Martello towers in the Greater Dublin Area

29 Martello towers and battery installations were constructed or partially constructed in the Greater Dublin Area between 1803 and 1808. The towers were intended to act as a deterrent against a foreign invasion by Napoleon and his French Armies as well as being used as general lookout posts.[1][2][3][4] In later years, towers were also used as coast guard stations, lookout stations to prevent smuggling and as other general purpose military installations by various British and Irish defence forces.

The Killiney bay towers were specifically planned following a 1797 survey by a Major La Chaussée who was employed by the British administration to survey the area and plot out points of weakness and potential locations for military defensive installations.[5]

Number Type Image Location Council Area and County Date Ownership Notes
1 North Tower Red Rock, Sutton
53°22′10″N 6°05′50″W / 53.3695671°N 6.0970874°W / 53.3695671; -6.0970874		 Fingal County Council, County Dublin 1804 Private dwelling house At a key strategic point as it faced Sutton Creek which was often used by boats wishing to avoid the silted up harbour approaching the River Liffey mouth. It was also a deterrent to smugglers and acted as a general lookout post for the North Dublin Bay area. The tower also included a clay boundary ditch around the half acre site and 11 large boundary stones.[6][7][8]
2 North Tower Howth East Pier
53°23′16″N 6°03′54″W / 53.3878207°N 6.0650752°W / 53.3878207; -6.0650752		 Fingal County Council, County Dublin 1804 Fingal County Council Ye Olde Hurdy Gurdy Museum of Vintage Radio operates from the tower. Built on the site of an ancient Promontory fort complex.[8][1]
3 North Double tower Ireland's Eye
53°24′30″N 6°04′13″W / 53.4082498°N 6.0701993°W / 53.4082498; -6.0701993		 Fingal County Council, County Dublin 1804 Corporate Ownership Acquired by Tetrarch Investment Group upon its acquisition of the Howth Estate in 2019. Access to the island is still open to the public[9]
4 North Tower Carrickhill, Portmarnock
53°26′10″N 6°07′20″W / 53.435976°N 6.122295°W / 53.435976; -6.122295		 Fingal County Council, County Dublin 1804 Private dwelling house [1][10]
5 North Tower Robswall, Malahide
53°26′52″N 6°08′08″W / 53.447712°N 6.135609°W / 53.447712; -6.135609		 Fingal County Council, County Dublin 1805 Private dwelling house Often named Hick's Tower after the architect who extended and modernised the property as well as contributing its trademark conical shaped roof[8][11]
6 North Tower Balcarrick, Donabate
53°28′42″N 6°06′55″W / 53.478328°N 6.115369°W / 53.478328; -6.115369		 Fingal County Council, County Dublin 1805 Private ownership The tower is derelict and vacant and in poor condition.[12]
7 North Tower Tower Bay, Portrane
53°29′24″N 6°05′50″W / 53.489900°N 6.097187°W / 53.489900; -6.097187		 Fingal County Council, County Dublin 1804 Private dwelling house In good and habitable condition.[13]
8 North Tower Drumanagh, Loughshinny
53°32′26″N 6°04′41″W / 53.540614°N 6.078161°W / 53.540614; -6.078161		 Fingal County Council, County Dublin 1804 Private ownership The tower is located on one of the most important archaeological sites in Ireland, It is vacant and derelict and in poor condition.[14]
9 North Tower Rush
53°31′16″N 6°04′35″W / 53.521038°N 6.076363°W / 53.521038; -6.076363		 Fingal County Council, County Dublin 1804 Private dwelling house Has been used as a main dwelling and as a holiday home in recent times[15]
10 North Tower Red Island, Skerries
53°35′05″N 6°06′09″W / 53.584602°N 6.102461°W / 53.584602; -6.102461		 Fingal County Council, County Dublin 1804 Fingal County Council Vacant and derelict with windows and doors blocked up however it is still in moderately good condition owing to recent use as part of a holiday camp up until the 1980s.[16]
11 North Tower Shenick Island, Skerries
53°34′25″N 6°05′09″W / 53.573745°N 6.085723°W / 53.573745; -6.085723		 Fingal County Council, County Dublin 1805 Fingal County Council [17]
12 North Tower Balbriggan (Tankardstown)
53°36′58″N 6°11′00″W / 53.615993°N 6.183294°W / 53.615993; -6.183294		 Fingal County Council, County Dublin 1804 Fingal County Council In extremely poor condition and the most at risk of any of the towers in the Dublin area. Previously in use as part of the adjacent coast guard station[18]
N/A North Millmount Fort, Drogheda
53°42′42″N 6°20′58″W / 53.711656°N 6.349517°W / 53.711656; -6.349517		 Louth County Council, County Louth 1808 Charity (Old Drogheda Society) [19]
1 South Tower Bray esplanade
53°12′05″N 6°05′48″W / 53.201315°N 6.096604°W / 53.201315; -6.096604		 Wicklow County Council, County Wicklow 1804 N/A - demolished Demolished - various photos and drawings still exist showing the tower on the beach between the centre of the strand and Bray Head.
2 South Tower and battery Bray on an elevated site guarding the south bank of the River Dargle
53°12′25″N 6°06′06″W / 53.206826°N 6.101694°W / 53.206826; -6.101694		 Wicklow County Council, County Wicklow 1804 Private dwelling house, battery demolished Bono and Ali Hewson owned the property for a period in the 1980s.[8][1]
3 South Tower Townlands of Cork Great/Corke Abbey just north of the River Dargle
53°12′47″N 6°06′07″W / 53.213058°N 6.101821°W / 53.213058; -6.101821		 Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council, County Dublin 1804 N/A - destroyed Lost to coastal erosion and area currently lies circa 50m off the current shoreline submerged. Much of the stone has been taken for other uses in buildings around Bray although some of the large granite blocks remain submerged beneath the water. Marked on a map dated 1836.
4 South Tower and two batteries No photo available Maghera Point, Shankill near Bray
53°13′50″N 6°06′26″W / 53.230605°N 6.107206°W / 53.230605; -6.107206		 Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council, County Dublin 1804 N/A - destroyed Eroded but part of remains of the large granite blocks and boulders still lie strewn on the sea shore and surrounding area and can be seen on a clear day. Also included a defensive redoubt. Located close to Rosedale House which still stands as of 2020. The remains of the tower are clearly mapped on an OSI Map of 1897. Clear photos exist of the tower in the Lawrence collection prior to its collapse.
5 South Battery only No photo available Killiney (Shanganagh)
53°15′12″N 6°06′50″W / 53.253271°N 6.113885°W / 53.253271; -6.113885		 Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council, County Dublin 1804 N/A - dismantled Remains of the battery still can be seen near the shore. A Martello Tower was planned but never actually built or possibly only the foundations and part of the first floor were built before being dismantled or demolished in 1815.
6 South Tower and battery No photo available Killiney beach (Loughlinstown River)
53°15′00″N 6°06′46″W / 53.249872°N 6.112837°W / 53.249872; -6.112837		 Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council, County Dublin 1804 Private dwelling house, battery demolished Enoch Tower - still in use with vertical floor additions added by Victor Enoch, a martello tower aficionado and prominent member of Dublin's Jewish Community who authored a book called The Martello Towers of Ireland
7 South Tower and battery Killiney Hill (Tara Hill)
53°15′23″N 6°07′06″W / 53.256391°N 6.118252°W / 53.256391; -6.118252		 Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council, County Dublin 1804 Private dwelling house with battery restored Enfilade tower[1][20]
8 South Battery only No photo available Ballybrack/Limekiln, site of old Killiney Railway Station
53°15′33″N 6°06′46″W / 53.259201°N 6.112837°W / 53.259201; -6.112837		 Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council, County Dublin 1804 N/A - demolished Removed c.1853 for the construction of the railway line although some out buildings remained up until the 1960s. Much of the stone was used to build a tunnel under the railway line to the beach.
9 South Double tower and battery Dalkey Island
53°16′18″N 6°05′06″W / 53.271569°N 6.085130°W / 53.271569; -6.085130		 Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council, County Dublin 1804 Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council Both tower and battery still standing and in moderate condition as of 2020.[1]
10 South Tower No photo available Bullock Harbour/Bartra, Harbour Road, Dalkey
53°17′00″N 6°06′13″W / 53.283322°N 6.103696°W / 53.283322; -6.103696		 Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council, County Dublin 1804 Private dwelling house Listed for sale in 2016 at €1.8m after extensive renovations by architect Simone Stephenson and eventually sold for €1.78m.[21][22]
11 South Tower and battery James Joyce Tower and Museum, Sandycove
53°17′19″N 6°06′49″W / 53.288666°N 6.113625°W / 53.288666; -6.113625		 Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council, County Dublin 1804 Museum Well used museum and event space in excellent condition near to the Forty Foot.[8][1]
12 South Tower and battery People's Park, Dún Laoghaire/Glasthule
53°17′24″N 6°07′39″W / 53.290039°N 6.127494°W / 53.290039; -6.127494		 Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council, County Dublin 1804 N/A - demolished Demolished and the rubble was used to fill in a nearby quarry. The Tower was located on a high rocky outcrop in the corner of People's Park above a lower battery located on Scotsman's Bay. The tower was removed sometime around 1850 possibly due to undermining from quarrying and the need for stone in the area. Its position is clearly identified on an 1837 map of Dublin and Environs where it is called Glassdool Tower.
13 South Tower and battery No photo available Dún Laoghaire Harbour
53°17′40″N 6°08′14″W / 53.29457°N 6.13716°W / 53.29457; -6.13716		 Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council, County Dublin 1804 N/A - demolished Removed c.1836 for the construction of the Railway Line. It was not in the way of the railway line but possibly was destabilised and undermined following quarrying of material in the immediate vicinity of the tower. When the harbour was expanded the remaining fragments were finally removed.
14 South Tower Seapoint
53°17′52″N 6°09′35″W / 53.297849°N 6.159815°W / 53.297849; -6.159815		 Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council, County Dublin 1803 Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council Formerly the headquarters of the Genealogical Society of Ireland and now used as changing rooms for the beach.
15 South Double tower Blackrock/Booterstown (Williamstown)
53°18′24″N 6°11′19″W / 53.306537°N 6.188563°W / 53.306537; -6.188563		 Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council, County Dublin 1804 Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council In moderate condition and due to be restored and brought into commercial and community use.
16 South Double tower Sandymount Strand
53°19′31″N 6°12′25″W / 53.325196°N 6.206892°W / 53.325196; -6.206892		 Dublin City Council, County Dublin 1804 Private ownership Dublin City Council have expressed an interest in acquiring the tower. Significant additions and extensions were made in the 1990s and 2000s to bring the tower into use as a restaurant, café and craft brewery[23]

See also

[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Martello towers in the Greater Dublin Area.

Sources

[edit]
  • Bolton, J., Carey, T., Goodbody, R. & Clabby, G. (2012) The Martello Towers of Dublin. (Dublin: Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown & Fingal County Council).
  • Clements, William H. (1998) Towers of Strength: Story of Martello Towers. (London: Pen & Sword). ISBN 978-0-85052-679-0.
  • MacKay, Art (2016) Blockhouses & Martello Towers [24]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g Phelan, Kate (23 August 2016). "Architecture Spotlight: The Martello Towers Of Dublin". theculturetrip.com. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  2. ^ Bolton, Jason (1 March 2008). "Martello Towers Research Project" (PDF): 130–132, 180–182. Retrieved 20 May 2020. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  3. ^ "Martello Towers of Ireland". geograph.org.uk. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  4. ^ Dillon, Joe. "MARTELLO TOWERS IN IRELAND". irishmartellotowers.wordpress.com. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  5. ^ Ó'Duibhir, Pól. "Killiney Bay - Defences 1797 - 1815". photopol.com. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  6. ^ "1805 – Martello Tower, Sutton, Co. Dublin". archiseek.com. 28 January 2010. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  7. ^ "Martello Tower Sutton - History". Martello Tower, Sutton. 3 February 2015. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  8. ^ Lyne, Laura (20 August 2019). "Tetrarch Capital intends to continue public access to Ireland's Eye off coast of Howth following acquisition". Dublin Live. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  9. ^ "Carrick Hill Martello Tower, Strand Road, CARRICKHILL, Portmarnock, Fingal". buildingsofireland.ie. National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  10. ^ "Hicks Tower, Coast Road, ROBSWALLS, Malahide, Fingal". buildingsofireland.ie. National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  11. ^ Stout, Geraldine. "Balcarrick Martello Tower, BALCARRICK, Fingal". buildingsofireland.ie. National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  12. ^ "Martello Tower sells". The Irish Times. 26 October 2006. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  13. ^ "Drummanagh Martello Tower, DRUMANAGH, Lusk, Fingal". buildingsofireland.ie. National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  14. ^ "Rush Martello Tower, RUSH, Rush, Fingal". buildingsofireland.ie. National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  15. ^ "Skerries Martello Tower, TOWNPARKS (BA. E BY.), Skerries, Fingal". buildingsofireland.ie. National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  16. ^ "Shenick's Island Martello Tower, Shenick's Island, TOWNPARKS (BA. E BY.), Skerries, Fingal". buildingsofireland.ie. National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  17. ^ "Balbriggan Martello Tower, TANKARDSTOWN, Balbriggan, Fingal". buildingsofireland.ie. National Inventory of Arcitectural Heritage. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  18. ^ "Millmount Martello Tower, LAGAVOOREN, Drogheda, County Louth". buildingsofireland.ie. National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  19. ^ "Martello tower finally sells for £700,000". The Irish Times. 22 November 2001. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  20. ^ "Renovated Martello tower in Dalkey reduced to €1.8m". The Irish Times. 9 June 2016. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  21. ^ "€1,780,000 - Martello Tower, 10 Harbour Road, Dalkey". propertypriceregister.ie/. Property Regulatory Services Authority. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  22. ^ "The Martello Tower in Sandymount". dublincity.ie. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  23. ^ https://issuu.com/artmackay/docs/blockhousesand_martellotowers [dead link‍]
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