Living in Dundalk, Home of Nova Leah
As one of the top medical device cybersecurity companies in the world, Nova Leah attracts some of the industry’s brightest talent who are now living in Dundalk but making an impact worldwide. In this article, we are going to look at what it’s like to live and work a little north of the country’s capital.
Nova Leah is headquartered in Dundalk, Co. Louth, and supports businesses all over the world. Despite being only an hour from Dublin, Dundalk offers a multitude of distinctions that make it a wonderful place to live and work. By moving to Dundalk, you are stepping away from Dublin City bumper-to-bumper traffic and get to enjoy a much more peaceful commute and working life. But avoiding city traffic isn’t the only thing that Dundalk has to offer. There are fantastic schools, sport, art, culture, outdoor adventure and a great sense of community. And all of this in a location where your money goes a lot further than it would 80km further south.
We have attracted some of the industry’s top talent to our state-of-the-art offices in Dundalk, located halfway between the two cities of Belfast and Dublin. The reason that some of the industry’s finest talent have made the switch is simply because it’s a better place to work, live and raise a family. House prices are significantly reduced, and work/life balance is a reality, not a fantasy.
Here’s a quick summary of why we think it’s a no-brainer to venture out of Dublin City and make the move to Dundalk.
Dundalk in County Louth, is at the heart of Ireland’s ‘Ancient East’. The town is steeped in history, art and culture. The county of Louth has a protected and unspoiled coastline, with magnificent beaches and ocean drives. The town of Dundalk itself lays claim to popular festivals, museums, galleries, historic houses and gardens.
For outdoor adventurers, there are many vibrant water, cycling, equestrian, golf, and angling communities to join. There are many beautiful walks and hiking trails, with the Cooley Mountains being a local favourite.
About the Town
There are now approximately 40,000 people living in Dundalk Town. The location itself is big enough to have a bustling social scene and a host of amenities, and small enough to experience a real sense of community. This mix of benefits has attracted multi-national employers from far and wide. This includes eBay, PayPal, Prometric, Coca-Cola and Becton Dickinson. These employers have attracted talent from all over the world, which in turn has helped Dundalk to become a thriving, multi-cultural town.
Notable arts and heritage spots include the Táin Arts Centre, Oriel Centre, Dundalk Gaol and the County Museum.
Living in Dundalk and Finding a Home
Dundalk is a popular destination and so it may take you a little time to find the perfect place. That said, the property market is much more buyer-friendly in Dundalk than it is in the capital. Prices for similar-sized properties are less than half what you would expect to pay in Dublin. This makes living in Dundalk an exceptionally attractive proposition. It is a great place to rent or buy and the area is only getting bigger.
Culture and Art in Dundalk
Some of our favourite cultural spots in Dundalk include the County Museum, the Basement Gallery and An Táin. The Country Museum is located inside a wonderfully restored 18th century warehouse on Jocelyn Street. There’s always some new and exciting exhibition worth visiting. For a day out for family or visiting friends, it rarely disappoints. It offers a great mix of culture, heritage and contemporary stories. The best way to keep up to date with their news is to follow the County Museum on Facebook.
The Basement Gallery is actually a part of the Táin Theatre but it really deserves a mention of its own. It regularly features exhibitions from new and upcoming artists. It may well be a source of inspiration for your walls, or simply a nice thing to do before dinner in town. An Táin Theatre not only hosts the Basement Gallery, it also houses a 350-seat theatre, a smaller studio theatre, workshop spaces and a studio for new art. You can enjoy a feast of workshops, exhibitions and in-house productions here.
Outdoor Activities
For outdoor enthusiasts, Dundalk has a lot to offer. Situated not far from Carlingford and the Cooley Peninsula, there are lots of great options when it comes to hiking trails and water sports. Carlingford Adventure Centre is a very popular attraction in our office and one of the biggest adventure centres in Ireland. Skypark is unlike anything you’ve ever see before. The adventure centre has the longest aerial adventure course, as well as frisbee golf, foot golf, climbing walls, archery, and axe throwing. For something completely different you can visit Whiteriver Park for a spot of go-carting!
There are a few avid cyclists in our office who enjoy both mountain biking (a favourite trail here) and road cycling (many are part of the Cuchulainn Cycling Club). If you prefer to go by foot, there are some amazing walking routes around Dundalk (here is a list of some of the most popular trails.) If that isn’t enough there are also lots of GAA, soccer, tennis, badminton, and squash clubs around the area.
Living in Dundalk – Nightlife and Food
For those that enjoy a night out in the town, there are plenty of pubs, bars and restaurants. For foodies, there is no shortage of options, with incredible restaurants, tapas bars, woodfired pizza and Asian fusion cuisine. There are lots of great gastropubs, live music venues, sports bars and vibrant late-night clubs. Some of the pubs located in the town are hundreds of years old, with quirky interiors, traditional music and events.
Our team all have their favourite night-time locations and they’d be more than happy to show you around!
History and Archaeology
St Patrick’s Cathedral in Dundalk is a stunning Gothic creation, designed by the famous architect Thomas Duff. Inside, their mosaic walls are of special interest. The cathedral is built of Newry granite and is similar in style to King’s College Chapel in Cambridge. It’s been around for well over 150 years, having opened to the public in 1843.
St Nicholas Church, with its notable copper green spire is actually much older, and dates to the 13th Century. It’s of the same period as Roche Castle. For those who prefer their history a little older, the Proleek Dolmen is well worth a visit.
Living in Dundalk, Working at Nova Leah
We know that the space you chose to work in matters. At Nova Leah, we have invested in bright, spacious modern offices at Dundalk’s flagship business and technology park. The business park is located just south of Dundalk town centre, on the Dublin side. In fact, it’s just 45 minutes from the airport, and adjacent to the M1. With plenty of parking, no traffic and lots of green spaces, it’s an ideal work location for our team. The offices are open-plan with state-of-the-art equipment, dedicated meeting rooms and a large, fully equipped kitchen.
At Nova Leah, we love flexible working but also appreciate the value of building in-person relationships and supporting one another. Our team enjoys a blend of on-site, remote and hybrid working environments, and a great work/life balance.
