Strategically located in the middle of the main East Coast corridor between Dublin and Belfast, Louth is enthusiastic about the opportunities provided by the opening of the M1 motorway whjch now runs smoothly west of Dundalk. To the south, it crosses to Meath over the River Boyne near Drogheda on a handsome modern structure which is the largest cable-stayed bridge of its type in Ireland, a much admired and award-winning structure designed by Joe O’Donovan. With traffic pressure removed from its other roads, Louth begins to find itself. Though it may be Ireland's smallest county at only 317 square miles (it’s just an eighth the size of Cork, the largest), Louth still manages to be two or even three counties in one, yet the locals cheerfully call it “the wee county”.
Much of it is fine farmland, and this is celebrated with an annual Cooley Vintage Festival with a tractor world rally which in early August 2007 assembled at least 2,212 vintage tractors from 22 countries – in 2008 they’ll be aiming for 2,500. The farmland is at its most productive in the area west of the extensive wildfowl paradise of Dundalk Bay, on whose shores we find the attractive village of Blackrock, one of Ireland's better kept secrets. But as well there are the distinctive uplands in the southwest, whose name of Oriel recalls an ancient princedom which is also remembered in Port Oriel, the busy fishing port at Clogherhead...
This 12 page download will lead you to all the best places to eat, drink & stay in County Louth.
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