Carlingford Lough

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The mouth of Carlingford Lough from Knockree

Carlingford Lough (Loch Cairlinn in Irish) (Cairlinn being shortened form of "Cathair Linn" literally translated as "City of the Pool") is a sea loch that forms part of the international border between Northern Ireland to the north and the Republic of Ireland to the south. At its extreme interior angle (the northwest corner) it is fed by the Newry River and the Newry Canal, which link it to the nearby city of Newry (the Canal continues on towards the River Bann and Lough Neagh; the river, under the name River Clanrye, loops around County Down).

On the northern side, in County Down, are the coastal towns of Warrenpoint and Rostrevor, backed by the Mourne Mountains, and on the southern side are Omeath, Carlingford and Greenore, all on the Cooley peninsula in County Louth.

On 3 November 1916 two steamers, the SS Connemara and the SS Retriever, collided and sank in the loch with the loss of ninety-four lives.

Carlingford Lough is a popular venue for sea angling and yachting. The northern shores contain mudflats and salt marsh, so provide winter feeding areas for the Pale-bellied Brent Goose, Branta bernicla hrota. At the mouth of the lough are several small rock and shingle islands which are breeding areas for terns, which feed in its shallow waters. The lough has suffered damage in recent years to its natural ecology and biodiversity due to the impacts of a mussel dredging industry.^{[citation needed]}

Lough cruises are now a regular feature on the Lough during the summer months.