Ardee

Situated on the main road as you travel north to Derry or Donegal, Ardee is a small town with many interesting and historic buildings. These include St. Mary's, the old church in the centre of the town, which incorporates part of a 13th century Carmelite Church founded by the Normans. The town's main castle - Ardee Castle - is a fine example of a series of Norman buildings that dominate the landscape of Louth. Ardee occupies a prominent position in Irish mythology as the scene of a ferocious battle between Cuchulainn, Ulster's great hero, and his friend Ferdia, who represented the province of Leinster. These two great warriors fought for four days before Ferdia finally succumbed to Cuchulainn's might. Ferdia's memory is preserved in the town's Gaelic name - Atha Fherdia - meaning Fort of Ferdia. There is a commemorative statue to the great hero located on the bank of the river Dee which flows through the town.