This is one of the few names in Ireland which clearly show a Danish influence. The Irish designation was Cairlinn, and the present name simply means the “fiord of Cairlinn,” or Carlingford.

It is situated in the County of Louth, on the southern shore of the bay at the foot of the Mourne Mountains, about eleven miles east-north-east of Dundalk.

It was a most important town of the Pale, and at one time nearly every building of any size was of a fortified type. There are still to be seen the remains of three strongholds called at the present time King John’s Castle, Taffe’s Castle, and Lee’s Castle.

King John’s Castle is traditionally supposed to have been erected by that monarch’s orders in 1210 to protect the mountain pass of Goulin. We know that King John was at “Kerlingford,” but Grose considers that it is more likely the fortress was built by De Lacy or De Courcy.

It is situated on a rocky promontory which projects into the sea, and having been built in accordance with the natural formation of the rock is triangular in shape. It is divided in the centre by a “cross wall” nearly 12 feet thick. On the southern side the divisions of apartments are still to be seen, and there are also the remains of galleries with recesses for archers. The walls are about 11 feet in thickness, and on the sea side there is a small underground passage some 20 feet in length.

The chief entrance from the water was protected by a

platform or battery, which also commanded the harbour. It is said the promontory once extended further into the sea, and being covered with soft grass was called the “Green Quay.”

In 1215 the King commanded Roger Pipard to deliver up the castle to any one the Archbishop of Dublin appointed to receive it. Richard de Burgh was ordered to give up the fortress to Geoffrey de Mariscis in 1216 or 1217, but this order was immediately followed by a similar one to William de Lacy, who had evidently taken the King’s Castle at Carlingford.

In 1388 Stephen Gernon, the constable of the time, was licensed by the King to take corn tithes in the lordship of Cooley to supply the castles of Carlingford and Greencastle. Five years later Esmond de Loundres was appointed Warden of Carlingford, Greencastle, and Coly, with the profits due to the office. The O’Neill of that day so pillaged the country round that De Loundres was unable even to meet his expenses, and he petitioned that, the seignory being laid waste, he might be either relieved of office or properly supplied with means to meet the charges attached to it. Whereupon an order to provision the castles under his command was issued.

Fishing rights seem to have been attached to the castle in 1425, and more than a hundred years later they still formed a Government revenue. In 1535 the Treasurer went to Carlingford to inspect the King’s castle. He reported that it and Greencastle with the country round had been almost destroyed, and that if the war was to continue English workmen would have to be sent over to put the castle in repair. He suggested that the expenses should be defrayed by the fishing dues.

This does not seem to have been done, for in 1549 both castles were in a dilapidated condition. Three years later Sir Nicholas Bagenall was granted “the Manor of Carlingford and an old castle there, and the whole demesne and manor of Mourne and Greencastle, the castle and demesne of the Black Friars in Carlingford.” Ten years later it was still in his hands.

In 1596 the Earl of Tyrone, after having pretended to submit to the Government, made an incursion into the Pale. It seems that his foremost troops were commanded by his son-in-law, Henry Oge, who endeavoured to surprise the castle at Carlingford. This he was unable to accomplish, but, “missing of his principal purpose, there were carried away as prisoners, in lamentable manner, two gentlewomen, daughters of Captain Henshaw, the one married and the other a maid.”

The Earl, who was following, had intended to reinforce the troops after the seizing of the town and fortress, but the failure of the enterprise prevented his doing so. He acknowledged having carried off the ladies from the castle “in time of peace,” and refused to return them until O’Hanlon’s son was liberated in exchange.

Marmaduke Whitechurch was constable of Carlingford in 1610, and had six warders under his command.

In 1641 “Sir Con Maginse tooke the forte and castle of the Neurie and Carlingfoorde.”

The next year it was captured by a ruse graphically described as follows: “5th of May. Newes came from Dundalk to the Lords Justices by Captaine Cadogan (who came thence through Maday with ten horse-men only) that the Newry was not only retaken by the Lord Conway and Munroe, the Scots commander, from the rebels, but also that the towne and castle of Carlingford were taken by a ship that came from Knockfergus. Their policy was to put up the Spanish colours, which the rebels discerning, sent a fisher-boat, with ten or twelve of their commanders, to goe aboard the ship, supposing that some ammunition was come unto them; but the captaine of the ships, instead of shewing them any such commodities, clapt them up under decks, and so landing his musketiers, they took the towne, which they of the castle soone perceiving, fled away, and left both unto our forces.”

In 1648 Lord Inchiquin marched on Carlingford after capturing Dundalk, and seems to have had little difficulty in getting possession of the town and fortress. The following year Colonel Venables appeared before the walls with Parliamentary forces. Upon his making preparation for the landing of cannon the town and castles were surrendered. In a letter to Oliver Cromwell he speaks with great praise of Captain Ferns, who “came to the harbour’s mouth with his fregot, and upon a signal agreed between us, came gallantly in under fire,” although his mainmast was split by a shot from the castle. He captured a small Wexford vessel then in the bay.

Carlingford was no mean prize, as it formed the chief storehouse of their opponents’ arms in Ulster.

The three castles and the sea-fort contained in all seven pieces of ordnance, nearly 40 barrels of powder and the same of small shot, over a thousand muskets, and 480 pikes.

They did not find much provision in the town. The next day Newry surrendered.

The fortress must have been subjected to bombardment at some time, as cannon-balls have been found among the ruins.