Gord and I came across St. Mary's Church while wandering around Howth Saturday afternoon…read more The first church built in Howth was on the site of Howth Abbey, in Howth village. It was founded by Sightrygg, King of Dublin around 1042. Around 1235, the old church was amalgamated with the church on Ireland's Eye and a new church was built - founded by Luke, Archbishop of Dublin on land granted by Sir Almeric St. Lawrence. Little remains of either of these churches and most of the present abbey dates back to the late 14th century or early 15th century.

If you are planning a day trip out to Howth or even just visiting the market this is a little…read moredetour well worth making. Not only for its historical value but it also has one of the best views in Howth out over the harbour to Ireland's Eye and Lambay Possibly the view is the reason King Sitric decided to build his Church here in 1042 but that structure is long gone and the current ruins are of an Abbey built by the St.Lawrence family in the early 15th Century - none the less it is an impressive site. The church was a indented in 1630's for a larger nearby church but a lot of the origami features like carvings and tombs remain. On the site there is also a little graveyard which has some interesting things to see. There is a section of the graveyard called the "strangers bank" which was for unidentified people who had died at sea. You may notice here there is a makeshift grave of tram rails. This marks the grave of a young Englishman who was working on the construction of the Howth tram in 1895. He had kept to himself so when he died suddenly his colleagues did not know his name or his family so they buried him here and made him a gravestone from the rail tracks The entrance is off abbeys street very close to both the harbour and the village - there are steps leading up to it just beside The Abbey Tavern

Visited Howth Castle briefly while I was in the area. I didn't see all of the castle on parts of…read morethe front. I wish I had a chance to see everything. I always pictured an Irish castle to look like the castle in the move "Brave" where an Irish princess named Mèrida running around! Howth Castle is not as extravagant as other castles like in Prague but it's still beautiful. Worth a stop if you're ever in Howth!

The Rhododendeon Garden is the most magical and surprising woodland I've ever visited. Think Secret…read moreGarden mixed with Sherwood Forest and a sprinkling of Lilliput. It's truly special when all the trees are blooming (from May onwards). The trees are unexpectedly tall and because they grow along uneven paths, you're completely nestled in a blaze of colour. The skyline is a crescendo of magenta, violet and cream. The fiery hues shelter your journey along pathways and caves littered with silken petals. There are small copses where you can relax, and you never know whats around the corner. We were lucky enough to go on a warm day, and even then there were so few people around, it was bliss. You honestly feel like you're in a solitary, magical kingdom. View the photos to see what I mean.

Even though we did not actually go onto the island itself, the ferry boat tour around the Eye of…read moreIreland was still such a beautiful experience. Being out on the ocean and seeing the island from the water gave us incredible views of the rugged coastline and dramatic seaside cliffs. One of the highlights was getting to see puffins and the many different seabirds that live on and around the island. Watching them fly around the cliffs and rest along the rocks made the experience feel so peaceful and special. The scenery was absolutely stunning and felt like something out of a postcard. The entire boat ride was relaxing, scenic, and a wonderful way to experience the natural beauty of the area. I would definitely recommend it to anyone visiting Howth, especially if you enjoy wildlife, ocean views, and beautiful coastal landscapes.

My review of Ireland's Eye is a little biased considering the weather I got while here. So it's a…read moresmall Island just a few minutes by boat from Howth harbour (so easily accessible from the city by DART). The Island has a nice beach, 7th century castle, Martello tower (climb up the rope to get inside!) and small cliffs that are popular with rock climbers. It's a perfect spot for a picnic and day out in the sun, you will not believe you are still in Dublin. OK, so lets talk about the ultimate way to see this island! On those rare calm days, don your wetsuit, grab a SUP (Stand Up Paddle board) and venture out from Howth harbour. Ok, so most of us can't just do that, but if a calm spell is coming contact the guys in Puremagic (Clontarf Rd). They are a super friendly group and they organise SUP lessons and SUParis around the Island. I went out on a SUP with Puremagic on a Friday evening and it was one of the most amazing things I've done in my 27 years in Dublin. As you approach the Island you will see curious seals starting to pop there heads out of the water. Before you know it you'll be surrounded by over 20 of them, some continued to follow us around the island. The side of the Island facing away from the coast is beautiful cliff face with large nesting bird colones. As I passed peacefully on my SUP just meters from the cliff face I could see thousands of birds flying, diving and skimming along the water. My favorite bird was the razorbill, they seem to struggle flying out of the water and spent most of the time skimming along on there belly, they looked like a cross between a penguin and a flying bird. There are also a few small caves along the cliff that a pretty cool to venture into. There is a sandy beach on the Island and when the tide is in there are a few spots from the rocks that provide a good spot for a bit of diving. So I've rambled, but I can not recommend SUPari around the Island more, so if you get the chance, DO IT!

If you are in Dublin, do the side trip to Howth. It is about 30 minute bus or train ride from the…read morecenter of Dublin. Check to see if a festival is happening as it affects travel times. A Seafood Festival was happening when we were there so it was crowded. If you take the city bus m, it drops you at the top of the cliff walk and you can walk back down. We ended up walking up and catching the bus back to Dublin at the top. The trail we did was the easy one. It went through residential areas for the first half. As we got further up, we could see some of the views. When you get to the top, the view are amazing. You can see a lighthouse and the Eye of Ireland island. The trail was moderately strenuous. A restaurant/bar is about 5 minutes from the top. A parking lot is at the top. You can walk down on different trails. Some trails are along the sea. A small convenience store is across from The bus stop. We waited about 10 minutes for the bis.

The seaside cliff hike was absolutely breathtaking and one of the highlights of our trip. The trail…read moreis about 5K (around 3 miles) and offers stunning ocean views the entire way. The scenery was gorgeous, with lush green foliage surrounding the path and beautiful purple and yellow flowers blooming throughout the hike. The trail was well maintained and easy to enjoy at a relaxed pace while taking in the incredible coastal views. There were so many perfect spots to stop for photos and simply appreciate the peaceful atmosphere and fresh ocean air. If you enjoy nature, scenic walks, and beautiful seaside landscapes, I would definitely recommend this hike. It was such a memorable experience and a perfect way to spend a day outdoors.

Pretty building. Free tours on first Wednesdays. Had a little audio tour and got to learn some…read morehistory of the building.

Spectacular neo-classical 18th century building on the River Liffey. Today, it houses the…read moreDepartment of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government / An Roinn Tithíochta, Pleanála, Pobail agus Rialtais Áitiúil. But I had no business there. I simply admired a beautiful building. Originally used for customs collection due to its proximity to the Port of Dublin, it got other uses as the port moved further down river. Lovely to look at, up close or from across the River.

Dublin Castle was originally built in the early 1200s as a medieval fortress under the instruction…read moreof King John of England. For centuries, it was the headquarters of English (and eventually British) rule in Ireland. In 1684, a large fire destroyed a large portion of the castle. Instead of matching the original Gothic style, most of it was rebuilt using a Georgian style, similar to what you'd find in the French Palace of Versailles! It's quite the contrast. When you visit Dublin Castle, you can choose to explore it in two ways: with a self-guided tour to the state apartments or with a scheduled guided tour that visits the Viking Excavation, the Chapel Royal, and the State Apartments. When you first enter the courtyard, you'll immediately see the newer Georgian architecture in the neat red brick buildings surrounding the square. From the 13th century to the early 20th century, the castle was under British control. It served from being a royal palace and parliament to a prison. Dublin Castle was eventually handed over to General Michael Collins on the 16th of January in 1922. Collins was a soldier and a politician who lead the Irish people through their fight for Independence Dublin Castle plays a huge role in Ireland's history and a walk around the grounds is time well spent. Today the castle is a government complex and tourist attraction. Stroll through the famous Chester Beatty Library if time permits

Nice stop for a fancy castle that doesn't take too long…read more Convenient free lockers upon entry. No lines & self guided. They did have audio tour I believe but we only had an hour to spare. Some cool history here w/ the monarchy here & some old pictures from centuries ago to compare. They could have a few more plaques with info in some of the empty rooms.

Ben of Howth is a hill on Howth Head that has the most breathtaking view of the sea, Ireland's eye…read moreand the neighbouring golf course. It's 171 metres high and on a sunny summer's day, I can think of no better place to drive to. There isn't much to do here, only hike and enjoy the sights. Yellow rhododendrons and purple heather grow on the hillside which makes the place idyllic. This is a great spot for first time visitors to Ireland. It makes the country seem rugged, wild and beautiful.

On a clear morning, we hike up to the Ben of Howth. From there, if you bring your binoculars (or,…read morelike me, are particularly keen-sighted) you can see Wales to the East and the Isle of Man to the NNE. Just scan the horizon slowly, as if you were looking out for Viking raiders. If you'd ever met any Viking raiders, you'd be up there now trembling in your moccasins. Scan slowly and you'll see tiny bumps on the horizon. Amazing. That's Wales. You have most of the Irish Sea covered. Then it's just a short stroll down the hill (exit by the quarry entrance) and you're having breakfast down in the Village (that's where the big church is, and it's an Assumption (joke).

James moved into this Martello tower for a few days with his friend Oliver St. John Gogarty, who is…read morenow immortalised in pub form. However, Olly seems to have grown tired of his erudite friend, and expressed this displeasure by firing a gun over his bed while he slept, resulting in James taking his Stilton from the cupboard and legging it. His brief stay was not unfruitful, however. It inspired the opening of his novel Ulysses; the gun platform with its panoramic view, and the living room inside the tower are still much as he described them in his book. Now a museum, it houses Joyce's death mask, as well as photographs, papers and first editions.

This is good fun if you feel like doing some walk. You will find it at the very end of the…read morepromenade - honestly, I only found out about this place recently. It is free, no guides available but interesting that information on the walls. It is a very small museum but I kinda of liked. The view on the rooftop is great and I took hundreds of pics.