Cooley Peninsula Overview

The numerous trails in the mountains surrounding the Cooley Peninsula are a hiker’s paradise: the Táin Trail traverses the mountains with ideal paths for bikers, and Carlingford Lough has the warmest waters in the northern half of Ireland, though some locals still claim they are cursed. Several ancient Irish myths are set in this dramatic landscape, including the epic Táin Bó Cuailnge, “The Cattle Raid of Cooley,” one of the oldest stories in any European language. Remarkably well-preserved remnants of medieval settlements are scattered across the peninsula.

• Clonmacnoise

Twenty-three sparsely populated kilometers southwest of Athlone, the monastic ruins of Clonmacnoise (clon-muk-NOYS) keep watch over Shannon’s boglands. St. Ciaran (KEER-on) founded his monastery here ...more

• Slieve Bloom Mountains

Though lower than 610m at their highest point, the Slieve Bloom Mountains create a gentle break from the plains between Birr, Roscrea, Portlaoise, and Tullamore. Hiking trails abound in the forests and ...more

• Portlaoise

Travelers who ask at the tourist office what there is to do in Portlaoise (port-LEESH) are likely to be directed outside of town, though not for a lack of local hospitality. The Rock of Dunamaise is ...more