johncrawley1959
IMG_6977 2 MARTELLO TOWERS . F
1a: North Dublin Coast
The North Dublin towers are numbered one to twelve starting at Red Rock Sutton Creek on the Dublin side of the Howth peninsula. All twelve towers constructed remain standing but only the tower at Howth harbour is open for viewing, being recently restored and now a Vintage Radio Museum. Seven towers are privately owned and 2 towers are located on offshore islands, Irelands Eye off Howth and Shenick Island off Skerries.
During the tourist season from April to September, it is possible to visit the Islands by boat for a modest charge organised by the local boatmen at Howth and Skerries. Only four of the seven towers in private ownership are occupied (Sutton, Portmarnock, Malahide, Portrane) . Balbriggan, Shenick Island, Drumanagh, Howth Harbour Towers are under the jurisdiction of the Fingal County Council. The tower at Balbriggan is in a very poor condition with the entire top of the tower is missing. The Town of Balbriggan was ‘sacked’ by the Black and Tans during the War of Independence in the 1920’s and the extent of the damage to this tower would suggest that it may also have been subject to plunder in a reprisal attack but it was otherwise vandalised. The Howth tower is the only North Dublin tower that was restored by Fingal County Council , it is now a Vintage Radio Museum and open to the public.
The historical records of the period circa 1910 include several Valentine collection photographs of the Balbriggan Martello tower in excellent condition.
Howth peninsula is located 10 miles north-east of Dublin City and is steeped in history dating back to pre-Christian times when the Celtic Tribes called this peninsula Ben Edar. The Danes first used the name “hoved” meaning head, and is now recognised as Howth. Earliest references to Howth are found on a map completed by the geographer, Ptolemy in the 2nd.century.
IMG_6977 2 MARTELLO TOWERS . F
1a: North Dublin Coast
The North Dublin towers are numbered one to twelve starting at Red Rock Sutton Creek on the Dublin side of the Howth peninsula. All twelve towers constructed remain standing but only the tower at Howth harbour is open for viewing, being recently restored and now a Vintage Radio Museum. Seven towers are privately owned and 2 towers are located on offshore islands, Irelands Eye off Howth and Shenick Island off Skerries.
During the tourist season from April to September, it is possible to visit the Islands by boat for a modest charge organised by the local boatmen at Howth and Skerries. Only four of the seven towers in private ownership are occupied (Sutton, Portmarnock, Malahide, Portrane) . Balbriggan, Shenick Island, Drumanagh, Howth Harbour Towers are under the jurisdiction of the Fingal County Council. The tower at Balbriggan is in a very poor condition with the entire top of the tower is missing. The Town of Balbriggan was ‘sacked’ by the Black and Tans during the War of Independence in the 1920’s and the extent of the damage to this tower would suggest that it may also have been subject to plunder in a reprisal attack but it was otherwise vandalised. The Howth tower is the only North Dublin tower that was restored by Fingal County Council , it is now a Vintage Radio Museum and open to the public.
The historical records of the period circa 1910 include several Valentine collection photographs of the Balbriggan Martello tower in excellent condition.
Howth peninsula is located 10 miles north-east of Dublin City and is steeped in history dating back to pre-Christian times when the Celtic Tribes called this peninsula Ben Edar. The Danes first used the name “hoved” meaning head, and is now recognised as Howth. Earliest references to Howth are found on a map completed by the geographer, Ptolemy in the 2nd.century.