Explore Newry through its canal history, a museum in a fortified house, and a range of walking and cycling trails. The Newry Heritage Trail offers a short and a full route; the Carlingford Lough Greenway runs from Newry to Carlingford. Other highlights include the cathedral, an annual cultural festival, and an arts and creative play centre for children and young people.
Museum and City History
The Newry and Mourne Museum focuses on prehistoric artefacts, Newry as a trading town, working life in the region, and modern experiences of life in a border region. The museum is housed in Bagenal’s Castle, a fortified house dating from the 16th century. A 19th-century warehouse is directly adjacent. Free audio guides in English and Irish explain Bagenal’s Castle and the exhibits.
Newry Cathedral of St Patrick and St Colman also tells the story of the city: built in 1829 from local granite, it was the first Catholic cathedral to open after Catholic emancipation. The interior’s marble work and mosaics were crafted by artisans from Italy over five years. Opposite Newry Town Hall stands the Pat Jennings Statue, an almost three-metre-high bronze sculpture on a granite plinth.
Iúr Cinn Fleadh is an annual Irish cultural and community festival in Newry. Held over the August bank holiday weekend, it brings traditional and folk music to the city. Check the current programme before your trip.
Walking and Cycling
The Newry Heritage Trail takes in surviving private, public and commercial buildings associated with Newry’s prosperity during the canal era. The full route is listed as taking 1 hour and 45 minutes, and the short route 45 minutes. This lets you choose a route to fit the time you have available.
The Carlingford Lough Greenway is a 20-kilometre walking and cycling route from Newry to Carlingford. Its first section runs from Newry to Omeath, is about 10 kilometres long, and starts at Albert Basin or Victoria Lock. The Greenway is a shared walking and cycling path suitable for bicycles, pushchairs and walkers of all mobility levels.
Another option is the Newry Canal Towpath, where historic canal banks offer opportunities for cycling and walking, as well as wildlife watching. The Newry Ship Canal also shapes water-based activities in the area. A 3.5-mile section is open for fishing from Newry to the sea locks on Omeath Road. The canal is currently used by leisure boats and provides access from the Irish Sea through Carlingford Lough to Newry. Navigation regulations may change; check the latest information before your trip.
More to Do and Visitor Information
The Imaginarium at Sticky Fingers Arts is an arts and creative play centre for children in central Newry. Its programmes are for children and young people aged 0 to 18. Newry Visitor Information Centre offers free information on attractions, tours, transport, accommodation, activities and events. Check opening details before visiting.
There are bus and train stations in the city centre. As details of individual services are not available, check service information before your trip. You can then connect your journey with the interests you have in mind for your stay—whether museum and architectural history, a canal-side route or the Greenway.
Discover more destinations: Hilltown, Warrenpoint, Kilkeel, Crossmaglen.
Return to the main travel overview: Newry.
