Discover Dundalk

Dundalk lies on the banks of the Castletown River, which flows into Dundalk Bay. The town’s history and waterside landscape offer different ways to shape your stay. You can make your choice based on whether you are particularly interested in the development of County Louth, historic places in the town or paths along the river mouth. For families who enjoy exploring different subjects together, these options allow you to take a range of interests into account when choosing a destination.

Discover County Louth at the County Museum

The County Museum Dundalk presents the historical development of County Louth from the Stone Age to the present day. It has three permanent exhibition galleries. This broad sweep through time makes the museum a specific destination for anyone who would like to explore the history of the county during their stay. It is housed in a restored late-18th-century warehouse at Roden Place. Both the exhibitions and the historic building are therefore part of the visitor experience. If you are travelling with children, you can use the museum as an opportunity to talk about different periods in regional history.

Paths and landmarks on Dundalk Bay

At the river mouth on Dundalk Bay in Dundalk, you can explore several paths and wooden boardwalks. They extend from Newry Road along the Navvy Bank to Soldier’s Point. This route offers a different perspective on your stay from exploring exhibitions and town history: here, the focus is on the waterside landscape and travelling along paths and boardwalks. A bronze sculpture of Manannán, the Celtic god of the sea, also stands at the river mouth. Its subject reflects the connection with the water; the figure is also a striking work of art in the landscape.

History at your own pace and Irish culture

The Historic Dundalk Trail was set up as a self-guided walking tour. It passes signposted historic stops throughout Dundalk and invites you to discover the history of the town’s streets, buildings and landmarks. If you enjoy following a historical trail independently, the route offers a clearly defined framework for doing so. It focuses on the town’s history in public spaces, while the County Museum presents the development of County Louth in its permanent galleries.

The Oriel Centre at Dundalk Gaol offers another cultural dimension. This regional centre is run by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann and combines a visitor attraction with a social space and an event venue. It thus complements the historical themes with a place where the centre’s cultural role is also part of the picture of Dundalk. The museum, walking tour and Oriel Centre each have their own focus; you can decide which of them are of particular interest for your trip.

A trip into the County Louth countryside

The free Sea Louth Pass is available from one of County Louth’s three tourist offices, including the one in Dundalk. It takes you to 14 scenic locations. During your stay, it offers a broader view of countryside destinations in the county, beyond individual town histories and exhibitions. If you are looking for a holiday rental in Dundalk, you can consider whether you want to focus your trip mainly on the town’s attractions, the river mouth or also the countryside locations listed in the pass. These different interests give you a concrete basis for considering Dundalk as a destination without limiting your stay to just one theme.

If you are also considering other places for your trip, you can find more destinations here: Stabannan, Collon, Bettystown, Lower Jenkinstown, Dunleer, Tallanstown, Drogheda and Ardee.

For the overview of the wider area: County Louth.