seaport, urban district, and administrative centre of County Louth, extreme northeastern Ireland. It lies near the mouth of the Castletown River on Dundalk Bay, about 45 miles (70 km) north of Dublin. Dundalk received charters from King John about 1200 and from other monarchs. During medieval times the town was at the northern end of the English pale. Dundalk is a railway junction and has railway workshops, distilleries, and breweries. Textiles, electrical components, cigarettes and tobacco, and computers are important industries. Tourism provides a valuable source of income. North of the city are the ruins of several historic sites, including medieval churches and Iron Age forts. Pop. (2002) 27,385.