Dundalk —County Louth

Situated midway between Dundalk and Drogheda, Dunleer is the principle town in the barony of Ferrard. Nearby White River Mill is an 18th century flourmill and is open to visitors. The town stands on the site of an Early Christian monastery of Lann Leire, which was regularly plundered by the Vikings of nearby Annagassan. Rathesker Lakeside walk and ecological area is located a short distance from the village and comprises 47 acres of natural woodland and lake, which were formerly part of the estate of the Foster family of Collon. Dating from the mid 1700s and now managed by the Louth Regional Game Council, the lake is home to a wide variety of water birds, both native and in winter, migratory. There are healthy populations of mallard breeding on the islands in the lake. The reserve also includes woodland comprising oak, beech, silver fir, ash, sweet chestnut and many others.