The monastery is a beautiful spot to wander and take in some history of Carlingford. Take a look…read moreat this 14th century gem on a bright day and you'll get lost under its' arches. What a lovely historical site.

We visited a 6,000 year old burial site of our ancestors today, constructed in the New Stone Age…read more It is astonishing that it, like so many Irish tombs, they are older than the Great Pyramids of Giza. Our ancestors built 400 or more of these Court Cairns. Our ancestors were pagans. They worshipped the land as the Egyptians but not as polytheistic. They protected the land because it protected them. It gave them everything and they had it right when they didn't know what we know and don't do enough about; there's no Planet B. I see too that restaurants where we live now make more money by charging more for less, in that the food on the plates comes from the fields, seas and rivers around us: no air miles and no added crap. So welcome to how we lived in the 1950's when we were told that we were poor. This tomb is in a field in what we colloquially say is 'in the arse end of nowhere' and that's most likely what preserved it well into the 20th century as stones from many of our tombs were taken to build castles and the mansions of the privileged. It's in the shadow of an Iron Age settlement also in a remote field. Bones of several bodies were excavated from the tomb by Queen's University Belfast in 1964 with many of them burned, so cremation was the ritual to join the choir invisible. The three prehistoric ages were Stone, Bronze, and Iron. The Iron Age lasted from roughly 1200 to 500 B.C.E but the most surprising thing of all is this site gets less visitors in 10 years than the Great Pyramid of Giza gets in one day. Let's be thankful for small mercies.

Beautiful Harbour where you can watch the local seals catch fish which they eat off their bellies…read morebelow within the quiet harbour waters, while the fishermen look on, catch less! The harbour wall is great protection from the prevailing wind. There's a free car park and a coastal walk that takes you over to Clogherhead beach, and lovely places to sit and watch the sea on the black rocks behind the harbour. The public toilets aren't the best (no lock, no seat, stinky brown smeared door - but at least they had paper and a sink!) There is a fish shop here but we didn't buy anything as we were out for the day and the weather was too warm.

Carlingford is currently the home of President Joe Biden's Irish cousins. Great people. Just 8…read moremiles away. Carlingford is also a fine example of a medieval walled town, built at the time of the Normans in the 12th century. The Vikings had invaded Ireland in the 9th Century and historical records establish that they occupied Carlingford Lough. The name Carlingford is Scandinavian translating into 'Fjord of Carlinn'. The Normans arrived in Ireland in 1169 as allies of Irish King Dermot MacMurrough. By 1184 they had reached Carlingford. A Norman Knight, Sir John de Courcy claimed this part of Louth for himself. Sir John was a busy beggar. He arrived in Ireland in 1176 and by the time of his expulsion in 1204, he had conquered considerable territory, endowed religious establishments, built abbeys for the Benedictines (yes the monks that created champagne and benedictine), the Cistercians and he also built strongholds at Dundrum Castle in County Down and at Carrickfergus Castle in County Antrim. The very first historical reference to Carlingford dates to 1184 when Sir John gave the rights of the ferry at Carlingford to the Abbot of Downpatrick indicating that the harbour was in use as a ferry point. However, the town of Carlingford only developed after the castle known as King John's Castle was built. The castle today is a ruin, but it's still obvious what it was nearly a thousand years ago - a place of defence. As for its creator Sir John De Courcy, well he returned to Ireland, sailing across the Irish sea from the Isle of Man in July 1205 with Norse soldiers and a hundred boats. John and his army landed at Strangford and laid siege to Dundrum Castle in vain, because the defences he himself had made were too strong. King John then had John de Courcy imprisoned and he spent the rest of his life in poverty so the clerics he was so generous toward left him broke. He was subsequently released when he "crossed himself" to go on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. De Courcy died in obscurity just outside what is now Craigavon - I suppose anyone who dies there still departs in obscurity as the best thing about Craigavon, even a thousand years later, is still the road out of it.

As you drive into Carlingford King John's Castle sets the scene for the magnificent historical…read morevalue of this town. The views from the ledge are amazing and worth the bit of climbing to get up to it! Transports you back in time as you see all the way over to Warrenpoint and soak up the atmosphere from days gone by. Look out for the plaques dotted around to learn more!

It has a long history going back to the late 1700's and is now a wonderful National Trust owned…read morewooded estate of oak, chestnut, pine and beech, free to enter and enjoy. The old house is still there and the park now has accessible footpaths, parking and toilets, a children's play area and dog-friendly facilities, and is a sanctuary for nature, wildlife and people. Our chief purpose a few times a week, when we are home, is to walk the grounds, and to allow two manic dogs run dementedly inside a penned off long section of field. They can't escape. It attracts a lot of folks and their dogs which adds to the mayhem among the different breeds and personalities and it's the same for the dogs. We bring a miniature dachshund and a Bichon Frisé, others bring beagles, bloodhounds, whippets, terriers, Alsatians, some that look like rugs with legs, Newfoundland dogs with webbed feet that you could put a saddle on, but it matters not the size as the miniature dachshund growls and snaps at them all. You sure know she's around. When Steinbeck wrote his last book Travels With Charley - we've named the Bichon Charley - he wanted to examine and comment on American society and its people that he'd lost touch with so to break the ice with strangers he brought a poodle. Not just any old poodle but an old male one with prostate problems and I used to think that was funny. It's similar here as dog owners who only just meet get into easy conversation as if we've known each other for a long time.