Frequently Asked Questions

Although it may look like we’re in the open country we actually have the very best of both worlds – we have 12 acres of walled gardens & horses fields – and just 30 seconds – a treelength – outside our walls is the Medieval gate into Carlingford – the Thosel – which dates from 1450. All the shops, boutiques, cafés, restaurants, pubs and other things to do are within an easy 2-minute walk.

1. Dip your toes in the sea in Carlingford Lough – just a stone’s throw from our gardens, then after 2 hours following the marked trails, you’ll be on the top of Carlingford Mountain – Slieve Foy – 1,932 ft (589 metres) above from where you dipped your toes. Slieve Foy is the highest mountain on the Cooley Peninsula – stunning views of the mountains of Mourne, Carlingford Lough and Slieve Gullion. In addition, on this mountain & others on the Cooley Peninsula – there are many more marked trails. Also seek out the pre famine deserted village (40 mins from Ghan House front door) – and megalithic tomb. For guided walks on the mountain there is no-one better than Clodagh at Anam Tours here in Carlingford +353 (0)86 387 3964

2. Walk past Carlingford harbour right in front of Ghan House towards the Marina (10 mins) – where Carlingford Greenway starts – beautiful walk along the side of Carlingford Lough to Omeath (6km) – and stop at Café Rosa in Omeath for a well-deserved lunch!

3. Borrow some of our wellington boots & walk 200 metres to the Sailing Club – then walk out – on a receding tide, when it’s nearly out – on the seashore – right up to the waters’ edge – smell the seaweed, listen to the wind & the tide & enjoy the stunning views. Return before the tide does!

4. Take a guided tour of Medieval Carlingford – run by Clodagh – as above & the Heritage Centre 042 937 3888 (just behind Ghan House) – well worth it when you first arrive to get acquainted with the ancient history!

5. There are many more walks – we’ll tell you when you’re here!

Click here for our factsheeet about accessibility for those unsteady on your feet at Ghan House.

We are a listed Georgian House with more advantages than disadvantages re accessibility;

One of our ground floor garden bedrooms has a bathroom that has a wet room shower with support rail & is easily accessible.

Although the bathroom & bedroom is not a designated ‘easy access friendly’ bedroom, we have had guests who require this level of accessibility stay with us & stayed in this bedroom and have appreciated what we have done. The main house & garden bedrooms are approx. 10 metres apart – linked by a concrete path suitable for wheelchair/rollator/pram/high heels.
There are no steps or big slopes between them.

The main house, being a listed Georgian House, does not have a lift. However, we are very lucky in that the lounge, bar & wide door (90cm wide) loo are all on the ground floor. Indeed, being Georgian, all doors are very wide.

The main house, being a listed Georgian House, does not have a lift. However the stairs to our main restaurant are gradual & wide.

We can also accommodate breakfast on the ground floor, with advance notice.

And the restaurant can be on the ground floor too – with advanced notice.

In addition, one of our private dining rooms is on the ground floor.

Medieval Carlingford is just a tree length away from our walled gardens – and is mainly on level ground. Indeed – just 1/2 mile outside Carlingford the Greenway begins – a gravel pathway along the old railway line – away from the main road – and hence only has very gentle inclines and great for prams, older & younger people, wheelchairs and bicycles.

And if your car is full of bags and you’re in 2 minds to bring the wheelchair (or pram) – then use ours!
We don’t charge for using it – just pop a donation into the charity box in the entrance hall!

Built in 1727 by William Stannus, Ghan House is a fine example of an early Georgian House. The drawing room has a corbelled rococo ceiling – said to be more ornate than what it should be – it was decorated by 2 Italian plasterers travelling Ireland at the time of construction. It has been in approx. 4 different families in over 250 years – and came into the ownership of John & Joyce Carroll in 1991 – when the house was in a perilous state after years of overall neglect. Nowadays, the house is as close to the original as can be – fireplaces, architraves, doorways, ceilings, walls – have all been lovingly restored resulting in Ghan House being recently listed by Louth County Council;

“finely-balanced elegant classical proportions, is a handsome representative of architectural developments during the Georgian era. It retains a large amount of original and early fabric, including handsome boundary walls, corner tower and carriage arch.”

We’ve been told – ‘Gahann’ is an old Irish word for ‘little or poor piece of land by the sea’ – and apparently down the years the word was changed to Ghan. If anybody knows any different – please let us know!

Start off in Carlingford – it’s not called Medieval Carlingford for nothing – The Vikings loved it here just about 1,000 years ago, King John’s Castle was built in 1192 by Hugh De Lacy & visited by King John in 1210, The Dominican Priory from 1305, Taaffe’s Castle from 1500, The Mint from 1450, The Thosel (old town gate) from 1450, remainder of the town wall and Ghan House dating from 1727. All within 2 minutes walk from Ghan House. See Q11 for tour details.

Ancient Celtic High Crosses (best in Ireland) – 1452 at Monasterboice (just 2 mins off junction 11 on M1 motorway) – car park & loos.

Seek out 2 of Ireland’s World UNESCO Heritage sites – 5,000 years years old burial site of Newgrange & more interesting – Knowth – make sure you book before you go! Follow signs from junction 9 on M1 motorway – 45 minutes from Ghan House – also visitor centre, cafe & loos.

The Giant’s Causeway in Co. Antrim is a 135 minute drive – also visitor centre, cafe & loos. For a longer scenic route – cut across onto the A43 from the M2 north of Belfast and head to Cushendall & then follow ‘Causeway Coastal Route’ to The Giant’s Causeway.

Also, well worth a drive is Trim castle & nearby Hill of Tara (65 mins drive). Just 20 minutes’ drive are The Healing stones at Faughart – just off junction 18 of the M1 motorway – signposted to Faughart.

Slieve Gullion https://www.ringofgullion.org/things-to-do/slieve-gullion-adventure-playpark/
Just a 20-minute drive is Slieve Gullion which has a multitude of activities on offer – a wonderful one-way forest drive with magnificent views, a children’s’ adventure playground, fairy walk, café, plenty car parking and walk to the summit of Slieve Gullion (park at the 2nd car park) – where you will see 2 ancient burial sites and the lake where according to legend if you swim in it – your hair will turn grey!

A number of our bedrooms have a single bed as well as a Queen or King Size bed.

One of our bedrooms has a Queen Size bed and 6ft long & normal single bed width bunk bed.

Our family deluxe bedroom has a King Size bed and a Queen Size bed on the other side of the room with a single bunk above!

All bedrooms can take a carrycot (we have a few).
And for dinner – we can either look after them – half portions/half price or we’re happy to do something simple such as chicken/sausage & chips.

One of the drawers in the front lounge has various games & books suitable for most of them!

And our walled gardens are perfect for supervised Hide & Seek (I have a 14yr old!).

How does a mattress over 5 ½ ft (1.7m) wide by 7 ft (2.15m) in length sound? – Our Superior King Size bedroom has a half tester bed with a mattress this width and length. Ceiling height is this room is approx. 12ft (3.5m)– so everything should be just fine!

And for those just a little shorter all our double beds are Queen Size – 5ft (1.5m) x 6.5 ft (2m) in length – or larger.

Oh yes! In Carlingford we have 2 bicycle hire centres – both have normal & electric bikes, kids bikes & baby buggy trailer as well as mountain bikes. Contact, in no particular order;
Joie or Richard +353 (0)87 992 1559 at www.onyerbike.ie
or David +353 (0)87 173 0653 & for both, you can use a Promo Code that you’ll receive when you book with us to get a 10% discount!http://www.carlingfordgreenwaybikehire.ie/

Both the above websites have suggested routes – of which The Carlingford Lough Greenway is just one of them – along the side of Carlingford Lough – a dedicated cycle/walk/pram/wheelchair route along the side of Carlingford Lough – stunning!

Across Carlingford Lough is Kilbroney Park, there are many more off road tracks which could keep you occupied for days.

Certainly! What would be perfect for you is to take over all 8 of our garden bedrooms just 10 metres to the side of Ghan House. It’ll mean it’s just you and your family members/friends in one building. All bedrooms are 4* standard, same style as the main house and all have roll top bath & separate power shower en-suite – except for one bedroom on the ground floor which has an easy walk in ‘wet room’ shower.

4 garden bedrooms have a Queen Size bed, 3 bedrooms have a Queen or King size bed & single bed and 1 bedroom has Queen Size & bunk beds. All rooms can accommodate a carrycot if required.

In addition, we have a gorgeous private dining room in the main house which seats up to 20 guests on one long, wide table. Music can be streamed from your ‘phone in this room if you wish. Private dining in this room is €150.

And if your group is more than this – we have an addition 3 bedrooms in the main house – and a bigger private dining room – the Ballroom!
The Ballroom can seat up to 24 guests on one big table or 30 guests on 4 ovals. The great thing with this room it has a 75″ interactive TV which is linked to a Marantz amplifier – ideal for streaming slideshow of suitable pictures from your phone or laptop! Private dining in the Ballroom is €200 & €50 if you wish to use the screen.

i) How about a hands-on Cookery lesson for approx. 3 hours in the afternoon, off to your rooms for a freshen up & return for a feast of your very own cooked food, in your own private dining room – finished off & presented by the chef who taught you!

ii) How about wine-tasting in the afternoon. You’ll get to taste, for instance, a sparkling wine, 3 whites & 3 reds – maybe new world v old world or the classics or new varieties.

iii) What about afternoon tea in the walled gardens or in front of the log fire?

All the above will need to be booked in advance please.

Carlingford has many activity providers across a whole spectrum of interests to satisfy most group requirements;

Land & mountain; Guided walks up the mountain – with the local history & mythological history thrown in – native Clodagh at Anam Tours will lead the way +353 (0)86 387 3964

Clodagh will also lead history tour of the narrow streets of Medieval Carlingford as will the local Heritage Centre +353 (0)42 937 3454. You may be able to get to see inside King John’s Castle also!

Water;
3 options for boat trips;
i) Shane at Louth Adventures on solid Dutch tug boat ‘Brienne’ – licensed for 8 people, from Carlingford Harbour www.louthadventures.com

ii) Paddy & Marie motorised catamaran ‘Discovery’ – which is wheelchair accessible, from the Marina here in Carlingford – licensed for 10 people. Awaiting contact details!

iii) Jacqueline & Padraig at Infinity Boat Tours – 2 high speed ribs – licensed for 6 people each, from Carlingford Harbour www.infinityboattours.com

Activity;
i) David at Escape Rooms here in central Carlingford +353 (0)87 173 0653 www.escapehq.ie – we’ve done it and loved it!

ii) Bicycle hire;
Carlingford Greenway Bike Hire David +353 (0)87 173 0653
http://www.carlingfordgreenwaybikehire.ie/

On Yer Bike Joie or Richard +353 (0)87 992 1559 at www.onyerbike.ie

Once you book direct with us, you’ll automatically receive a 10% discount Promo code for both these.

iii) Skypark (www.skypark.ie) – just over 1 km outside Carlingford is a world class facility suitable for everyone from 1 metre tall – high ropes, low ropes, footgolf, crazy golf, electric cars, archery & much much more – day passes available or by the individual activity. Also talk to Carlingford Adventure Centre (www.carlingfordadventure.com) in the heart of Carlingford for a host of other ideas including a zipline through the forest and canoe hire.

All our bedrooms, beds & bathrooms are different.
Don’t do what one lady did recently – book on-line a room with a King Size bed, asking for a large room – which it was – but not letting us know her husband was, how can you put it politely…..extremely large!
Then when they arrived – she expected us to move them into a different room with an extremely large shower – but they were the last to arrive. Duh! Then she had the temerity to complain. Sometimes people review themselves in what they say – 1 star for her from us!
If she’d phoned us – we’d would have easily & gladly advised her of the bedrooms/bathrooms that would have suited them both.
All bedrooms have Queen or King Size beds.
All* bedrooms have roll top bath & separate power shower en-suite (no en-suites have showers over baths – too small & too dangerous!).
Some en-suites have larger shower areas.
*And one garden bedroom, on the ground floor, has easy access ‘wet room’ shower – which would have been perfect for her husband.