County Louth

County Louth is an administrative division on the eastern coast of Ireland within the province of Leinster, south of Northern Ireland and north of Dublin. The area covers the Cooley Peninsula, the mouth of the Boyne river, and low coastal land along the Irish Sea.

The area underwent a major shift during the Norman conquest in the late 12th century, when local lordships gave way to new administrative structures. Towns like Dundalk and Drogheda emerged as fortified settlements with royal privileges at that time.

The county takes its name from the Celtic god Lugh, worshipped in early medieval Ireland. Many place names across the region connect to old legends and stories that travelers can still trace in the landscape today.

Visitors planning to explore the region can use Dundalk and Drogheda as starting points, from which coastal villages and hills are within easy reach. Roads often follow old routes that wind through valleys and along the shore.

Carlingford Lough sits on the border with Northern Ireland and forms a natural waterway between both jurisdictions. Its narrow waters have served as a passage for fishermen and traders for centuries.

Location: Leinster

Capital city: Dundalk

Shares border with: County Armagh, County Monaghan, County Meath, Northern Ireland

Website: https://louthcoco.ie/en

GPS coordinates: 53.83333,-6.50000

Latest update: December 4, 2025 23:04