Martello towers in the Greater Dublin Area

29 Martello tower's 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]

NumberTypeImageLocationCouncil Area and CountyDateOwnershipNotes
1 NorthTowerRed Rock, Sutton
53.3695671°N 6.0970874°W / 53.3695671; -6.0970874		Fingal County Council, County Dublin1804Private dwelling houseAt 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 NorthTowerHowth East Pier
53.3878207°N 6.0650752°W / 53.3878207; -6.0650752		Fingal County Council, County Dublin1804Fingal County CouncilYe Olde Hurdy Gurdy Museum of Vintage Radio operates from the tower. Built on the site of an ancient Promontory fort complex.[8][1]
3 NorthDouble towerIreland's Eye
53.4082498°N 6.0701993°W / 53.4082498; -6.0701993		Fingal County Council, County Dublin1804Corporate OwnershipAcquired 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 NorthTowerCarrickhill, Portmarnock
53.435976°N 6.122295°W / 53.435976; -6.122295		Fingal County Council, County Dublin1804Private dwelling house[1][10]
5 NorthTowerRobswall, Malahide
53.447712°N 6.135609°W / 53.447712; -6.135609		Fingal County Council, County Dublin1805Private dwelling houseOften 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 NorthTowerBalcarrick, Donabate
53.478328°N 6.115369°W / 53.478328; -6.115369		Fingal County Council, County Dublin1805Private ownershipThe tower is derelict and vacant and in poor condition.[12]
7 NorthTowerTower Bay, Portrane
53.489900°N 6.097187°W / 53.489900; -6.097187		Fingal County Council, County Dublin1804Private dwelling houseIn good and habitable condition.[13]
8 NorthTowerDrumanagh, Loughshinny
53.540614°N 6.078161°W / 53.540614; -6.078161		Fingal County Council, County Dublin1804Private ownershipThe tower is located on one of the most important archaeological sites in Ireland, It is vacant and derelict and in poor condition.[14]
9 NorthTowerNo photo availableRush
53.521038°N 6.076363°W / 53.521038; -6.076363		Fingal County Council, County Dublin1804Private dwelling houseHas been used as a main dwelling and as a holiday home in recent times[15]
10 NorthTowerRed Island, Skerries
53.584602°N 6.102461°W / 53.584602; -6.102461		Fingal County Council, County Dublin1804Fingal County CouncilVacant 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 NorthTowerShenick Island, Skerries
53.573745°N 6.085723°W / 53.573745; -6.085723		Fingal County Council, County Dublin1805Fingal County Council[17]
12 NorthTowerBalbriggan (Tankardstown)
53.615993°N 6.183294°W / 53.615993; -6.183294		Fingal County Council, County Dublin1804Fingal County CouncilIn 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 NorthMillmount Fort, Drogheda
53.711656°N 6.349517°W / 53.711656; -6.349517		Louth County Council, County Louth1808Charity (Old Drogheda Society)[19]
1 SouthTowerBray esplanade
53.201315°N 6.096604°W / 53.201315; -6.096604		Wicklow County Council, County Wicklow1804N/A - demolishedDemolished - various photos and drawings still exist showing the tower on the beach between the centre of the strand and Bray Head.
2 SouthTower and batteryBray on an elevated site guarding the south bank of the River Dargle
53.206826°N 6.101694°W / 53.206826; -6.101694		Wicklow County Council, County Wicklow1804Private dwelling house, battery demolishedBono and Ali Hewson owned the property for a period in the 1980s.[8][1]
3 SouthTowerTownlands of Cork Great/Corke Abbey just North of the River Dargle
53.213058°N 6.101821°W / 53.213058; -6.101821		Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council, County Dublin1804N/A - destroyedLost 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 SouthTower and two batteriesNo photo availableMaghera Point, Shankill near Bray
53.230605°N 6.107206°W / 53.230605; -6.107206		Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council, County Dublin1804N/A - destroyedEroded 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 SouthBattery onlyNo photo availableKilliney (Shanganagh)
53.253271°N 6.113885°W / 53.253271; -6.113885		Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council, County Dublin1804N/A - dismantledRemains 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 SouthTower and batteryNo photo availableKilliney beach (Loughlinstown River)
53.249872°N 6.112837°W / 53.249872; -6.112837		Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council, County Dublin1804Private dwelling house, battery demolishedEnoch 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 SouthTower and batteryKilliney Hill (Tara Hill)
53.256391°N 6.118252°W / 53.256391; -6.118252		Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council, County Dublin1804Private dwelling house with battery restoredEnfilade tower[1][20]
8 SouthBattery onlyNo photo availableBallybrack/Limekiln, site of old Killiney Railway Station
53.259201°N 6.112837°W / 53.259201; -6.112837		Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council, County Dublin1804N/A - demolishedRemoved c.1853 for the construction of the railyway 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 SouthDouble tower and batteryDalkey Island
53.271569°N 6.085130°W / 53.271569; -6.085130		Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council, County Dublin1804Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County CouncilBoth tower and battery still standing and in moderate condition as of 2020.[1]
10 SouthTowerNo photo availableBullock Harbour/Bartra, Harbour Road, Dalkey
53.283322°N 6.103696°W / 53.283322; -6.103696		Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council, County Dublin1804Private dwelling houseListed for sale in 2016 at €1.8m after extensive renovations by architect Simone Stephenson and eventually sold for €1.78m.[21][22]
11 SouthTower and batteryJames Joyce Tower and Museum, Sandycove
53.288666°N 6.113625°W / 53.288666; -6.113625		Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council, County Dublin1804MuseumWell used museum and event space in excellent condition near to the Forty Foot.[8][1]
12 SouthTower and batteryPeople's Park, Dún Laoghaire/Glasthule
53.290039°N 6.127494°W / 53.290039; -6.127494		Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council, County Dublin1804N/A - demolishedDemolished 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 SouthTower and batteryNo photo availableDún Laoghaire Harbour
53.29457°N 6.13716°W / 53.29457; -6.13716		Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council, County Dublin1804N/A - demolishedRemoved c.1836 for the construction of the Railway Line. It was not in the way of the railyway 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 SouthTowerSeapoint
53.297849°N 6.159815°W / 53.297849; -6.159815		Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council, County Dublin1803Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County CouncilFormerly the headquarters of the Genealogical Society of Ireland and now used as changing rooms for the beach.
15 SouthDouble towerBlackrock/Booterstown (Williamstown)
53.306537°N 6.188563°W / 53.306537; -6.188563		Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council, County Dublin1804Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County CouncilIn moderate condition and due to be restored and brought into commercial and community use.
16 SouthDouble towerSandymount Strand
53.325196°N 6.206892°W / 53.325196; -6.206892		Dublin City Council, County Dublin1804Private ownershipDublin 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

Sources
  • 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
  1. Phelan, Kate. "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 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. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  7. "Martello Tower Sutton - History". Martello Tower, Sutton. 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
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