A border city between the Mourne Mountains and the Ring of Gullion, with a canal that was the first of its kind in these islands.
Newry is one of the oldest towns in Ireland, standing on the Clanrye River close to the border with the Republic of Ireland. It became a city in 2002. Its name comes from a yew tree said to have been planted by St Patrick.
Newry sits between two of the most beautiful landscapes in Ireland: the Mourne Mountains to the east and the Ring of Gullion to the west. It is a busy market and shopping city, popular with shoppers from both sides of the border. This guide covers six things to see and do.
1. The Mourne Mountains
The Mourne Mountains, about twenty minutes east of Newry, are a range of granite peaks that roll down to the sea. They are one of the most beautiful mountain ranges in Ireland. Slieve Donard, the highest peak, is the highest mountain in Northern Ireland.
The Mourne Wall, a dry stone wall about twenty two miles long, runs across fifteen of the peaks. It was built in the early twentieth century to mark the boundary of the land around a reservoir. Walking alongside it is a popular challenge.
The Silent Valley Reservoir, in the heart of the mountains, has walks and a visitor centre. Tollymore Forest Park, on the northern edge of the Mournes, has woodland walks and river crossings, and it was used as a filming location for Game of Thrones. Newcastle, a seaside town at the foot of Slieve Donard, is where the mountains famously sweep down to the sea.
The Mournes are best explored by car. A driver for the day makes it easy to reach the walks and villages. The weather in the mountains can change quickly, so bring warm clothes.
2. Slieve Gullion and the Ring of Gullion
Slieve Gullion, about fifteen minutes south west of Newry, is the highest mountain in County Armagh. It stands at the centre of the Ring of Gullion, a ring of hills formed by an ancient volcano. It is a protected landscape of great beauty.
A forest drive winds up through Slieve Gullion Forest Park, with views across the ring of hills. From the car park, a path leads to the summit. At the top is a passage tomb, the highest surviving passage tomb in Ireland, and a small lake.
The mountain is steeped in legend. The hero Cú Chulainn is said to have fought here, and stories tell of a witch who lured Finn McCool into the lake. The landscape feels magical.
The forest park has woodland walks, a courtyard with a café, and an adventure playground. It is popular with families. A car makes it easy to reach.
3. The Newry Canal
The Newry Canal opened in 1742, and it is often described as the first summit level canal in Britain and Ireland, a canal that climbs over high ground using locks. It was built to carry coal from the Tyrone coalfields to Dublin. It came before the famous canals of the English industrial revolution.
The canal runs from Newry to Portadown, a distance of about twenty miles. Its towpath, known as the Newry Canal Way, is a lovely walking and cycling route. It follows the canal through quiet countryside, past old locks and lock keepers’ houses.
In the city itself, the canal runs through the centre, beside the shops. The Albert Basin, a former dock, is now a waterfront. The canal is a reminder of Newry’s history as a busy port.
The towpath is flat and easy, and suitable for families. You can walk or cycle short sections. It is peaceful and green.
4. Newry Cathedral
The Cathedral of St Patrick and St Colman, in the centre of Newry, was one of the first Catholic cathedrals built in Ireland after the laws restricting Catholic worship were relaxed. It was built in the 1820s. It is a fine granite building.
Inside, the cathedral is richly decorated, with mosaics, stained glass and painted ceilings. The interior was decorated in the early twentieth century. It is one of the most beautiful church interiors in Northern Ireland.
The cathedral is still a busy place of worship. Visitors are welcome outside service times. It is free to visit.
The cathedral is a short walk from the city centre shops. Newry has several other historic churches. The city centre has a mix of old and new buildings.
5. Bagenal’s Castle and the city centre
Bagenal’s Castle, in the city centre, is a sixteenth century fortified house built by Sir Nicholas Bagenal. It was hidden for centuries inside a bakery, and it was rediscovered and restored in the late twentieth century. It is now home to the Newry and Mourne Museum.
The museum tells the story of Newry and the Mourne area, from prehistoric times to the present day. It includes displays about the canal, the border and local traditions. It is free to visit.
Newry is one of the busiest shopping cities in Northern Ireland, with shopping centres and a market. It is popular with shoppers from across the border. The city centre has cafés and restaurants.
The Sean Hollywood Arts Centre stages plays, concerts and exhibitions. The city is lively and friendly. It is easy to explore on foot.
6. Carlingford Lough and Rostrevor
Carlingford Lough, south east of Newry, is a long sea inlet between the Mourne Mountains and the Cooley Mountains, forming part of the border. It is a beautiful stretch of water. The villages along its shores are lovely.
Rostrevor, on the northern shore, is a pretty village at the foot of the Mournes. Kilbroney Park, above the village, has forest walks and the Cloughmore Stone, a huge boulder left by a glacier, although legend says it was thrown by a giant. The author C.S. Lewis said the landscape here reminded him of Narnia.
Warrenpoint, a seaside town at the head of the lough, has a promenade and a harbour. Narrow Water Castle, a tower house on the river, is nearby. Across the lough, Carlingford, in the Republic, is a medieval village famous for its oysters.
The drive around the lough is spectacular. A car or a driver for the day makes it easy to explore both sides of the border.
Getting there and getting around
Newry station is on the railway between Belfast and Dublin, with trains to Belfast in around forty five minutes and to Dublin in around an hour and a quarter. The A1 and M1 link the city with Belfast and Dublin.
Belfast and Dublin airports are each about an hour away by road. A car booked ahead is the easiest way to travel between Newry, the airports and the station, and to explore the Mournes and the Ring of Gullion.
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