Howth

Taking The Train

Pearse Station

Have Ticket

Waiting To Board

Howth

An outer suburb of Dublin, Ireland. The city is located on the peninsula of Howth Head, forming the northern boundary of Dublin Bay. Howth is home to one of the oldest occupied buildings in Ireland, Howth Castle. A great day trip outside of Dublin by train and a great walking city to explore.

History

Norse Vikings colonized the eastern shores of Ireland and built the settlement of Dublin as a strategic base between Scandinavia and the Mediterranean. Norse Vikings first invaded Howth in 819.
After Brian Boru, the High King of Ireland, defeated the Norse in 1014, many Norse fled to Howth and remained a force until their final defeat in Fingal in the middle of the 11th century.
The earliest church was built by Sitric, King of Dublin, in 1042. It was replaced around 1235 by a parish church. Then in the 14th century the present church was built.
Howth still remained under the control of Irish and localized Norse forces until the invasion of Ireland by the Anglo-Normans in 1169.
Howth fell to the Normans in 1177.
Howth was a trading port from at least the 14th century, although the harbor was not built until the early 19th century.
On July 26, 1914, rifles arrived in Howth by Robert Erskine Childers for the Irish Volunteers. Many were used against the British in the Easter Rising and in the Anglo-Irish War.
Howth is today home to both the RNLI (lifeboat service) and the Irish Coastguard.

Lifeboat

Irish Coastguard Symbol

Places of Interest

Howth Castle. One of the oldest occupied buildings in Ireland. The grounds include the Deer Park Hotel and four golf courses. The grounds also include the National Transport Museum of Ireland.
Howth Head. A dominant feature of Dublin Bay.
Baily Lighthouse. Located on the southeastern part of Howth Head.
Ireland’s Eye, which is an island north of Howth harbor.
Lambay Island is further to the north.
The Bog of the Frogs. Near Shielmartin. A small peat bog.
St. Mary’s Church.
Birdwatching and hiking as well as sailing and fishing.

If you love fresh fish and seafood, you have to stop for a bite to eat while in Howth. We ate at the Oar House Restaurant and the seafood chowder, the crab claws and the Dublin Bay prawns were oh so GOOD!