Carlingford is a pleasant seaside town, dominated by the brooding remains of King John's castle. The spacious harbour is used by a handful of local crab, lobster fishermen and mussel fishermen. A shot distance outside the harbour are rich mussel beds, harvesting the sea is not without its perils a few years ago one of the local mussel boats capsized just outside the harbour when returning after a days fishing on the lough, all hands were lost.

Commercial fishing to the casual onlooker on a warm summer day may seen an idealic lifestyle, and indeed it has a lot in its favour, the reality however is somewhat different especially in the winter, when most people are in their centrally heated offices or factories the fishermen are on the sea possible miles from land, toiling in an industry which claims more lives than any other in the British Isles or Ireland.

The crumbling mediaeval tower house pictured on the left, stands almost opposite the Tourist information centre, where you will find a good selection of Tourist literature and some books of local interest.

One of Carlingford's famous sons is remembered nearby with a bronze bust and plaque, dedicated on March 6th 1961.

He was Thomas D'Archy McGee born in Carlingford on 13th April 1825. After emigrating to Canada he became one of the country's founding fathers. The memorial was donated by the people of Ottawa where McGee died on April 7th 1868.

Read about Carlingford in 1837 from Samuel Lewis' Topographical Directory of Ireland.