A free, whimsical open-air park on the shores of Carlingford Lough where storyboards, fairy sculptures and the underground Leprechaun Cavern bring the myths of the Cooley Peninsula to life.
The park is dotted with storyboards, miniature replicas and art installations retelling local legends of Carlingford and the Cooley Peninsula, plus a fairy village and the Proposal Stones. Admission is free, and the zero-cost stroll along the shore ends at fantastic views over Carlingford Lough to the Mountains of Mourne and Slieve Foye.
Beside the park, McCoillte, Ireland's self-styled last Leprechaun Whisperer, leads a fully seated storytelling introduction followed by a visit to the underground cavern where the last 236 leprechauns are said to live. The tour takes about an hour and is mostly indoors; no booking is needed, but phoning ahead is advised.
There is a small playground and seating areas within the park, making it an easy, free stop for families. It can be breezy by the water, so bring layers.
The tale of how the leprechauns came to be protected under the European Habitats Directive, and the story behind the gold coins and the 1989 leprechaun suit found on Foy Mountain, is told on site and in the book 'The Last Leprechauns of Ireland' (about €20).
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