What’s Nearby

Photo courtesy of The Irish Independent

Bull Island

Bull Island is a low lying island in the northern part of Dublin Bay, County Dublin. It contains a range of natural habitats including sand dunes and salt marshes. The island is popular for walking and birdwatching.

Bull Island is a low lying, dune covered sand spit in Dublin Bay off the coast of the city’s north side. As a National Nature Reserve it is a paradise for birdwatchers and wildlife enthusiasts, and a good place for walking. It is home to two private golf courses – The Royal Dublin and St Anne’s. The long sandy beach on Bull Island is Dollymount Beach.

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Bull Island was created 200 years ago due to the construction of the north bull wall to Dublin Port. It continues to grow seaward and is a rare natural occurrence in Ireland. Its current size is 5km long by 1km wide.

The famous Wooden Bridge from Clontarf links to Bull Island. Here you’ll find the Star of the Sea statue installed in 1972 depicting Our Lady with a halo of 12 stars made of Waterford glass. Perched atop a globe, she watches over Dublin port workers and seafarers alike.

The island’s habitats include beach, dunes, mud flats, grassland and marsh. The island was the first official bird sanctuary in the country in the 1930s. In 1981 it achieved status as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve due to its rare and threatened habitats and species along with its use by important numbers of overwintering birds.

Bull Island is located between Dublin and Howth. There is no longer drive-on access to the beach. The island can be accessed by cars either via the Bull Bridge (aka Wooden Bridge) or the causeway. Parking is permitted on the causeway but on the beach parking is now restricted to a small area adjacent to the Bull Wall.

The beaches are busy in summer and popular for swimming and water sports. Strong winds usually bring out the kite­surfers. The variety of birds is stunning and in winter visitors might even see the Canadian Brent geese.

Visitors are strongly advised not to walk into the salt marshes due to risk of sinking.

The Red Stables at St. Anne's Park

The Red Stables

The Red Stables in St Anne’s Park were commissioned by Arthur Edward Guinness, Lord Ardilaun in 1885.

The Stables are in the Victorian Sussex style, laid out in a courtyard format, with the stabling on the south-east and south-west sides of the courtyard, and the coach house area on the north-eastern side of the courtyard. The Stables got their name from the Portmarnock red brick they were made from. We are located 15 minutes walk from the Stables.

The building is now a protected structure because of its unique and significant historic and architectural merit. It has been lovingly restored and refurbished by Dublin City Council.

Refurbishment works to the existing building included replacing damaged materials, overhauling existing fittings as required and using new materials (that matched original materials as closely as possible) only where absolutely necessary. The new build kitchen and tearoom area has been designed to fit in with the existing building.

The Red Stables were opened to the public in June 2006. They now house an arts and crafts centre with work spaces for artists and a gallery. The studios have open days twice a year where you can meet the artists and view their work.

The Red Stables are also home to Olive’s Room, a seomra tae (tearoom) with indoor and outdoor seating that serves breakfast, lunch and a variety of tasty snacks. With pastries, cakes, sandwiches, salads, hot drinks, ice cream and more there’s something to keep everyone happy.

Dublin City Council website link.

Malahide Castle & Gardens

The magnificent medieval castle with a dramatic 800 year heritage.

Generations of the Talbot family have called Malahide Castle & Gardens their home. Hear their stories, explore the private rooms and collections, and discover the central part this castle played in Irish political and social life on a guided tour.

King Henry II gifted Richard Talbot the lands and harbour of Malahide for his services to the crown in 1185. From that point on, the Talbot family became intertwined with Malahide’s history and development.

Discover the political and social upheavals that shaped the castle and the Talbot family over the course of centuries.

From intricate oak panelling to vintage Victorian toys, discover the Castle’s furniture and artwork collection.

Enjoy stunning copies of Raphael’s Vatican frescoes and admire more recent works on loan from the National Gallery of Ireland. Meanwhile, come face to face with the castle’s former residents in the Talbot portraits lining the walls.

Visit the Castle & Gardens website.

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Photo courtesy of Fingal County Council

Coastal Walk: Howth through Sutton to Baldoyle

Beginning at the seafront at Howth, take a ramble along the picturesque coast.

Trek up to Howth Head, savouring the view from on high.

Descend closer to sea-level and continue on your way towards Sutton, through dramatic cliffs, Balscadden House and the lovely Balscadden Bay Beach.

Perhaps enjoy a detour along the pier to Howth Lighthouse, and then make your way to the level expanse of Burrow Beach.

Trace your way along the perimeter of the dramatically situated Sutton Golf Club, and finish up your journey at the Baldoyle stretch of the Coast Road.

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Visit the Fingal County Council website

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Photo courtesy of The Irish Times

Tolka Estuary Greenway

A new Dublin Bay cycle route, which will provide cyclists with safe, segregated, access to ferry terminals and port facilities for the first time, has opened in Dublin Port.

The almost-2km route will take cyclists and pedestrians from the northern edge of the port lands at the East Point Business Park, along the perimeter of the bay opposite the Clontarf promenade.

The route, which Dublin Port Company is calling the Tolka Estuary Greenway, is the first phase of a €25 million project to open the port lands to the public and provide more than 16km of cycle paths through Dublin Port, to ferry terminals and industrial facilities.

The port routes will bridge a major gap in the provision of coastal cycling infrastructure across Dublin Bay, and will provide a starting point for the national Dublin to Galway cycleway.

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Visit Dublin Port Greenway – Dublin Port website

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National Tourism Development Authority approved