The best cycling routes around Glasdrumman

Upon entering the village of Castlebellingham, you are welcomed by the impressive gatehouse of Bellingham Castle. This robust, castle-like structure with its battlements and characteristic arched gateway forms the historic entrance to the extensive Bellingham family estate. The castle itself, dating back to the 17th century, breathes the atmosphere of the Irish nobility.

In the heart of Dundalk stands the stately St Patrick’s Pro-Cathedral, an architectural masterpiece built in the 19th century. The design is directly inspired by the famous King’s College Chapel in Cambridge, which you will immediately recognize from its refined Gothic style and striking corner towers. Inside, you will be surprised by the beautiful stained-glass windows and detailed woodwork.

On the facade next to the Town Council, you can admire the impressive mural The Arctic Fox, created by the artist Friz. This artwork brings to life the Dundalk-born explorer Francis Leopold McClintock, who became famous for his polar expeditions and for solving the mystery of the lost Franklin expedition. With a dreamy mix of historical portraits and arctic symbolism, this painting honours a local hero on the spot where his family home once stood. A colourful and historic resting point in the heart of the city.

Dundalk Courthouse (1819) is one of the finest examples of the Greek Revival style in Ireland. The building is directly inspired by the Temple of Hephaestus (formerly Temple of Theseus) in Athens. The imposing facade is dominated by a massive portal with six monumental Doric columns of Portland stone, which give the building a sober and powerful appearance. This architectural gem, built of granite blocks, forms an impressive anchor point in the historic heart of the city

During your ride through the Seatown district, you cannot miss this imposing stone tower. The Seatown Windmill, built around 1800, was once one of the tallest windmills in Ireland with its eight floors. Although the sails have long since disappeared, the robust hull remains an impressive monument to the city's industrial past.

On Bachelor’s Walk in Dundalk, Omin painted a powerful mural of a photographer observing the street through his lens. Below him, mini-figures march on elephants, a surreal detail that blends realism and imagination. The cool blue tones stand out sharply against the red brick, giving this quiet residential street an unexpected artistic intensity.

Here too, Aches combines a realistic portrait (young man with green eyes) with an animal figure, this time a dog instead of a horse. The colours — green, orange and yellow — subtly refer to the Irish flag, but in his typical RGB style with geometric transitions. The work covers two facades and forms a visual dialogue with the mural on St. Patrick Street: human and animal, gaze and movement, city and nature.

On Clanbrassil Street, Friz painted an intimate mural where two faces almost touch, surrounded by blue butterflies. The combination of soft portraits, expressive brushstrokes, and symbolism gives the work a dreamy, emotional charge. A poetic contrast to the monumental Aches murals elsewhere in Dundalk.