Louth is the smallest of the Irish counties and is located on the coast near the border with Northern Ireland. It is known for the Large Port in Drogheda and the mountainous areas where you can see the ruins of castles and monasteries.
The county capital is near the border Dundalk. The city is a great base to explore the picturesque Cooley Peninsula. According to Irish mythology, it was here that the bull, Donn Cúailnge, lived, for which the battle described in the epic Tain took place. On the peninsula you can see several prehistoric dolmens, of which the most famous are Proleek Dolmen and tombs from the Bronze Age.
The Cooley Peninsula also has mountains of the same name, with the highest peak in the county of Slieve Foy, 589 m above sea level. At its foot lies the picturesque village of Carlingford with the ruins of King John's castle built by the Normans. The local medieval church now houses a Heritage Center showing the history of the former port. In turn, in August, the city becomes the arena of Ireland's largest Oyster Festival.
The county has a rich history related to Christianity. Here are the ruins of one of Ireland's oldest monasteries, Monasterboice. According to the application, it was founded by a student of St. Patrick's in the 5th century The local Celtic crosses are among the best examples of Irish art from the early Middle Ages. The second interesting monastery ruined today is Mellifont Abbey, the first Cistercian abbey in Ireland from the middle of the 12th century.
