in an Edwardian town house. B&B double €150. (updated Jan 2026)
• Krakow is a B&B 500 m northwest of the station at 190 Árd Easmuinn A91 AR28.
• Rosemount is a B&B on Dublin Rd A91 K7D5 near the junction with Inner Relief Rd.
• 53.9805-6.38872 Gateway Hotel (formerly Crowne Plaza), Inner Relief Rd A91 EF88, ☏ +353 42 939 4900. Modern hotel south edge of town, good reviews for comfort and service. B&B double €180.  (updated Jan 2026)
• 54.0319-6.35363 Ballymascanlon House Hotel, Carlingford Rd A91 PF57 (five km northeast of town), ☏ +353 42 935 8200. Upscale resort hotel in Victorian mansion, great dining, service and comfort. B&B double €190.  (updated Jan 2026)
• Carrickdale Hotel: see Newry for this plush place by the N1 right on the border.

As of Jan 2026, Dundalk and its approach roads have 5G from all Irish carriers, but the signal is poor on the Cooley Peninsula.

N1 to the north also has 4G from the UK carriers, but this doesn't reach town.

• Newry just across the border is an interesting old market town. You usually have to go that way to reach the Mourne Mountains, as the ferry is summer-only.
• Drogheda to the south is a historic town near the Boyne battlefield and Brú na Bóinne megalithic complex.
• Dublin and Belfast can both be reached in little over an hour. You can easily day-trip, thought they're both worth at least a lost weekend.

Belfast ← Newry ← continues as ←	N  S	→ merges with
merges with ←	N  S	→ Drogheda → Dublin