Leprechaun Cavern granted planning permission in Carlingford

Inside the cavern

The underground Leprechaun Cavern in Carlingford will continue to be a must see for tourists to the peninsula in the months and years ahead after Louth County Council granted conditional planning permission for it to be retained and completed.

Leprechaun Whisperer Kevin Woods had applied in March for planning permission to retain and complete the cavern at Ghan Road and was finally given the go ahead last week after submitting extensive further information in May.

The underground cavern is linked by two tunnels. One runs under Carlingford and exits into the home of the 236 Last Leprechauns of Ireland below the Slate Rock on Foy Mountain Carlingford.

The other runs under Carlingford Lough and exits at the Fairy Glen in Rostrevor. It is also the home of the tooth fairy.

Entry to the cavern and the story of the survival of the 236 is relayed to you by the last Leprechaun Whisperer in Ireland, Kevin Woods, or in his absence a member of his extended family

Entry is €3 per adult and €5 per child and the child price includes a choice of one of 15 Leprechauns associated with the story and their survival.

The Leprechauns were protected in 2009 by the EU. under the European Habitats Directive.

For further details visit www.thelastleprechaunsofireland.com

Carlingford to Omeath walkway to officially open on May 14th

Part of the walkway linking Carlingford and Omeath

The new walkway between Carlingford and Omeath will officially open to the public on Wednesday May 14^th.

The walk, which takes in part of the old Great Northern Railway line, will link the two villages and offer stunning views of the Cooley Peninsula and Carlingford Lough.

Local businessman Kevin Woods said recently that it would be a major tourism boost to the area and praised all those who made it happen.

Louth County Council have been carrying out work on the walk and cycle path for several months and it is sure to prove popular in the months ahead for both locals and visitors to the area.

Carlingford to Omeath path starting to take shape

A view of the proposed path

The wonderful new walk and cycle path between Carlingford and Omeath is starting to take shape.

Local businessman Kevin Woods, who was hugely influential in getting the project off the ground, has welcomed the progress being made by Louth County Council and said that the pathway will be a huge tourism attraction once completed.

“It has come a long way from the day I first approached the landowners trying to sell the concept and they sure have come up trumps along with all the other stakeholders.

“It will surely turn out to be the biggest tourism attraction ever in the region,” said Kevin.

The path is expected to be completed within the next year.

The path will be a huge tourist attraction, insists Kevin Woods

Work is expected to continue on the path for much of this year

Part of the pathway that is completed

Pictures: Pat O’Rourke/Louth County Council

Fairy horse returned to Carlingford

Kevin Woods with the fairy horse

A gang who stole a fairy horse from Carlingford have returned it.

However, owner Kevin Woods – who warned they would be cursed for stealing it – says the curse won’t be lifted until they also return a swiped cement mixer.

The fairy horse was stolen from outside a leprechaun cave at the weekend.

Leprechaun whisperer Kevin Woods, who owns the horse, said in The Irish Sun newspaper at the time that those who took it would be cursed.

However, he said they would still risk warts appearing in “tricky” spots over the theft from his folklore park in Carlingford.

Gardai confirmed the Irish Sun’s report on the disappearance was instrumental in the three-foot fairy horse being recovered this week.

Kevin said: “I was delighted to hear it had been found and I believe it was purposely left at St Bridget’s shrine in Faughart because they knew it was cursed.”

He added: “I got a call to say it was seen at the shrine by a woman who had read in the Irish Sun newspaper about it being taken. I was delighted.

“However I don’t believe the curse will be lifted until the cement mixer which was stolen at the same time is returned to where it should be.”

Kevin added: “The curse on those who took it is one of blindness and warts that appear in what we will call tricky places.”

The fairy horse is being kept in a secure location by Gardaí who have forensically examined it for clues to the theft.

Previously: Fairy horse stolen from Carlingford

Fairy horse stolen from Carlingford

Tori Anna McShane on the fairy horse

A two foot fairy horse has been stolen from Carlingford.

The cast-iron pony was swiped from outside a cave at Folklore Park.

Now its owner, local businessman and self-proclaimed leprechaun whisperer Kevin Woods, insists those who took it will have nothing but bad luck.

Speaking to The Sun, he said: “The CCTV shows the horse being taken away in a white van but we don’t know who took it. All I can tell you is that it will bring bad luck to whoever took it because it is a fairy horse and is part of the folklore of the whole region.”

Garda are investigating the theft and believe the horse may have been taken across the border. They believe that the gang who robbed the metal horse may also have hit a number of other Dundalk businesses where copper wire was stolen.

Kevin added: “On CCTV you can clearly see a number of men pulling the fairy horse off the plinth and down the steps to a waiting van.

“They tried to take the brown bull, which was close to the horse but it looks like it was too heavy for them. It is made from cast iron too. They also took a cement mixer.”

Anyone with information on the theft is asked to contact Gardaí in Dundalk or Omeath.

Source: Away with the fairy horse (The Irish Sun)