Half-way between Dublin and Belfast, Dundalk blends myth, music and mountain air. Legend locates the epic Táin Bó Cúailnge in the nearby Cooley Peninsula; today hikers climb Slieve Foye for sea-to-summit views. Downtown, Victorian St Patrick's Cathedral glitters with marble mosaics, while quayside pubs like The Spirit Store host indie gigs at sunset. Thin Lizzy's heritage, craft breweries and weekend food trucks give Dundalk a creative edge on Ireland's north-east coast.