Carlingford Lough

Carlingford Lough
Location	Northern Ireland - Republic of Ireland border
Coordinates	54.07329°N 6.19938°W / 54.07329; -6.19938
River sources	Newry River, Newry Canal
Ocean/sea sources	Irish Sea
Basin countries	Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland
Settlements	Carlingford, Greencastle, Greenore, Killowen, Newry, Omeath, Rostrevor, Warrenpoint

Carlingford Lough (Irish: Loch Cairlinn; Ulster Scots: Carlinford Loch or Cairlinfurd Loch) is a glacial fjord or sea inlet that forms part of the border between Northern Ireland to the north and the Republic of Ireland to the south. On its northern shore is County Down and on its southern shore is County Louth. At its extreme interior angle (the northwest corner) it is fed by the Newry River and the Newry Canal.

The inlet is named after the village of Carlingford, County Louth. Historically it was called Cuan Snámh-Aighneach, Snámh-Aighneach or Cuan Cairlinne in Irish. An older English name was Nury (Newry) Bay.

Geography

The Newry River and the Newry Canal link the Lough to the nearby city of Newry (the Canal continues on towards the River Bann and Lough Neagh; the river, under the name River Clanrye, loops around County Down). The only other known glacial fjords in Ireland are Lough Swilly and Killary Harbour.

On the northern side, in County Down, are the coastal towns of Warrenpoint and Rostrevor, backed by the Mourne Mountains. On the southern coast are Omeath, Carlingford and Greenore backed by the Cooley Mountains, all on the Cooley Peninsula in County Louth.

History

Situated on the borders of the ancient Irish kingdoms of Ulster and Leinster, the area has a turbulent and complex history. The Irish national epic, "an Tain" Táin Bó Cúailnge (The Cattle Raid of Cooley) is set here, and describes how Ulster and Connacht went to war over the theft of a brown bull. Like all legends, the Tain would have been inspired by actual events, and the past is very much in evidence here with a very high density of Neolithic, bronze and iron age sites, ranging from simple standing stones and enclosures to chambered graves, field systems and settlements. Another indicator of Carlingford's history is the name itself. Originally "Cahir Linn" in Irish, (meaning fortified settlement on the lake), the name has developed with each successive wave of settlement. In the 8th - 10th centuries, the Vikings knew the area as Cahirlinn Fjord (lake of the fortified settlement on the lake), and the Ulster-Scots planters of the 16th century added their own clarification, giving the modern name of Carlingford Lough, (Lake of the lake of the fortified settlement on the lake). In 851 A.D. it was the site of a major two-day naval battle between a pair of Viking fleets. Norwegian Vikings (known as "white foreigners" by the Irish) had established control over most of the Irish clans in eastern Ireland when Danish Vikings (known as "black foreigners" by the Irish) arrived on a raiding expedition in 851 A.D. The two day battle ended with the Danes victorious after some of their Irish allies advised them to seek the intercession of St. Patrick. The Danes did not establish control as the Norwegians had, but proceeded to sack numerous Irish monasteries while dedicating 10% of the booty to the Irish "god", Patrick. On 3 November 1916 two steamers, the SS Connemara and the SS Retriever, collided and sank in the loch with the loss of ninety-four lives. In the late 1980s Charles Haughey, the then Irish Taoiseach sailed his yacht into Carlingford Lough and raised an Irish Tri Colour. As Carlingford Lough is half in the U.K., the Royal Navy thought he was in the U.K. and believed he was a Republican, and grew suspicious. They pursued him. As they left dock, the Taoiseach realised what was happening. He called in the re-enforcements of Irish Navy ship LÉ Eithne, which was close by. Eithne sailed to the mouth of the Lough and stopped, effectively barricading the Royal Navy gunboat in.

Tourism

The area has been a popular tourist destination since Victorian times when the railway between Dublin and Belfast was opened. Situated approximately half way between the two cities, the easy access to the area combined with its scenery and sheltered location are still important factors in its popularity today. This is where the "Mountains of Mourne sweep down to the Sea"' and together with the Sleve Foy ridge on the County Louth shore of the lough they offer scenic drives, forest parks and many miles of good footpaths and trails to explore. Rambling, hillwalking and climbing are popular, with local outdoor education centers offering courses and activity holidays. It's a similar story on the water, with marinas in Carlingford and Warrenpoint. Craft of various types can be hired at both locations, or the visitor can take a cruise on one of several tour vessels that operate during the peak season. Culturally, there is a varied offering of events and festivals. Highlights include the Carlingford Oyster Festival, Newry Arts Festival, The "Maiden of the Mournes" in Warrenpoint, Rostrevor's "Fiddlers Green International Folk Festival"' and the Mourne Walking Festival which involves a wide programme of events at a variety of locations. The majority of these festivals are free, although bookings and or entry fees may be payable for some events. More informal entertainment is widely available throughout the year in hotels and bars. Accommodation includes award winning hotels, B&Bs, self-catering holiday cottages, and campsites. Early booking is always advisable during holiday periods as even the campsites are often full to capacity. Opportunities to eat out are largely confined to the Hotels, small restaurants and local bars (although many smaller bars do not serve meals), but there is generally a good balance between quality and value for money. In 2008, the area was designated a European Destination of Excellence (EDEN), and continuing investment in infrastructure, services and facilities on both sides of the border is assured.

Flora and fauna

The northern shores have extensive mudflats and salt marshes which provide winter feeding areas for the Pale-bellied Brent Goose, Branta bernicla hrota. At the mouth of the lough are several small rock and shingle islands which are breeding areas for terns that feed in its shallow waters.

Ramsar site

The mouth of Carlingford Lough from Knockree.

The Carlingford Lough Ramsar site (wetlands of international importance designated under the Ramsar Convention), is 830.51 hectares in area, at Latitude 54 03 00 N and Longitude 06 07 00 W. It was designated a Ramsar site on 9 March 1998. It is a cross-border site. The northern shore is in Northern Ireland and includes the most significant mudflats in the lough, and an area of salt marsh. The southern shore is in the republic of Ireland. At the mouth of the lough are several small rock and shingle islands which are of importance to terns. The Ramsar Site lies between Killowen Point and Soldiers Point on the northern shores of Carlingford Lough and the landward boundary coincides entirely with that of the Carlingford Lough Area of Special Scientific Interest and the Carlingford Lough Special Protection Area.

The site qualified under Criterion 2 of the Ramsar Convention because it supports important groups of vulnerable and endangered Irish Red Data Book bird species. It supports nationally important breeding populations of Common Tern. Roseate Terns returned to the site after an absence of six years with two breeding pairs recorded in 1997. It has also supported nationally important numbers of Arctic Tern. It also qualified under Criterion 3c for supporting internationally important breeding populations of Sandwich Tern and of overwintering Light-bellied Brent Geese.

See also

• List of loughs in Ireland

External links

• Official Carlingford Online website
• Links to Omeath and Carlingford area road map on Omeath Online
• Information about the Connemara-Retriever disaster @ the BBC
• Landscapes Unlocked - Aerial footage from the BBC Sky High series explaining the physical, social and economic geography of Northern Ireland