Discover Carlingford
A walled medieval village under Slieve Foye, on the Louth shore of Carlingford Lough
What's On
Upcoming events and things happening in Carlingford
National Heritage Week in Carlingford
RecurringThe national heritage festival, in a village that has more medieval fabric than almost any other of its size in Ireland. Local events go up on the national programme a few weeks ahead.
Adventure Lights at SkyPark
RecurringAn illuminated forest trail at SkyPark on the Dundalk road, running late October to early January on timed evening slots. About ninety minutes.
Carlingford Oyster Festival
RecurringNo 2026 edition was announced anywhere traceable and August 2026 has passed without one. Historically a long weekend in August built around Carlingford Lough oysters, with music through the pubs, craft stalls, a funfair and children's events. Free to attend. Ring Carlingford Tourist Office on +353 42 937 3650 to find out whether it is running.
Feile na Tana
RecurringThe Cooley Peninsula's traditional music festival, named for the Tain, with workshops in instruments, song and sean-nos dance plus concerts and sessions across late January and early February.
Carlingford Right Now
Carlingford is a lough-shore village with a mountain immediately behind it, so pack for two kinds of weather: wind coming up the water at the harbour and on the greenway, and cloud and rain that can sit on Slieve Foye when the streets are dry. A windproof layer earns its place here even in July, and anything on the hill needs boots with grip rather than trainers.
Where To Eat
From fine dining seafood to fish and chips by the harbour
Ghan House Restaurant
Two AA Rosette dinners in a 1727 Georgian house at the edge of the village, built on Carlingford oysters, Cooley lamb and produce from the walled garden. Dinner only, Wednesday to Sunday, booking essential.
The Kingfisher Bistro
A 42-seat family-run bistro in Darcy McGee Courtyard under the old church tower, trading since 1998. Evenings Monday to Saturday, from lunchtime on Sunday, with early last orders.
Carlingford Arms
The bright green corner pub and restaurant in the middle of the village, doing oysters, chowder and local beef and lamb, with live music, a daytime tea room and an upstairs cocktail bar.
A Norman walled town under a mountain, on a border lough
Carlingford, Cairlinn in Irish, takes its name from Old Norse rather than Irish: Kerlingfjordr, the inlet of the hag. The Gaelic settlement here was Dun Ogalla, but the town you walk through today is Norman. Hugh de Lacy built the castle above the harbour in the late 1180s, King John is said to have stayed there in 1210 and lent it his name, and a walled trading town grew up under it, prosperous on herring and later on oysters. Enough of that town survives to make the village unusual: the Tholsel, the only one of the medieval town gates still standing, the fortified townhouses called Taaffe's Castle and the Mint, the Dominican friary founded in 1305, and the medieval street pattern with its alleys running between Newry Street, Market Street and Tholsel Street.
The other Carlingford is the weekend one. The village sits at the foot of Slieve Foye with the lough in front of it, which makes it a natural base for kayaking, hillwalking and the Carlingford Lough Greenway to Omeath, and over the last thirty years that has grown into a full adventure and group-break economy: an adventure centre, a high ropes and activity park up the Dundalk road, and a steady flow of hen and stag parties from Friday afternoon. If you want the medieval village on its own, come midweek or out of season. If you want the noise, it is easy enough to find. Across the water is County Down and the Mourne Mountains, which are worth the look but are in a different jurisdiction, so plan any crossing as an international one.