Dundalk

Dundalk is a town in County Louth, Ireland, that spreads along the Castletown River roughly halfway between Dublin and Belfast. Streets run from the town center out to residential neighborhoods on the edges, while commercial and industrial areas occupy the outer sections.

A Norman fortification from the 12th century formed the starting point of the settlement, which later became the northern edge of the Pale, the area under direct English control. Over the centuries, the location grew into a trading center, consolidating its importance through linen industry and railway connections in the 19th century.

The town's name comes from the Irish Dún Dealgan, meaning the fort of Dealga, referring to a mythical Celtic warrior. Today, many shops, pubs and street signs carry this Irish form, keeping the name present in daily life.

The M1 motorway connects the town directly to Dublin in the south and Belfast in the north, while Clarke Station offers regular train services to both cities. Visitors on foot find the center compact and easy to navigate, with most facilities and shops within a short walk of each other.

Near the Proleek Dolmen, a megalithic tomb from 3700 BC, a huge capstone rests on three smaller stones, which locals call the giant's table. Visitors often throw smaller stones onto the top of the capstone, which according to local tradition is said to bring good luck.