Sights in Carlingford
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Holy Trinity Heritage Centre
Carlingford's heritage centre is in the former Holy Trinity Church. A mural shows what the village looked like in its heyday, and a short video describes the village history and explains what has been done to give it new life in recent years after villagers got together to revive a dying community.
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Other Sights
Near the tourist office is Taafe's Castle, an imposing 16th-century tower house that stood on the waterfront until the land in front was reclaimed to build a short-lived train line. Today it's the storeroom of the attached pub; the best views are from the pub's courtyard.
Carlingford is the birthplace of Thomas D'Arcy McGee(1825–68), one of Canada's founding fathers. A bust commemorating him stands opposite Taafe's Castle.
The Mint, near the square, is of a similar age and has some interesting Celtic-inspired carvings around the windows. Although Edward IV is thought to have granted a charter to a mint in 1467, no coins were produced here. Near the Mint is the Tholsel, th…
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King John's Castle
Carlingford was first settled by the Vikings, and in the Middle Ages became an English stronghold under the protection of the castle, which was built on a pinnacle in the 11th to 12th centuries to control the entrance to the lough. On the western side, the entrance gateway was built to allow only one horse and rider through at a time. King John spent a couple of days here in 1210 en route to a battle with Hugh de Lacy at Carrickfergus Castle in Antrim.
Ask at the tourist office about free tours during Heritage Week in late August.
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