The Wee County
County Louth, affectionately known as "The Wee County" is ideally situated on the North East coast of Ireland enjoying simultaneous views of the mountains and sea alike.
It is a vibrant county for Industry, Education, Agriculture, Tourism and Cultural Heritage. County Louth is well served with shops, restaurants, pubs, banks and a wide selection of tourist accommodation and recreational amenities.
County Louth was the scene of important events throughout the ages and many chapters of Ireland's history are illustrated by the county's numerous archaeological sites and relics from the past. Near Dundalk, a 60 foot mound called Dun Dealgan is reputed to be the birthplace of the legendary hero Cuchulain.
Dundalk is the county town of Louth. This busy manufacturing centre is a great base for pursuing a range of activities including nature walks, salmon and trout fishing, golf and horse riding. Dundalk has good nightlife and a greyhound track, and is home town of one of the most successful rock bands of the nineties - The Corrs.
Historic Drogheda on the River Boyne is a bustling port town with excellent pubs and a good live music scene, with a Samba festival during the summer. It's known as the "Gateway to the Boyne Valley" - two of Irelands most famous tourist attractions, the passage tombs at Newgrange and Knowth, are just a few miles away.
This is a county steeped in myth, legend and history, going back to the pre-historical days of the Táin Bó Cúailnge (Cooley Cattle Raid, see Cúchulainn). Later it saw the influence of the Vikings as seen in the name of Carlingford Lough.
In the early fourteenth century the Scottish army of Edward Bruce (brother of Robert of Bannockburn fame) was defeated in the battle of Faughart near Dundalk, Edward losing not only his claim to the High Kingship Of Ireland, but also his life. The sixteenth and seventeenth centuries featured many skirmishes and battles involving Irish and English forces. Oliver Cromwell attacked Drogheda in 1649 slaughtering the Royalist garrison (Siege of Drogheda).
Towards the end of the same century the armies of the warring Kings, James and William, faced off in North Louth during the build-up to the Battle of the Boyne - the battle takes its name from the river Boyne which reaches the sea at Drogheda.
