Things to do in Cooley Peninsula
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Kingfisher
Set in a beautifully restored grain store, the Kingfisher serves up a short but sound menu of modern Irish food with international twists. Go for Thai spiced pork with sticky rice and sweet Asian salad, duck confit or spiced Cajun chicken with sour cream. It's all extremely good.
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Oystercatcher Bistro
Specialities of these white-tableclothed premises include Capalana (North African–spiced seafood and meat) and cola-marinated pork ribs.
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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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PJ O’Hares
This is a classic, stone-floor pub with a blazing fire. There’s music most nights in summer and the owners have recently opened a restaurant (mains €13 to €20) upstairs serving excellent oysters and the likes of steak-and-Guinness pie and shellfish linguine.
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Food for Thought
A rainbow of jams and chutneys lines the walls of this deli-cafe. Croquettes, quiches and fish cakes are among the tasty treats to eat in or take away, with great daily specials too.
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Carlingford Adventure Centre
Runs a wide range of activities including sailing, kayaking, windsurfing, rock climbing and archery.
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Táin Trail
Carlingford is the starting point for the 40km Táin Trail, which makes a circuit of the Cooley Peninsula through the Cooley Mountains. The route is a mixture of surfaced roads, forest tracks and green paths. The tourist office has trail info.
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PJ O'Hares
On a sunny Sunday afternoon, there's no better place in Carlingford than the beer garden of this wonderful stone-floor pub; in chilly weather, head for the blazing fire. Main courses include beef and Guinness pie, but you can easily fill up on sublime tapas-style starters such as pan-fried crab claws in garlic butter, tangy chicken wings and, of course, Carlingford oysters. Live music plays regularly (try to catch rockin' local duo the Nooks).
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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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Ghan House
Guests staying at Ghan House receive a discount at its restaurant, which is renowned for its classic food incorporating its own breads, stocks, ice creams and sauces, and herbs and vegetables from its garden. Twice a year, it hosts Georgian banquet nights complete with sword fighting.
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Cooley Birdwatching Trail
Much of the Cooley Peninsula is protected and is home to various species of birds including godwits, red-breasted mergansers, buzzards, tits and various finches. Ask at the tourist office for information on the trail.
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Bay Tree
Lovely little place at Belvedere House B&B, serving simple, stylish food made from seasonal local ingredients.
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Magee's Bistro
The word 'bistro' doesn't do justice to this outstanding seafood restaurant, which has a long, long list of fresh catches with creative interpretations, such as cod and salmon parcels in mustard cream sauce.
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