|
Total
Ireland, contains hand picked links to the Best Irish Sites.
 |
Tell A Friend |
 |
If you like this site, Click Here to Tell A Friend about Total Ireland!
 |
County Louth |
 |
Louth, the smallest county in Ireland, covers an
area of only 317 square miles. It runs northwards from the River Boyne to Carlingford
Lough, consisting mainly of fertile undulating country with a coastline of wide sandy bays
and occasional rocky headlands. In the North, however, between Dundalk Bay and Carlingford
Lough, is the mountainous Cooley Peninsula. The territory now known as County Louth
figures prominently in the epic tales of ancient Ireland. It was also the scene of
important events, and many other chapters of Ireland's history are illustrated by the
county's numerous relics of the past.
Louth has great industrial towns like Drogheda and
Dundalk as well as sleepy fishing villages. Pictured above is Carlingford Lough, part of a
drowned river valley at the base of the Cooley Mountains. The fishing village of
Carlingford is the Oyster capital of the country and the oyster festival draws huge crowds
every August into the pretty village of white washed cottages and ancient clustered
buildings.
Monasterboice, one of the most famous religious
sites in the country, was built in the 5th century a few miles north of Drogheda in a
lovely secluded setting. With 2 churches, a round tower and 2 High Crosses the treasure is
the high Cross of Muiredach. Considered the finest in the country, it is the pinnacle of
achievement with sculpted biblical scenes all over the cross, and still as fresh today.
Drogheda at the southern most point of the county is built on the River Boyne and by the
14th century was the biggest town in Ireland. Exporting and Importing more goods than any
other town. However, it never recovered from a vicious attack by Oliver Cromwell in 1649
and the Battle of the Boyne in 1690 where the catholic king of England, James II, defeated
by William of Orange and heralding the fate of the country for the next 300 years.
|