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Armchair Adventure: A Tour Through Dundalk, Ireland, with Iron Annie

Armchair_AdventurerLuke Cassidy’s Iron Annie reveals an uncompromising, darkly humorous look at life in the criminal underworld of the Irish border. This gritty yet hopeful story is set in Dundalk, or as locals call it “The Town,” a city located on the border with Northern Ireland, halfway between Dublin and Belfast.

“The Town” plays such a large part in the novel that we’ve decided to explore it ourselves, offering a guide to the different attractions the historic city has to offer. Lucky for us, author Luke Cassidy is a Dundalk native himself, and he has shared some of his favorite photos of the area.

 

Castle Roche

This beautiful castle is located just a few miles northwest of Dundalk and offers scenic views of the surrounding landscape. Built in 1236 AD, the castle holds major historical significance for “The Town” as a strategic outpost held by the de Verdun family until it was laid to ruin following the Cromwellian Conquest.

Stephenstown Pond Nature Park

Enjoy a leisurely afternoon in the Stephenstown Pond Nature Park, where you can stroll along the lakeside walkways or relish in the site’s woodlands. You may find many locals enjoying a picnic or carp fishing at the pond.

Pisa

You’re certainly already familiar with this place: its infamous Leaning Tower has been attracting visitors for centuries. But there are many other lovely sights there including the Arno River, which runs through the city itself.

Seek Dundalk

While touring The Town, you’ll notice the vibrant presence of street art. Starting in 2019, Dundalk launched an inaugural festival celebrating contemporary urban art, offering an opportunity to highlight  art in the public domain.

 

Photo credit: Megan Doherty

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