Bealach na Tana - 40th Anniversary of The Tain Way, Carlingford

What to Expect

Bealach na Tana marks forty years of The Tain Way, the waymarked loop that climbs out of Carlingford and circles the Cooley Peninsula before dropping back to the lough. The anniversary programme runs over Thursday 17 and Friday 18 September 2026, based out of the Tourist Office at the Station House in Carlingford, and takes in the wider peninsula rather than the village alone. Omeath, Greenore and Ravensdale Park all sit on or near the route and feature in the weekend.

The Tain Way takes its name from the Tain Bo Cuailnge, the cattle raid of Cooley, and the route was laid out to follow ground that appears in the story. The full circuit is a demanding upland walk over the Cooley Mountains with long views across Carlingford Lough to the Mournes on the County Down side, and shorter sections are walkable in an afternoon from Carlingford or Omeath. Anyone planning to take on hill sections should carry proper boots, a waterproof and a map, because cloud comes down fast on the Cooley ridge and the ground is wet in places even after dry spells.

Good to Know

• Thursday 17 and Friday 18 September 2026
• Based at the Tourist Office, Station House, Carlingford, Co. Louth A91 CV06
• Marks the 40th anniversary of The Tain Way waymarked route
• The programme covers the wider Cooley Peninsula including Omeath, Greenore and Ravensdale Park
• Start times and any charges had not been published when this listing was compiled
• Details from Carlingford Heritage Centre on 042 93 73650 or tourism@carlingfordheritagecentre.com

Getting There

Carlingford is on the R173 coast road along the Cooley Peninsula, roughly twenty minutes from Dundalk and signposted from junction 18 of the M1 between Dublin and Belfast. The Station House sits on the seaward side of the village beside the greenway, a short walk from the square. Public parking is available at the marina and along the approach roads, and the village car parks fill early at weekends. Dundalk Clarke railway station on the Dublin to Belfast line is the nearest rail link, with local buses running out along the peninsula through Omeath to Carlingford.