These are the top three places in the annual tidy towns competition in Ireland’s county Louth
- 1st: Blackrock – A charming coastal village and thriving suburb of Dundalk, Blackrock is defined by its stunning crescent seafront promenade, colourful village square, and the iconic Blackrock Pier. Visitors come for bracing walks, excellent seafood in traditional pubs, and the popular ‘Sunrise Festival’. Its neat, vibrant streets and community atmosphere make it a perennial contender.
- 2nd: Dromiskin – A historic village with a strong community spirit, Dromiskin is known for its ancient ecclesiastical site, including a 9th-century round tower and high crosses. It offers a peaceful, green respite with lovely walking loops, well-kept heritage trails, and a proud local GAA club at its heart, presenting a tidy, welcoming face to all who pass through.
- 3rd: Dundalk – The county town, Dundalk has made impressive strides in urban regeneration. Attractions include the beautifully restored Dundalk Railway Station, the County Museum, the vibrant town centre streetscapes, and proximity to the Cooley Mountains. It’s a hub for shopping, culture, and history, with tidy efforts focused on its many public spaces and floral displays.
The 2025 Irish Restaurant Award winners for county Louth
- Overall: Square Restaurant, Dundalk
- Café: Strandfield
- Casual Dining: The Valley Inn
- Chef: Brendan Mulligan, The Spotted Dog
- Contemporary Irish Cuisine: Number One Jocelyn Bistro
- Customer Service: Social Bar and Restaurant
- Employee Excellence Award: Sarah McGarry, The Bay Tree Restaurant
- Gastro Pub: The Glyde Inn
- Hotel and Guesthouse Restaurant: Scholars Townhouse Hotel
- Innovator: Mo Chara
- Local Food Hero: Adam Murray of Biddo’s Street Food
- Newcomer: The Cathedral Restaurant
- Pub: Sarsfields Bar
- Restaurant Manager: Aine Stanley, Square Restaurant
- Sustainable Practices: The Gateway Hotel
- Use of Social Media: Rocksalt Cafe
- Wine Experience: No. 3 Winebar & Restaurant
- World Cuisine: Sally Cinnamons
Awards
Antrim – Armagh – Carlow – Cavan – Clare – Cork – Derry – Donegal – Down – Dublin – Fermanagh – Galway – Kerry – Kildare – Kilkenny – Laois – Leitrim – Limerick – Longford – Louth – Mayo – Meath – Monaghan – Offaly – Roscommon – Sligo – Tipperary – Tyrone – Waterford – Westmeath – Wexford – Wicklow
2025 Irish Restaurant awards by county:
Antrim – Armagh – Carlow – Cavan – Clare – Cork – Derry – Donegal – Down – Dublin – Fermanagh – Galway – Kerry – Kildare – Kilkenny – Laois – Leitrim – Limerick – Longford – Louth – Mayo – Meath – Monaghan – Offaly – Roscommon – Sligo – Tipperary – Tyrone – Waterford – Westmeath – Wexford – Wicklow
Louth:
Introduction – Adventure – Anthem – Archaeology – Attractions – Awards – Birdwatching – Camping – Castles – Churches – Contact list – Cycling – Dining – Equestrian – Festivals – Fishing – Folklore – Gardens – Golf – Graveyards – Happening – Haunted – Highest – Hiking – History – Holy Wells – Hotels – Hotels8 – Instagrammable – Itineraries – Largest town – Luxury – MICE – Movies – Musicians – Name – New – Novelists – Off the beaten track – Poets – Pubs – Quotes – Random Facts – Restaurant Awards – Sacred Places – Saints – Spas – Sports – Sunsets– Sustainable – Things to do – Towns – Video – Villages – Walking – Wanderlist – Weddings – Wild swimming – Writers – 1837 – 1846 – 1852 – 1909 – 1955 – 1980 –
Louth is a county of historic depth and coastal beauty, with Drogheda’s St Peter’s Church housing a historic shrine and the Boyne Valley offering ancient sites like Newgrange, a UNESCO-listed passage tomb across the border in Meath. Carlingford’s medieval streets and castle provide scenic walks, while Dundalk’s coastal paths add natural allure. Other attractions include the Cooley Peninsula’s hiking trails. Louth is Ireland’s smallest county by size (821 sq km) and 17th largest by population (139,703). Population peaked at 128,240 in 1841 and reached its lowest point, 63,665 in 1926. In terms of hospitality, Louth is Ireland’s 21st most visited tourist county with around 108,000 international visitors per year.
