Abandoned Famine Village, Barnavave, Carlingford.
I had this place on my photography bucket list for a while. I had never been there before; I only heard and read stories along with a few photos.
The Famine Village, also called Abandoned Village, is probably one of the most intriguing and fascinating places in Carlingford and the Cooley Peninsula. The village is made up of a couple of stone-built buildings that stand roofless and stone-made walls that seem to mark paths.
The village, situated on the eastern slope of Mount Barnavave, offers beautiful views of Greenore, Carlingford Lough, and the Mourne Mountains on the other side.
It’s locally believed that the place was deserted due to the Great Irish Famine. As per very few resources, a few families lived and held a few plots of land there circa 1858 (as per the Griffiths Valuation maps). Some parts of houses, like chimneys, suggest that they can be a few centuries older.
Unusual is that the plots possibly weren't rented from landlords; each plot was freehold.
I arrived there before sunrise in the middle of the week. The sky was strongly overcast, with very few gaps in the clouds.
What I really liked and that surprised me was that for almost two hours of wandering around the village with my camera, I didn't meet a single person: only one fox (it was too far away to photograph) and a few sheep. I had time to climb a steep hill nearby and admire the views, but photos of the views will follow soon.
I definitely recommend the village for a stroll for its unique atmosphere and views.
Thanks to the following sites for their source knowledge:
https://visitcarlingford.com/historical-information/barnavave-abandoned-famine-village/
https://secretireland.ie/secrets-to-carlingford-county-louth/
