Clogherhead

Clogherhead, meaning "rocky headland" is a fishing village in County Louth. Located in a natural bay on the East Coast it is bordered by the villages of Annagassan to the north and Termonfeckin to the south and is about 12 km northeast of Drogheda. It is a popular location for all types of activities including, fishing, walking, sightseeing and water-based activities when exploring the Boyne Valley. 

The headland has a walking trail from the village along steep sea cliffs to the nearby harbour of Port Oriel. At low tide, it is also possible to walk the beach as far as the Boyne Estuary. 

From the headland and at the harbour there are views of Ireland's east coast from the Mourne and Cooley Mountains in the north as far south as Lambay Island.

Clogherhead has been used as a filming location for a number of films, including,

• Perrier's Bounty (2008), with Cillian Murphy, Jim Broadbent and Brendan Gleeson
• The Devil's Own (1997) with Harrison Ford and Brad Pitt
• Captain Lightfoot (1955) with Rock Hudson 

It is a wonderful place to visit with a selection of cafes, pubs and restaurants to choose from. You will certainly have worked up an appetite by the time you have taken in the headland walk or made a splash at Little Strand beach! Read on for more details of this beautiful seaside location.  

Port Oriel Harbour

Port Oriel Harbour is located just outside the village of Clogherhead. It is the largest fishing port in the North East of Ireland. From the harbour you can launch a boat or kayak and take a trip around the headland. Along the way you can see Redman’s Cave and the Statue of Our Lady in the rocks. If a hike is more to your taste then head up and over the headland and round to the beach, stopping at the old lookout post for some stunning views both North and South. Make a point of trying some freshly-landed seafood when you're exploring. 

The Little Strand Beach

Clogherhead beach is an International Blue Flag beach and is lifeguard patrolled during the bathing season. Stunning views and miles of sandy beach provide a great location for all the family to enjoy. Visit the RNLI station and learn about their brand new state of the art Shannon class lifeboat and water safety. Clogherhead Beach is one of only a few in the country to offer the use of a beach wheelchair. 

Headland Walk

Clogherhead headland is the only high, rocky headland on the east coast between the Mournes and Howth in County Dublin. It is also of international significance for its geology as the site where the Lapetus Suture reaches Ireland's east coast. Clogherhead is a Special Area of Conservation and is also listed as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty because it supports rare, coastal heathland vegetation. There are several informal paths over the headland between the village and Port Oriel and is well worth a visit. Roughly 2km depending on route.

The Mullagh Cemetary

Fantastic views of the village of Clogherhead and as far south as Skerries.  The Sugar Loaf can be spotted in the distance on a clear day. Graves here include slates from the time of The Famine. The Church ruins are said to date back to the 12th century. You will find a tomb belonging to a cousin of Countess Markievicz. The cemetary is believed to be situated on the site of a pre-existing 6th century Monastery built by St Nectan, the nephew of St. Patrick. Its significance is also attested to in the Schools Collection when Mullagh Church is described as ‘a branch church of Clonmacnoise’. It is the oldest standing structure in the village. 

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