Cooley Peninsula facts for kids
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Location of the Cooley Peninsula
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| Geography | |
| Location | Ireland |
| Adjacent bodies of water | |
| Area | 155 km2 (60 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 589 m (1,932 ft) |
| Highest point | Slieve Foy |
| Administration | |
| County | Louth |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 9,212 |
| Pop. density | 59.4 /km2 (153.8 /sq mi) |
The Cooley Peninsula is a beautiful, hilly piece of land sticking out into the sea. It's located in the north of County Louth on the east coast of Ireland. This special area includes the charming town of Carlingford, the port of Greenore, and the village of Omeath.
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Exploring the Cooley Peninsula
The Cooley Peninsula is known for its stunning views and interesting history. It's a great place to visit if you love nature and old stories.
Mountains and Water
The peninsula is home to the Cooley Mountains. The tallest mountain here is Slieve Foy. It stands at 589 meters (about 1,932 feet) high. Slieve Foy is also the highest point in all of County Louth.
To the north of the peninsula, you'll find Carlingford Lough. This is a beautiful sea inlet that forms part of the border with Northern Ireland. To the south, you'll see Dundalk Bay. A road called the R173 goes all the way around the peninsula.
Rocks and History
The rocks of the Cooley Peninsula tell a very old story. Some rocks are 440 million years old! These are called Silurian greywacke sandstones. Other rocks are 340 million years old and are made of limestone. The mountains themselves were formed by volcanic rocks about 60 million years ago.
Ancient Tales and Monuments
The Cooley Peninsula is famous in Irish mythology. It was the home of a legendary bull named Donn Cuailnge. This bull was central to a famous story called the Táin Bó Cúailnge, which means "Cattle Raid of Cooley." It's one of the most important tales in ancient Irish literature.
You can also find very old monuments here. The Proleek Dolmen is a huge ancient tomb. Its capstone, which is the big stone on top, weighs about 35 tons! That's like the weight of several elephants. There's also a Bronze Age gallery grave nearby. These ancient sites show that people have lived in Cooley for thousands of years.
Life and Business
Most of the land on the Cooley Peninsula is used for farming. But it's also a popular spot for visitors. You'll find many hotels and bed-and-breakfasts where people can stay.
There's even a modern distillery here, the Cooley Distillery. It was the first new distillery in Ireland in many years. You can also catch a car-ferry from Greenore to County Down in Northern Ireland. This makes it easy to explore more of the area.
Sports and Famous Faces
The local Gaelic football and ladies' Gaelic football club is called Cooley Kickhams. They play south of Carlingford. Gaelic football is a popular sport in Ireland, similar to a mix of soccer and rugby.
The Cooley Peninsula has been home to some well-known people. Rugby players Rob Kearney and David Kearney, who have played for Leinster and Ireland, are from here. Even U.S. President Joe Biden has ancestors from this area! He shares a great-grandfather with the Kearney brothers. The famous Irish sports commentator Jimmy Magee also grew up on the Cooley Peninsula.
