Dundalk

Dundalk is a thriving, if uninspiring, frontier town—only 9½ km (6 mi) from the Northern Ireland border—with some fine historic buildings. It's the main town of County Louth (Ireland's smallest county), and it dates from the early Christian period, around the 7th century. In May the town hosts an avant-garde "fringe" drama and visual arts festival (with a nice schedule of children's events).