
Greer’s Quay is an isolated pier located near the head of Carlingford Lough inlet which is set into Ireland's northeast coastline. It offers a good anchorage close off the pier and, for vessels that can take to the hard, the possibility of drying out alongside. Moorings are also reported to be available in the area.
Greer’s Quay is a good anchorage. However, like most locations in Carlingford Lough, it is exposed to south-easterly conditions. With a large open expanse up to Warrenpoint, Greer’s Quay is also open to the northwest and in either of these conditions, the adjacent Carlingford Marina or the Port of Warrenpoint may be a better option. The entire inlet is also subject to heavy squalls descending from the hills in northwest winds. The pier may be accessed via Warrenpoint Port’s illuminated deep water shipping channel which runs the entire length of the lough. Though there is little to concern in the area surrounding the pier, careful navigation is generally required for this location owing to exceptional currents in the lower lough and at the entrance.
Keyfacts for Greer’s Quay
Last modified
January 24th 2025 Summary* Restrictions apply
A good location with careful navigation required for access.Best time to enter or exit
Navigating Carlingford LoughFacilities
Nature
Considerations
Position and approaches
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Haven position
The pierhead at Greer’s Quay.
What is the initial fix?
The following Carlingford Lough Entrance Initial Fix will set up a final approach:

What are the key points of the approach?
Offshore details are available in eastern Ireland's Coastal Overview for Strangford Lough to Dublin Bay
and sailing directions plus an entrance tide timer for the run up the Lough are available in the Navigating Carlingford Lough
.
- From the entrance follow the well-buoyed and lit commercial channel up the length of the inlet.
- When Warrenpoint's entrance channel marker is drawing near break off for the pier and anchor out to the northeast of the pierhead.
Not what you need?
Click the 'Next' and 'Previous' buttons to progress through neighbouring havens in a coastal 'clockwise' or 'anti-clockwise' sequence. Below are the ten nearest havens to Greer’s Quay for your convenience.
Ten nearest havens by straight line charted distance and bearing:
- Omeath - 1.2 nautical miles NNW
- Rostrevor - 1.5 nautical miles ENE
- Warrenpoint - 1.5 nautical miles NNW
- Killowen - 1.6 nautical miles E
- Carlingford Marina - 2 nautical miles SE
- Carlingford Harbour - 2.6 nautical miles SE
- Greencastle - 5.1 nautical miles ESE
- Giles Quay - 5.3 nautical miles S
- Dundalk - 6.7 nautical miles SW
- Newry - 6.8 nautical miles NNW
These havens are ordered by straight line charted distance and bearing, and can be reordered by compass direction or coastal sequence:
- Omeath - 1.2 miles NNW
- Rostrevor - 1.5 miles ENE
- Warrenpoint - 1.5 miles NNW
- Killowen - 1.6 miles E
- Carlingford Marina - 2 miles SE
- Carlingford Harbour - 2.6 miles SE
- Greencastle - 5.1 miles ESE
- Giles Quay - 5.3 miles S
- Dundalk - 6.7 miles SW
- Newry - 6.8 miles NNW
What's the story here?

Image: Michael Harpur
Greer’s Quay is an isolated pier located near the head of the Carlingford Lough inlet on the southwestern shore. The pier dries out completely at low water but depths are good on approach and water can always be found for landing at the head of the pier.
How to get in?

Image: Michael Harpur

Image: Michael Harpur

Image: Michael Harpur
The pier dries out but 1.5 metres is always available at the very end of the pierhead. Therefore it is possible to comfortably land here at all stages of the tide. The inner area of the pier dries but has 4 metres at high water, making it useful for vessels that can take to the hard.
Why visit here?
Greer's Quay is named after the local landowner Robert Walker Greer. Greer was the local landlord who commissioned the construction of the quay in the 1840s to help develop Carlingford Lough’s fishing industry.
Image: Michael Harpur
Soon after 'A picturesque handbook to Carlingford Bay and the watering places within its vicinity'- circa 1840, noted "A little farther on, below the Ryland Water, is a small pier, erected within the last five years, at the joint expense of the Government and of the Marquis of Anglesey. It is in a little cove and affords shelter to the fishing smacks, which seek its friendly protection from the wintry storms".

Image: Michael Harpur
However, things did not go entirely according to plan for Robert Walker Greer. He had built the elegant mansion of Ballyoonan House upon 14 acres of the shores of Carlingford Lough and he planned to spend his retirement here. But in 1873, the Dundalk, Newry, Greenore Railway (DNGR) built a railway to provide a link between the towns in its title. These connected along the coast to the North Western Railway port at Greenore from where a ferry service operated to Holyhead. 'White's Crossing', which then became 'White's Halt', allowed railway access to the pier. But the service puffed and steamed its way right past Greer’s beautiful home. It so destroyed his peaceful abode that Greer departed for a town residence in Leeson Park, Dublin, where he passed away unexpectedly in 1876.

Image: Michael Harpur
Ballyoonan House was later bought by the Rosminians and became St. Michael’s College. Now, it is the Tain Holiday Village water sports location. The railway thrived for half a century, but from 1923 onwards, it fell into progressive decline. As steam trains are expensive to run, the Great Northern Railway introduced cheaper 'railbuses' when it took over running the line in 1933. However, it could not arrest the decline, and the decision was made to close the railway in 1951. The route of the former DNGR railway is today the Carlingford Lough Greenway. Little has changed for stone-built Greer's Quay since it was built and remains in good condition supporting a fishing vessel and several small angling boats.

Image: Michael Harpur
From a boating perspective, Greer's Quay offers another anchoring location from which to enjoy the Cooley Peninsula and the Lough itself. Nestled in the picturesque sequestered setting Greer’s Quay provides another good anchorage and all tide tender landings at the head of the quay. It is an ideal location to strike off for a walk along the Greenway or out through the open countryside. The small village of Omeath is a two-mile stroll.
What facilities are available?
There are no facilities at Greer’s Quay except for a high water launching slip, and there are reportedly local moorings in the area. At Omeath, a distance of approximately two miles, there is a very small village that has a restaurant, pub, basic provisions, gas, and a petrol station.Any security concerns?
Never an issue known to have occurred at Greer’s Quay.With thanks to:
Brian McJury, Warrenpoint Harbour Master.Aerial views od the northwest end of the Lough
Northern Ireland tourist board overview of Carlingford Lough
About Greer’s Quay
Greer's Quay is named after the local landowner Robert Walker Greer. Greer was the local landlord who commissioned the construction of the quay in the 1840s to help develop Carlingford Lough’s fishing industry.

Image: Michael Harpur
Soon after 'A picturesque handbook to Carlingford Bay and the watering places within its vicinity'- circa 1840, noted "A little farther on, below the Ryland Water, is a small pier, erected within the last five years, at the joint expense of the Government and of the Marquis of Anglesey. It is in a little cove and affords shelter to the fishing smacks, which seek its friendly protection from the wintry storms".

Image: Michael Harpur
However, things did not go entirely according to plan for Robert Walker Greer. He had built the elegant mansion of Ballyoonan House upon 14 acres of the shores of Carlingford Lough and he planned to spend his retirement here. But in 1873, the Dundalk, Newry, Greenore Railway (DNGR) built a railway to provide a link between the towns in its title. These connected along the coast to the North Western Railway port at Greenore from where a ferry service operated to Holyhead. 'White's Crossing', which then became 'White's Halt', allowed railway access to the pier. But the service puffed and steamed its way right past Greer’s beautiful home. It so destroyed his peaceful abode that Greer departed for a town residence in Leeson Park, Dublin, where he passed away unexpectedly in 1876.

Image: Michael Harpur
Ballyoonan House was later bought by the Rosminians and became St. Michael’s College. Now, it is the Tain Holiday Village water sports location. The railway thrived for half a century, but from 1923 onwards, it fell into progressive decline. As steam trains are expensive to run, the Great Northern Railway introduced cheaper 'railbuses' when it took over running the line in 1933. However, it could not arrest the decline, and the decision was made to close the railway in 1951. The route of the former DNGR railway is today the Carlingford Lough Greenway. Little has changed for stone-built Greer's Quay since it was built and remains in good condition supporting a fishing vessel and several small angling boats.

Image: Michael Harpur
From a boating perspective, Greer's Quay offers another anchoring location from which to enjoy the Cooley Peninsula and the Lough itself. Nestled in the picturesque sequestered setting Greer’s Quay provides another good anchorage and all tide tender landings at the head of the quay. It is an ideal location to strike off for a walk along the Greenway or out through the open countryside. The small village of Omeath is a two-mile stroll.
Other options in this area
Click the 'Next' and 'Previous' buttons to progress through neighbouring havens in a coastal 'clockwise' or 'anti-clockwise' sequence. Alternatively here are the ten nearest havens available in picture view:
Coastal clockwise:
Carlingford Marina - 1.2 miles SECarlingford Harbour - 1.6 miles SE
Giles Quay - 3.3 miles S
Dundalk - 4.2 miles SW
Port Oriel (Clogher Head) - 10.2 miles S
Coastal anti-clockwise:
Omeath - 0.7 miles NNWNewry - 4.2 miles NNW
Warrenpoint - 1 miles NNW
Rostrevor - 0.9 miles ENE
Killowen - 1 miles E
Navigational pictures
These additional images feature in the 'How to get in' section of our detailed view for Greer’s Quay.








Detail view | Off |
Picture view | On |
Aerial views od the northwest end of the Lough
Northern Ireland tourist board overview of Carlingford Lough
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