Howth (pronounced /ˈhoʊθ/; Irish: Binn Éadair)[1] is an area in the Fingal County Council administrative area of County Dublin, Ireland. Originally just a small fishing village and surrounding rural district, Howth is now a busy suburb of Dublin, with a mix of dense residential development and wild hillside. The only neighbouring district on land is Sutton, also on the Howth peninsula.
Location and access
Howth is located on the peninsula of Howth Head, which begins around 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) east-north-east of Dublin city, on the north side of Dublin Bay. The village itself is located 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) from Dublin city centre (the ninth of a series of milestones from the GPO is in the village itself), and spans most of the northern part of Howth Head, which is connected to the rest of Dublin via a narrow strip of land (or tombolo) at Sutton Cross.
Howth is at the end of a regional road from Dublin City and is one of the northern termini of the DART suburban rail system. It is served by Dublin Bus.
Features
Howth Head is one of the dominant features of Dublin Bay, with a number of peaks. In one area, near Shielmartin, there is a small peat bog, the Bog of the Frogs. The wilder parts of Howth can be accessed by a network of paths (many are rights of way) and much of the centre and east is protected as part of a Special Area of Conservation of 2.3 square kilometres (570 acres).
Howth Lighthouse and Ireland's Eye
The island of Ireland's Eye, part of the Howth Estate, and of the Special Area of Conservation, lies about a kilometre north of Howth harbour, with Lambay Island some 5 km further to the north. A Martello tower exists on each of these islands with another tower overlooking Howth harbour (opened as a visitor centre and Ye Olde Hurdy-Gurdy Museum of Vintage Radio on June 8 2001[2]) and another tower at Red Rock, Sutton. These are part of a series of towers built around the coast of Ireland during the 19th century.
The Martello tower in 1998
Built heritage
Howth Castle, and its estate, Deer Park, are key features of the area.
On the grounds of Howth Castle lies a collapsed Dolmen known locally as Aideen's Grave.
At the south-east corner of Howth Head, in the area known as Bailey (historically, the Green Bayley) is the automated Baily Lighthouse, successor to previous safety mechanisms, at least as far back as the late 1600s.
In Howth village is St. Mary’s Church and graveyard. The earliest church was built by Sitric, King of Dublin, in 1042. It was replaced around 1235 by a parish church, and then, in the second, half of the 14th century, the present church was built. The building was modified in the 15th and 16th centuries, when the gables were raised, a bell-cote was built and a new porch and south door were added. The St. Lawrences of nearby Howth Castle also modified the east end to act as a private chapel; inside bis the tomb of Christopher St. Lawrence, 13th Lord Howth, who died in 1462, and his wife, Anna Plunkett of Ratoath.
Also of historic interest is The College, on Howth's Main Street.
Recreation
Howth is a popular area for birdwatching and sailing, and is also popular with anglers. Anything from cod to ray can be caught from Howth's rocky shore marks, and sea mammals, such as seals, are common sights in and near the harbour. Howth is also a popular destination for cyclists and hillwalkers, particularly on weekends.
Historical notes
The name Howth is thought to be of Norse origin, perhaps being derived from the word Hoved ("head" in English). The Norwegians colonised the eastern shores of Ireland and built the city of Dublin as strategic base between Scandinavia and the Mediterranean. The Norse first invaded Howth in 819 and the surnames of some of the oldest families on the peninsula, such as Hartford, Thunder, Rickard and Waldron, are decedents of these early invaders.
After King Brian Boru's defeat of the Norse in 1014, many Norse fled to Howth to regroup and remain a force until their final defeat in Fingal in the middle of the 11th century. Howth still remained under the control of Irish and localized Norsemen until the invasion of Ireland by the Anglo-Normans in 1169.
Without the support of either the Irish or Scandinavians, Howth was isolated and fell to the Normans in 1177. One of the winning Normans, Armoricus (or Almeric) Tristam, was granted much of the land between the village and Sutton. Tristam took on the name of the saint on whose feast day the battle was won, and built his first castle near the harbour—and the St. Lawrence link remains even today, see Earl of Howth. The original title as Baron of Howth was granted to Almeric St. Lawrence by Henry II in 1181, for one knight's fee, one of the seven knight's fees of the superior overlordship of Fingal.
Howth was a trading port from at least the 14th century, with both health and duty collection officials supervising from Dublin, although the harbour was not built until the early 1800s.
A popular tale concerns the pirate Grace O'Malley, who was rebuffed in 1576 while attempting a courtesy visit to Howth Castle, home of the Earl of Howth. In retaliation, she abducted the Earl's grandson and heir, and as ransom she exacted a promise that unanticipated guests would never be turned away again. She also made the Earl promise that the gates of Deer Park (the Earl's demesne) would never be closed to the public again, and the gates are still open to this day, and a place set at table for unexpected guests.
In the early 18th century, Howth was chosen as the location for the harbour for the mail packet (postal service ship). One of the arguments used against Howth by the advocates of Dún Laoghaire was that coaches might be raided in the badlands of Sutton! (at the time Sutton was open countryside.)[1] However, due to silting, the harbour needed to be frequently dredged to accommodate the packet and eventually the service was relocated to Dún Laoghaire. George IV visited the harbour in 1821.
In June 1914, 900 rifles were landed at Howth by Robert Erskine Childers for the Irish Volunteers. Many were used against the British in the Easter Rising and in the subsequent Anglo-Irish War.
Notable residents
The Baily Lighthouse, on the south-eastern side of Howth Head
Among Howth's better known residents are Booker Prize-winning novelist John Banville, U2 drummer Larry Mullen, Senator and retail pioneer Fergal Quinn and musicians Barney McKenna and John Sheahan of The Dubliners and Dolores O'Riordan of The Cranberries. Phil Lynott of Thin Lizzy lived in Howth for a time.[3] The late politician and writer Conor Cruise O'Brien and his wife, the Irish poet Máire Mhac an tSaoi lived here for many years. Legendary broadcaster Gay Byrne lived close to the Bailey Lighthouse in Howth until 2008 and now lives in Sandymount. Actor Stuart Townsend was born in Howth. Author and philosopher Robert Anton Wilson resided there for six years in 1980s. Multiple Eurovision Song Contest winner Johnny Logan and his father, tenor Patrick O'Hagan lived for many years in Howth, and Lynn Redgrave and husband John Clark raised their family there in the early 1970s. Composer Brian Boydell was born in Howth and returned as an adult to live there with his family. Producer and Director team Moya Doherty and John McColgan of Riverdance live with their family near Howth Summit. Publisher Stephen Ryan and his wife, journalist and national Ombudsman Emily O'Reilly, live in Howth with their family.
Transport
Howth Harbour with a rusty boat in front and Ireland's Eye in the background.
Sources
- Dublin, 1920: Joyce, Weston St. The Neighbourhood of Dublin
- Dublin: Howth, a Guide and Map; Dublin County Council, nd (1980's?)
- ^ By Swerve of Shore, Michael Fewer, (2002), ISBN 0-7171-3353-2, an account of the author's walk along the coast of County Dublin
See also
References
External links
