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Greencastle is located on the northern shore, a mile and a half inside the entrance to the Carlingford Lough inlet on Ireland's northeast coast. It offers the first secure anchorage inside the sea inlet of Carlingford Lough.

Greencastle is located on the northern shore, a mile and a half inside the entrance to the Carlingford Lough inlet on Ireland's northeast coast. It offers the first secure anchorage inside the sea inlet of Carlingford Lough.

The anchorage provides good protection from all winds except for northwesterly or southeasterly conditions. Pilotage up to the anchorage is straightforward via a deep water shipping channel, running the entire length of the Lough, and final approaches by the marks provided for the local ferry service that operates from here.
Please note

Tides in the anchorage can run up to three and a half knots so newcomers should only approach at slack or high water.




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Keyfacts for Greencastle
Facilities
Marked or notable walks in the vicinity of this locationPleasant family beach in the area


Nature
No fees for anchoring or berthing in this locationRemote or quiet secluded locationAnchoring locationBeach or shoreline landing from a tenderScenic location or scenic location in the immediate vicinityHistoric, geographic or culturally significant location; or in the immediate vicinity

Considerations
Dangerous to enter when it is Beaufort force 5 or more from NE, ENE, E, ESE, SE and SSE.Restriction: strong to overwhelming tides in the localityNote: could be two hours or more from the main waterwaysNote: strong tides or currents in the area that require consideration

Protected sectors

Current wind over the protected quadrants
Minimum depth
3 metres (9.84 feet).

Approaches
2 stars: Careful navigation; good visibility and conditions with dangers that require careful navigation.
Shelter
4 stars: Good; assured night's sleep except from specific quarters.



Last modified
May 17th 2024

Summary* Restrictions apply

A good location with careful navigation required for access.

Best Entry/Exit Times: https://eoceanic.com/sailing/routes/66/navigating_carlingford_lough"
Facilities
Marked or notable walks in the vicinity of this locationPleasant family beach in the area


Nature
No fees for anchoring or berthing in this locationRemote or quiet secluded locationAnchoring locationBeach or shoreline landing from a tenderScenic location or scenic location in the immediate vicinityHistoric, geographic or culturally significant location; or in the immediate vicinity

Considerations
Dangerous to enter when it is Beaufort force 5 or more from NE, ENE, E, ESE, SE and SSE.Restriction: strong to overwhelming tides in the localityNote: could be two hours or more from the main waterwaysNote: strong tides or currents in the area that require consideration



Position and approaches
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Haven position

54° 2.280' N, 006° 6.110' W

One hundred metres south of the wooden pontoon in the anchorage area.

What is the initial fix?

The following Carlingford Lough Entrance Initial Fix will set up a final approach:
54° 0.100' N, 006° 2.052' W
500 metres due south of Hellyhunter, a south cardinal buoy Q(6) +FL1.15s. From here the line of the entrance’s leading light beacons may be picked up.


What are the key points of the approach?

Offshore details are available in eastern Ireland’s Coastal Overview for Strangford Lough to Dublin Bay Route location and directions for the run up the lough are available in the Warrenpoint Click to view haven entry.

  • Plan the approach to be at slack water, preferably low water when the rocks and banks show.

  • Pass the rear Leading Lt. Beacon tower to starboard, then the first red perch, that marks the Half Tide Rock, to port to enter the channel.


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 Greencastle for your convenience.
Ten nearest havens by straight line charted distance and bearing:
  1. Carlingford Harbour - 2.8 nautical miles W
  2. Carlingford Marina - 3.2 nautical miles WNW
  3. Killowen - 3.8 nautical miles NW
  4. Kilkeel Harbour - 4 nautical miles ENE
  5. Rostrevor - 4.1 nautical miles NW
  6. Greer’s Quay - 5.1 nautical miles WNW
  7. Giles Quay - 5.8 nautical miles WSW
  8. Omeath - 6.1 nautical miles WNW
  9. Warrenpoint - 6.4 nautical miles WNW
  10. Annalong Harbour - 8.4 nautical miles ENE
These havens are ordered by straight line charted distance and bearing, and can be reordered by compass direction or coastal sequence:
  1. Carlingford Harbour - 2.8 miles W
  2. Carlingford Marina - 3.2 miles WNW
  3. Killowen - 3.8 miles NW
  4. Kilkeel Harbour - 4 miles ENE
  5. Rostrevor - 4.1 miles NW
  6. Greer’s Quay - 5.1 miles WNW
  7. Giles Quay - 5.8 miles WSW
  8. Omeath - 6.1 miles WNW
  9. Warrenpoint - 6.4 miles WNW
  10. Annalong Harbour - 8.4 miles ENE
To find locations with the specific attributes you need try:

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Chart
Please use our integrated Navionics chart to appraise the haven and its approaches. Navionics charts feature in premier plotters from B&G, Raymarine, Magellan and are also available on tablets. Open the chart in a larger viewing area by clicking the expand to 'new tab' or the 'full screen' option.

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What's the story here?
Greencastle with its two piers
Image: Michael Harpur


Greencastle is a rural townland located inside the north side of the entrance to Carlingford Lough about 1½ miles in from Cranfield Point and 400 metres southeast of Greencastle Point. Its extensive beach is fronted by an old stone quay, a wooden pier and the ferry terminal of a car ferry service that crosses between Greencastle and Greenore on the opposite shoreline. Within this, the ancient castle is the main feature and apart from this there is only the occasional fisherman’s house or holiday home that can scarcely be called a scattered hamlet.


Greencastle with the Carlingford Lough Ferry passing east of Green Island
Image: Tourism Ireland


Greencastle provides the first good anchorage inside Carlingford Lough and with excellent holding in depths of up to 5 metres. This is located in the narrow channel between the ledges north of Green Island and Greencastle Point. Green Island is a small islet ½ a mile from the Greencastle shore that is always visible and protects the anchorage to the south. The holding is well needed as the currents run up to 3.5 knots here and a vessel will normally be tide-rode here.


Moored Yacht in the protected area between Greencastle and Green Island
Image: Jay Ken Crozier via CC BY 2.0


The approach is made off the main commercial channel entered just over ½ mile to the southeast of Greencastle Point. The short narrow channel is marked by lit perches leading to the ferry terminal. Tides in the anchorage can run up to 3.5 knots so the best approach for newcomers is at slack or high water. Of these, the preferred option is near low water when the rocks on the west and south sides of the anchorage may be clearly seen.


How to get in?
Greencastle located 1½ miles inside of the entrance to Carlingford Lough
Image: Michael Harpur


Convergance Point Use the directions provided for Warrenpoint Click to view haven for approaches to the lough and its central channel. Follow the marked channel passing close to the Vidal Rock No. 9 starboard buoy and prepare to depart the marked channel here. Turn northward, to starboard, and commence an approach on the anchorage to the east of Green Island preparing to pick up on the ferry channel marks.


Keep clear of the Carlingford Lough Ferry as it has right of way
Image: Tourism Ireland


The car ferry service sails on the hour crossing Carlingford Lough from Greencastle to Greenore and it is important not to obstruct the channel or its approaches when it is manoeuvring. So it is essential to check that the ferry is not underway before entering the channel, and if so, wait until it has cleared the channel.


The Carlingford Lough Ferry arriving at Greenore on the opposite shore
Image: Michael Harpur


From Greencastle it departs on the hour (Mon-Sat 7 am–8 pm, Sun 9 am–8 pm) From Greenore, ferries depart on the half-hour (Mon-Sat 7.30 am–8.30 pm, Sun 9.30 am–8.30 pm) and the crossing takes 15 minutes.


The perches marking the channel as seen from the north
Image: Michael Harpur


This path into the anchorage is well marked for the ferry and approached close south of the rear Leading Lt. Beacon tower, which provides the main entrance channel’s 310° T lights-in-line leading lights. The deep narrow channel then lies between Half Tide Rock and the mainland shore. From here it is well marked by five perches, three port perches and two starboard perches, all lit.
Please note

The northernmost starboard perch is broken off to a stump when these images were recorded.




The Carlingford Lough Ferry passing out through the marks
Image: Michael Harpur


The first of these is a red perch, passed to the east, to port, that marks the Half Tide Rock. Half Tide Rock is an outlier of Green Island which is surrounded by an extensive rocky foreshore that covers at high water. It has several outlying rocks such as Half Tide Rock to the east that also covers, and a drying sandbank to the north of the island and close south of the mooring area. The red perch marking Half Tide Rock can be challenging to identify as it is thin, and only shows 1 metre at high water springs.


The stump of the broken inner perch just showing
Image: Michael Harpur


Nevertheless, it is easy enough to identify and never more than at low water when Half Tide Rock will also be visible. Once this is identified steer for the perch and when it draws close, turn to starboard and pass Half Tide Rock to port keeping at least 15 metres off. All the other perch markers on either side of the channel are then closely spaced and the path is obvious from where it is simply a matter of passing through them on their correct sides.


Carlingford Lough Ferry terminal northward of the last perch
Image: Michael Harpur


Steer for the head of the wooden pier when the last port perch passes astern passing the Carlingford Lough Ferry terminal located on the shore about 120 metres northward.


Pass the moored boats off the head of the wooden pier
Image: Michael Harpur


When closing on the head of the wooden pier break off to the west following the line of the moorings to pass the drying bank that lies between Green Island and the moorings, close south of the latter. The anchoring area will be made readily apparent by local boats, and most likely the lough’s pilot boat and tugs that are usually stationed here.


Anchor west round to northwest of the moorings
Image: Michael Harpur


Haven location The best place to anchor is to the west round to northwest of the moorings. At slack water it is easy to place the vessel in relation to the rocks on the south side of the anchorage. Holding is excellent over a bed of gravel and sand but tow the hook in well in as the currents run up to 3.5 knots here.


Boat alongside the wooden pier
Image: Jay Ken Crozier via CC BY 2.0


The wooden pier is largely a derelict wooden structure and it is best to land on the beach on either side. The head of the pier covers at high water Springs.


The pierhead covered at high water
Image: Jay Ken Crozier via CC BY 2.0


There is also a small concrete pier around the northern face of Greencastle Point. This dries out entirely at low water along with its approach path. A single starboard perch and two port perches mark the entrance channel to this pier.


Why visit here?
Greencastle derives its name from its signature Norman fortress known by the same name. Recorded in early Latin documents as 'Viride Castrum', literally 'green castle'. It is not known why it was so-called and many such historic castles give their localities the same placename. It is believed that it might be an allusion to the verdant appearance of the surrounding countryside.


The massive square structure of Green Castle
Image: Michael Harpur


The original fort would have been Anglo-Norman motte-and-bailey built by Hugh de Lacy on a rocky outcrop during the 1230s. The stone of the present structure would have arrived in the mid-13th-century to bolster the key defensive location. When the Normans came to Northern Ireland, they only occupied the area that is now the eastern portions of counties Down and Antrim. In times of war, the land route from the south through the 'Gap of the North' was easily disrupted by the Irish from Mourne which made the Lough a critical stretch of water. By constructing Greencastle, and the corresponding principal Carlingford Castle, the Normans stood two sentinels over the Lough’s narrow entrance and with it, effectively controlled the seaward entrance to Ulster.


The castle is the dominate feature of the area
Image: Michael Harpur


As well as protecting the southern approaches to the Earldom of Ulster from invasion, quelling, if not preventing, insurrection; and maintaining local Norman power, the castle also performed a key part of a chain of Anglo-Norman fortresses along the eastern coast of Ireland. When Greencastle was linked by ferry to Carlingford it connected this chain of strongholds to the centre of Anglo-Norman authority in Dublin. The coastal location of the fort here also provided vast food resources in the medieval period.


Green Castle's keep
Image: © Anthony Cranney Photography


Being such a critical and somewhat exposed stronghold Green Castle has had a turbulent history right from the outset. Hugh de Lacy did not have an heir and it transferred to the Crown in 1243. In 1260 it was taken by the Irish, led by Brian O’ Neill and Hugh O’ Connor when the medieval annals Arx viridis in Ultonia prosternitor recorded "the green fortress in Ulster thrown to the ground". From 1280 to 1326 it was the preferred residence of one of the most powerful Irish nobles, Richard Óg de Burgh, 2nd Earl of Ulster and 3rd Baron of Connaught, often called The Red Earl of Ulster. Richard’s daughters were raised in Greencastle, including Elizabeth, who was to become the second wife of King Robert the Bruce of Scotland.


Green Castle remains one of the area's most conspicuous features
Image: Michael Harpur


This, however, did not stop The Red Earl from leading his forces from Ireland to support England's King Edward I in his Scottish campaigns. When Edward Bruce, brother of Robert Bruce, invaded Ulster in 1315, The Red Earl led a force against him and was defeated at Connor in Antrim. Edward Bruce then sacked Greencastle in 1316 and declared himself King of Ireland until he was defeated at Faughart outside Newry. After an unsuccessful siege in 1333-34, the Gaelic Irish captured and destroyed the Green Castle in 1343. In 1375 and again in 1381 the castle was damaged by the Magennis family from Dundrum. In the 15th century, the royal garrison was reduced in number but the castle had a further level added to the tower with mural passages, wall-walks, and the ground floor was subdivided into three barrel-vaulted chambers to make it more defensible.


The wooden pier was built for a paddle steamer service that crossed to Greenore
in the 1870s

Image: Michael Harpur


In 1505 Green Castle was granted to the Fitz Gerald Earls of Kildare who made further alterations including the enlargement of the upper windows. By the time of their downfall, in 1534, Green Castle was in what was described as being in a "wretched condition". In 1549 it was granted as part of the lordships of Newry and Mourne to Sir Nicholas Bagnall, Knight Marshall of Ireland. It appears that both Greencastle and Carlingford castles were under his governship to better secure communication between the English settlers in the counties of Louth and Down. During their tenure in 1597, the castle was listed as one of the few garrisons retained for Elizabeth I in Ulster. The Bagnalls remained resident in the castle until 1635.


Greenore Port (opposite) was opened in 1873
Image: Michael Harpur


Having survived centuries of attack, counterattack and occupation Green Castle finally ceased functioning as a fortification in 1652. It was then largely destroyed by a parliamentary forces bombardment during the decade of wars in Ireland that followed the 1641 Rebellion. By the time the Earls of Kilmorey became principal landowners in Mourne, Greencastle was uninhabitable.


Greencastle's wooden pier is a listed historical structure
Image: Michael Harpur


During all this time the castle was very much the hub from which the local landscape evolved. During this time it's surrounding village was the thriving centre of a major Gaelic fair. Held on 12th January and 12th August the three-day fair was called 'Clonaenach More,' the 'Great Fair Meadow'. After the end of the Nine Year’s War, the fair was revived under a patent granted by James I in 1613. This sadly declined in relevance into the 19th century when Greencastle was to be continuously outstripped as a place of importance by the steady growth of the town of Kilkeel.


The pier is still used by the pilot and tug boat crews
Image: Michael Harpur


Optimistic prospects were kindled when Greenore Port was opened in 1873 by the LNWR railway company to serve its Irish Sea ferry route to Holyhead. The wooden pier was built and a paddle steamer service was established from Greencastle to carry County Down passengers across to meet the Greenore ferry. There were plans for railway facilities to be extended to Greencastle in the 1880s. But alas, it was never constructed and this lead to the end of the ferry service shortly afterwards. This confined Greencastle to its essentially rural, out-of-the-way hamlet character into the 20th and 21st-century.


Green Castle is today a state monument
Image: Tourism Ireland


The fine Norman-Irish military keep of Green Castle finally came into State Care in the 1960s and for some generations in the possession of the McElroy family. Their farm and domestic buildings occupy much of the area around the western side of the castle. The dismantled and dilapidated fortress, with its air of sombre antiquity, carries the meditative mind to memories of the past.


Green Castle, the late medieval church ruin nearby and the Mournes in the
backdrop

Image: Michael Harpur


Close to the castle is the late medieval church associated with the fortification and its Anglo-Norman motte-and-bailey that was Greencastle’s precursor. The site of the medieval village of Greencastle that must presumably lie in the environs of the castle has not yet been found. Within the hamlet are the former Lighthouse Keepers’ dwellings built over 150 years ago and which are now listed, a boat-house and walls dating to a similar period and the old wooden pier is also listed. The pier is used by the crews of the pilot and tug boats that anchor off its head.


Greencastle is a very much out of the way place
Image: Michael Harpur


Today the castle with its small quay and fishing village, situated further west along the shore that can scarcely be called even a scattered hamlet, is very quiet. It adds much to its appeal by offering stunning views of the lough. At the entrance to the lough, the view includes the famous 41-metre high Haulbowline Lighthouse, erected in 1823, and the Block House Island where the ruins are still visible of its Elizabethan fort built in 1602. The towering Mourne Mountains that bound the area to the north are simply beautiful.


Greencastle provides the first safe anchorage inside Carlingford Lough
Image: Michael Harpur


From a boating perspective, Greencastle is the first anchorage of the beautiful sailing area that is Carlingford Lough. The commercial harbour of Greenore, which lies opposite, cannot accommodate leisure craft. Hence it is an important berth for those entering or exiting the lough.

Greencastle is the gateway to Carlingford Lough
Image: Michael Harpur



What facilities are available?
There are no shops or facilities of any kind in Greencastle apart for the dedicated area for vehicles to wait to embark, toilets and waiting area for foot passengers. Kilkeel is the largest and nearest town to Greencastle and is just under 5 miles from the Carlingford Lough Terminal. Carlingford car ferry (passengers €1.50, cars €7 carlingfordferry.com) makes the 15 min crossing across Carlingford Lough to Greenore, 6km south of Carlingford. Buses serving Dundalk (Mon-Sat 7 daily; 55min) and Newry
(Mon-Sat 4 daily; 25min) stop outside the old Station House on the waterfront.

Carlingford Lough Ferry Mobile+353 (86) 415 0585

Taxi services are available in the area:
Joe’s Taxis Landline+44 (0)28 4176 3793
Premier Cabs Landline+44 (0)28 41764397


Any security concerns?
Never an issue known to have occurred at Greencastle.


With thanks to:
Thomas Cunningham - Harbour Master for Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission.













Greencastle and the Carlingford Lough Ferry



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