Howth Ireland Visitor Info
Howth is one of my favorite places in Ireland. It's been a few years since my last visit, but I remember it vividly. If you are going to be in the Dublin vicinity, I highly recommend this side trip.
If you are relegated to being an armchair, internet traveler, like myself these days, then hopefully this site can at least give you a feel for the area's attractions.
I hope the information offered is both interesting and useful.
Welcome to Howth
Here are some eautiful images of the landscape and seascape around the Howth Peninsula for you to enjoy before beginning the video tour.
A Brief Introduction to Howth
portions of this section are from Wikipedia
In Howth you can find St. Mary's Church and Graveyard, dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The earliest church was built by Sitric, King of Dublin, in 1042. It was replaced around 1235 by a parish church. 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.
At nearby Howth Castle is the tomb of Christopher St. Lawrence, 13th Lord Howth, who died in 1462, and his wife, Anna Plunkett of Ratoath.
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 Video
Interested in Cliff Walking?
For the avid walker, the best way to take in the town and surrounding scenery is to start on the well-marked five mile coastal cliff path which runs the entire perimeter of the peninsula.My personal preference is to begin in Sutton (image at right Howth Head viewed from Sutton) , on the southeast side. The path winds gradually from a street of quaint Victorian and Queen Anne houses, past a small yacht club, into undeveloped land.
A few hundred yards on, you pass a refurbished, re-purposed Martello Tower which is now a residence on a cliff overlooking crashing surf. Looking south from here across Dublin Bay, the entire urban sprawl of Dublin is visible, including the smoke stacks of the Poolbeg Generating Station, which some may recognize from the original version of U2's mid-1980s video "Pride in the Name of Love".
Moving further on, the landscape becomes increasingly barren and windswept, sporting heather hedges and blackberry brambles. The path winds through some boggy areas which can be full of midges in warm wet weather. You may catch a glimpse of the ferry to Stranraer, Scotland or a large cargo ship chugging into heavy waves.
For the intrepid, there are places along the path which, at my last visit, still offered, albeit difficult to pick out and in places quite dangerous due to erosion, access to hidden coves along rocky beaches. These are havens for beachcombers in search of seaglass and small shells. In this area there is also an intriguing, weathered wooden signpost, diamond-shaped, which reads "Trans-Atlantic Telegraph".
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Scenes from In and Around Howth
Howth Harbor
Howth- Sutton Cliff Walk
Cliff Walk, continued
About midway around the peninsula, the Old Bailey Lighthouse (see picture at right), a modern complex of white block buildings, appears on your right. Although it certainly feels like the middle of nowhere, there are actually many homes just out of sight to the left, including some of the most exclusive residences in all of Ireland, home to musicians and broadcast personalities. The path winds again into long stretches of heather and brambles where blackened roots and stumps still offer evidence of a brush fire which occurred in about 1999.At last you pass a large, striking residence called "Tara Hall", perched on a cliff rimmed by a stone wall, and emerge at the end of Balscadden Road. Not much further along you'll see a signpost on a white-washed residence declaring it the former home of famous poet William Butler Yeats, which overlooks Howth Harbor and Ireland's Eye, a small barren monastic island just off the coast.
Balscadden Road descends past 19th century homes and shop fronts into the village of Howth itself. On the left, three piers extend into the sea, defining Howth Harbor. The sailboat and pleasure craft set are sheltered between the first two piers, while a colorful if rustic fishing fleet fills in between the second and third.
On the right hand side of the road, all manner of shops and restaurants vie for business with facades painted bright shades of blue, yellow, green and red. Numerous art galleries are also found here. The historic section of town lies on a street which climbs a steep hill behind the waterfront. Here you will find the second Martello Tower and the moody grounds and cemetery of St. Mary's Abbey.
Related Reading
St. Mary's
St. Mary's - Howth, County Dublin, Ireland
This church, dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, was collegiate; that is, it was served by a college or community of clerics, one of whom had responsibility for liturgy within the church as well as for matters of business. The house where the community lived stands to the south of the church. 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 is the tomb of Christopher St. Lawrence, 13th Baron of Howth, who died in 1462, and his wife, Anna Plunkett of Ratoath.
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Well-Known Howth Residents
*legendary broadcaster Gay Byrne (who lived close to the Bailey Lighthouse in Howth until 2008 and now lives in Sandymount)
*Booker Prize-winning novelist John Banville
*U2 drummer Larry Mullen
*Senator and retail pioneer Fergal Quinn
*musicians Barney McKenna and John Sheahan of The Dubliners
*Dolores O'Riordan of The Cranberries.
*Phil Lynott of Thin Lizzy lived in Howth for a time.
*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 famous tenor father Patrick O'Hagan lived for many years in Howth.
*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.
Art Posters Featuring Howth
What to See and Do in Howth
- National Transport Museum
- History of transportation in Ireland, including Howth's now defunct trams.
- Howth Castle Rhododendron Gardens
- Info on visiting the castle gardens.
- Howth Castle Wiki
- Wikipedia article on Howth Castle.
- Howth Castle images
- A few photos of the castle.
- Deer Park Hotel Golf
- An exclusive upscale hotel with a golf course, for those sporting types.
- Howth Is Magic .com
- About Howth Dublin Ireland.
Links to Some AMAZING Photos of Howth
You will be amazed at the stunning beauty of these photos! Well, at least I was!
- féileacán flickr stream
- Beautiful shots from all around Howth, featuring the residential Martello Tower and more!
- Howth Photo Pool
- A flickr group dedicated solely to this awe-inspiring town!
If You Love Celtic Art and Design, Don't Miss:
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Celtic Creations-Celtic Themed Art & Attire
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Failte. Welcome. Celtic Creations is for lovers of Celtic art, design and culture. Our products reflect a passion for Irish, Scots, Welsh, and Breton history. It is our goal to offer the finest Celtic designs for you to wear to Celtic festivals, con...
Did You Enjoy Your Visit?
Although I never lived there, I miss Howth. There is such a feeling of peace there.
I hope you enjoyed your virtual-visit and are able to go in person one day.
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- susannaduffy susannaduffy Feb 7, 2009 @ 11:29 pm
- Looks lovely. When I win the lottery I will be on the first plane
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- Sardu Sardu Dec 29, 2008 @ 6:41 am
- I'm planning on coming to Dublin in the Spring and I after seeing your pictures guess where I am going to walkabout on my visit. What a great informative Lens you created! I love the fact that you have videos and links you have provided. My father in law is Irish and I can see why he always goes on about Ireland now. I'm going to be taking loads of pictures when I take my family and add it to my website. If you get a chance check it out it's Free Virtual Tour software and maybe you can get some use out of it. Thanks again for all the in depth work you supplied in your lense.
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- Lamarena Lamarena Dec 11, 2008 @ 6:49 am
- I love Howth !!! It's a beautiful place. I usually go there for my morning walks every Saturday. Just wish I could live there... ;) 5***** and favorited for sure!
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- Tracey_M Tracey_M Nov 27, 2008 @ 8:15 am
- A lovely lens. I haven't been to Howth in years and enjoyed the lens immensely.
Would you please considering adding it to my Irish Connection group
http://www.squidoo.com/groups/theirishconnection
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- surfsusan surfsusan Sep 21, 2008 @ 11:24 am
- What a lovely lens of a most beautiful plance on earh. Informative too a 5 star performance, lensrolled you to my Celtic Jewlery.
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- kristensup kristensup Sep 9, 2008 @ 3:23 pm
- This all looks so amazingly beautiful.

Tara Hall photo by feileacan, from flickr
























