Carlingford (from Old Norse Kerlingfjǫrðr 'narrow sea-inlet of the hag'; Irish: Cairlinn) is a coastal town and civil parish in northern County Louth, Ireland. For the purposes of local government, the town is part of the Dundalk Municipal District. It is situated on the southern shore of Carlingford Lough with Slieve Foy mountain as a backdrop, sometimes known as Carlingford Mountain. It is the main town on the Cooley Peninsula. Located on the R176/R173 roads between Greenore and Omeath village, Carlingford is approximately 27 km (17 mi) north east (by road) from Dundalk (15.6 km; 9¾ miles directly), 90 km (56 mi) north of Dublin and 11 km (7 mi) south of the border with Northern Ireland. Carlingford won the Irish Tidy Towns Competition in 1988.
Carlingford still retains its medieval layout noticeable by the narrow lanes and small streets. Tholsel Street is where the last of the medieval walled town's gates can still be seen, called "The Tholsel" which apparently was also used as a jail, on Tholsel Street itself there is still a 16th-century Town House known as the Carlingford Mint.