Carlingford Lough is located on Ireland's northeast coastline and Killowen is set on its northeastern shore. It offers an anchorage and moorings with a landing point off of a small village with the facilities of a local yacht club.

The anchorage offers good protection in the sheltered Carlingford Lough. However, if the wind comes on strong from the northwest round to the south, it would be more comfortable in the marina on the southern shore. Killowen may be accessed via Warrenpoint Port’s illuminated deep water shipping channel that runs the entire length of the lough. Careful navigation is generally required for this location owing to exceptional currents in the lower lough and entrance.

Keyfacts for Killowen

Position and approaches

Haven position

54° 4.555' N, 006° 11.390' W

Approximately three hundred metres west of the Carlingford Lough Yacht Club on Killowen point.

What is the initial fix?

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?

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What's the story here?

Killowen is a small village based at the foot of the forested Slieve Martin, where the Mountains of Mourne terminate at the head and northeastern shore of Carlingford Lough. It is
a picturesque hamlet set on a point that juts out into the Lough. Although Killowen has no services it is the home of the Carlingford Lough Yacht Club that is well set up to receive visiting mariners. It has a welcoming well-appointed clubhouse and spacious grounds that overlook the Lough from the shore.




Deeper draft visiting vessels can anchor outside of the club moorings approximately 300 metres offshore. Vessels that can take to the ground at low water can practically anchor anywhere in this locality. The yacht club also provide six substantial and well-marked visitor moorings. The hire rate for boats is £10 per day or part thereof, and there is a reduced weekly rate of £50. Contact Carlingford Lough Yacht Club by +44 28 4173 8604 or info@clyc.info.

How to get in?

Seaward approaches are detailed in eastern Ireland's coastal overview for Strangford Lough to Dublin Bay . Navigating Carlingford Lough provides a tide timer for the entrance and sailing directions for the run-up the Lough.




After passing south of Killowen Point and the No. 23, it will be tempting to turn up for Killowen. However, at low water, there is a shallow area of water that extends west of the Killowen Bank and another bank that extends southward from Killowen Point. The western extension of the Killowen Bank is marked by the yellow Killowen Bank Special Mark Buoy. Clears the Killowen Bank by keeping west of this special mark or, if not present, continuing on to the midpoint between the No. 23 and No. 25 Light buoys before turning north for the anchorage. Thereafter keeping about a ¼ of a mile westward of Killowen Point clears the terrace of shelly gravel that extends from it and dries to more than 4 metres.

Killowen Bank buoy – Fl.Y.5s position: 54° 3.998' N 006° 11.244' W




Killowen Point is made conspicuous by a line of bungalows stretching out to its extremity. Carlingford Lough Yacht Club clubhouse is situated close north of its extremity. The substantial white building with its spacious grounds and boat park will be prominent. It is fronted by the club slip and another jetty belonging to the Outdoor Education Centre jetty close northward.




The anchoring position will make itself readily known by the local vessels moored offshore. Come up on the outside of these vessels and anchor approximately 300 metres offshore. Vessels that can take to the ground can practically anchor anywhere in this locality.




Land at the slip leading to Carlingford Lough Yacht Club. Those landing at LWS should be prepared to lift the motor and use oars to come in the last length.




If the wind comes on strong from northeast round to southeast, you would be more comfortable in the marina on the southern shore. Some better protection can be sought from a northeasterly by tucking in under the mountain noted in the Rostrevor entry. This is on the perimeter of the 'Carlingford Lough Marine Conservation Zone' a ½ mile northwestward of Killowen Point.

Why visit here?

Killowen derives its name from the Irish 'Cill Eoghain', meaning 'Owen's Church'. It is spelled in many different ways: 'Eoghain's church', 'Cill Eoin', or alternatively 'Cill Abhainn'. There are more than twenty places of this name, of which the great majority are 'Cill Eoghain', all of which commemorate about a dozen saints of this name.

The church that provided the village with its name has been difficult to locate. A 1609 map of Ulster indicates a church in this district near the Cassy water. But this is most likely the old church that gives its name to the townland of Kilfeaghan, 'Cill Fhelchin' meaning 'Fechin's Church'. This was named after the 7th-century Irish saint Saint Féchín or Féichín who died in 665. Though there is no trace of the Killowen church today old people were known to refer to it as 'Seanchill' or 'Shankill' meaning the 'Old Church'. The first stones of Killowen’s current 'Church of the Sacred Heart' were only laid in 1870 and it was opened in 1872.

Killowen’s human history goes back much further to megalithic times for this is an ancient part of the country. This is well evidenced by the Kilfeaghan Dolmen located about two km from Killowen. This prehistoric dolmen site shows human inhabitation existed here between 3000 and 4500 years. The portal tomb stands in farmland on the eastern slopes of Knockshee overlooking Greenore and the lower Lough. Its gigantic capstone measures at least 2.5 metres long and is about 1.5 metres thick. Known locally as 'The Big Fella' the capstone is estimated to weigh between 35 and 40 tons and is said to be one of the biggest in Ireland. Beneath this enormous capstone, two portal stones have partly sunk into the ground, bearing this weight through the centuries. The tomb’s chamber faces north and the cairn is believed to have extended further northward. Excavations at the site earlier this century unearthed various bones and pottery.




Another prehistoric site was discovered by chance on the shore of the loch near Killowen as late as 1976. Unearthed in advance of a road widening scheme the 'Ballinran Court Tomb', sometimes known as the 'Giant's Grave', was situated close to the shore of Carlingford Lough. The tomb had a very long gallery, over 12 metres long, aligned north-south, opening onto an approximately circular forecourt at its north end. No traces of the cairn or any kerb or revetment survived. One of the two portal-stone sockets still contained the fractured stump of the stone which had stood in it. No burial deposits could be found in situ, although some cremated bones, presumably human, and three primary flint flakes were found.




Killowen grew to be a fishing village and was described in an 1846 guide as 'The nursery of the seamen who man the commercial Navy of Newry' which was the primary port of the Lough before Warrenport took this role. A rhyme from the times remains:
'Oh! fair is the hamlet of pretty Killowen,
And hardy the fishers that call it their own;
A race that nor coward nor traitor have known,
Enjoy the gay homesteads of happy Killowen'




Seated at the foot of the Mournes, the townlands of Killowen and Kilfeaghan are renowned today for their natural beauty, history, and lore. Perhaps one of the best ways of experiencing this is by a visit to Killowen Distillery, which provides samplings of the best craft spirits straight from the Mourne Mountains. The distillery tour not only introduces Irish whiskey and poteen making but also the culture and location of this beautiful part of the Lough.




From a boating perspective, the small village provides another excellent anchoring location on the lough. Its primary attraction is its convenient shore access and the excellent facilities provided by Carlingford Lough Yacht Club.

What facilities are available?

Carlingford Lough Yacht Club has a bar and shower facilities that are available when it is open. They are more than helpful and delighted to assist visiting boatmen. Please do return the compliment by providing custom to their bar etc. Minor repairs can be undertaken here or at nearby Rostrevor and Warrenpoint.

Two miles away Rostrevor village has a population of 2500, and is popular among holiday-makers so expect to find almost all provisioning necessities there. Nearby Warrenpoint has excellent road links and bus services available to Carlingford/Cooley as well as the major population centres of Ireland. International air services are available from Belfast airport 96 km. Minor repairs can be undertaken.
Useful transport contacts in this area:
Dundalk Train Station + 353 42 933 5521
Dundalk Bus Station + 353 42 9334075
Newry Bus Station + 44 28 30623531
Newry Train Station + 44 28 30269271

Any security concerns?

Never an issue known to have occurred at Killowen and Carlingford Lough Yacht Club.

With thanks to:

Charlie Kavanagh ISA/RYA Yachtmaster Instructor/Examiner and Henry McLaughlin Carlingford Lough Yacht Club secretary.