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Attractions in Carlingford
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MEDIEVAL HERITAGE: Guided
History Tours of Carlingford are available through the Carlingford
Heritage Trust. The area rich in castles and medieval buildings
and Carlingford town in particular has an excellent preserved
selection.
The Tholsel is the only
surviving town gate in Carlingford and one of very few in
Ireland. Contemporary with the 15th century town wall, it
functioned as a toll gate where taxes were levied on goods
entering the town. It is recorded in 1834 that the building
was used by the Corporation of Carlingford for meetings and
a Parliament is said to have convened there and made laws
for the Pale. It was also used as the town jail in the 18th
century. Originally three storeys high, its present appearance
is due to alterations made in the 19th century.
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King John's Castle - 12th century
This early Norman fortress was named after King John who visited
Carlingford in 1210. The western portion of the castle predates
this visit and was probably commissioned by Hugh de Lacy c. 1190.
A massive curtain wall divides the earlier western courtyard from
the eastern wing, which contained the living quarters. The eastern
section was constructed in the mid 13th century and has alterations
and additions dating from the 15th and 16th centuries. The castle
commanded an important defensive position on the Lough but by the
16th century it was described as in a wretched condition and remained
so until conservation work in the 1950s.
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Carlingford
town's failure to attract industry in the past means that visitors
still experience the original medieval fabric, fossilised in
its past, unlike neighboring towns such as Dundalk where all
traces of medieval defenses were removed by the first half of
the 18th century. Two hundred years ago a noted Irish scholar
reflected, "There is a medieval suggestiveness about it
which carries one back many centuries and fills the mind with
vague dreamings". Today, that essential character still
remains with narrow streets and many of the original buildings.
The major historical buildings include the 12th century King
John's Castle and the fortified Dominican Friary dating from
1305. The Mint and The Tholsel, a medieval toll house, both
date from the 15th century. Taaffe's Castle was built in the
16th century as home to a wealthy merchant. Carlingford's rich
history is brought to life today in the Holy Trinity Heritage
Center, located in a restored medieval church. |
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