Nestled between Co. Down on it’s northern shores and the Cooley Peninsula, Co. Louth on the South, the area around Carlingford Lough is one of outstanding natural beauty. Steeped in legend and history the area has something for everyone. We hope our website helps you to explore and fall in love with all it has to offer.

This week's photo is from Craig McCarthy. Craig has always had an interest in photography but has only taken it up seriously this year. He has lived in Co. Louth for the last 20 years and as a child used to go camping in Carlingford. Craig was out with his friend Adam last week to capture some sunrise photos of the lighthouse when the opportunity to capture this photo came about. We love it! You can follow Craig on Instagram @craig.mccarthy.750

The Haulbowline lighthouse was completed in 1824 after a request was made in 1817 to replace the 1803 Cranfield Point Lighthouse. The Cranfield Lighthouse was considered to be in a poor position to mark dangerous rocks at the entrance to Carlingford Lough. It is 34m (112 ft) in height and the main light is 32m above high water. It serves to guide vessels through the entrance channel into Carlingford Lough. It was built on a semi-submerged rock which is exposed only at low tide with fast currents running around it and was considered quite a feat at the time. It was painted white and remained white until 1946 when it was changed to its natural stone colour. From 1824 until 1922 the Keepers and their families lived in the Cranfield Point Lighthouse dwelling. New dwellings were built at Greencastle in 1922 and subsequently sold after the light was automated. The light was converted to electric and made unwatched automatic on 17 March 1965. The fog signal was permanently disestablished on 8 January 2009 and to this day is still missed by many locals.