Howth: A Budget-Friendly Day Trip from Dublin

An affordable morning or day away from Dublin. Lots to do for minimal expense. Nice hikes and walks; really good fish and chips, as well as a beautiful sea-break to walk along.
Howth Harbour was built from 1807 and was at that time the main Dublin harbour for the packet boats from England. Howth Rd was built to ensure rapid transfer of incoming mail and dispatches from the harbour to the city. The English place name ‘Howth’ is of Scandinavian origin, and dates from approximately the 9th century. It comes from the Norse word ‘Hoved’ meaning headland, reflecting its significance on the otherwise low coastline of North Dublin and Meath. The much older Gaelic name for the peninsula, ‘Binn Éadair’, loosely translates to ‘the Hill(s) of Éadair’ in English.
The harbor of Howth did not play a major role in the Easter Rising, but the armed rebellion was made possible here. Sailing in from Germany, writer and Irish nationalist Erskine Childers brought arms on his yacht Asgard for the Irish Volunteers. A small plaque near the lighthouse commemorates the "Howth Gun-Running", as the event became popularly known.
Ireland’s Eye
A 15 minute boat ride from Howth on Dublin’s northside lies Ireland’s Eye - a beautiful and mostly untouched island. The only signs of human activity are two structures: a Martello Tower and the ruins of a church. Around 700 AD, three monks established Cill Mac Neasáin church on the island. They were the sons of Nessan - a prince of the Royal House of Leinster. They created a holy manuscript copy of the four Gospels called the Garland of Howth, which is now preserved in Trinity College.
In the late 9th century, Vikings attacked the island. Then, they returned again in the 10th century to destroy Cill Mac Neasáin. Today, boatmen take tourists out to the island to explore the Martello Tower and the remains of the old church. There are a breeding pair of puffins on the island, and you are likely to see grey seals around the area. The cost to go out to the island can vary throughout the day, but usually the boatmen are advertising 20 Euro per person - 15 Euro for students. If you have the money it could be a fun little excursion.
Ireland’s Eye
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Dart Commuter Train cost and schedules
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Howth
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Food
Octopussy’s
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Coffee
The Grind Coffee House: / thegrindhowth
Howth History
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