Carlingford

We visited the quaint little town of Carlingford, not far north of Dublin, on Wednesday and returned to stay at Murphy’s B & B on Thursday night (Candee‘s standing in front of it in the picture attached). Carlingford was a suggested stop by Candee’s sister, Laura, and it was a great call. Beautifully situated on the Carlingford Lough (lake), the town looks across the water at the Mourne Mountains, just over into Northern Ireland. The town cascades down a mountain to the water and almost every building has a stunning view of the harbor. Carlingford’s current good fortune is based on its previous ill fortune. The town is a medieval village with many original structures still standing simply because here was no need to tear them down for continued progress. It’s original importance as a trading center virtually disappeared shortly after the 1200’s and its stone castles, trading outposts, and fortified structures were left to become “derelict” - the local formal term for old ruins. I am pictured in front of King John’s castle, so named due to a visit from King John of England in 1210. The town is full of wonderful shops and exquisite restaurants. We were also able to locate the terrific pottery workshop and gallery Laura had told us about and were pleased to meet the young American woman apprentice to whom Laura had spoken to last year. The work is beautiful, filled with Celtic accents and designs, and we have purchased several pieces as mementos of our visit to this picture-postcard village. As we walked around the town last night, we could smell the rich and sharp aroma of peat fires in the hearths of local homes. We had a wonderful dinner at MaGee’s Bistro and caught some traditional Irish music at a local pub.