Balbriggan

Balbriggan (Irish: Baile Brigín) is a sea-side town of about 20,000 residents located 32km (20 miles) north of Dublin city centre.

Understand

Balbriggan - main street.

Balbriggan is well-positioned for visitors who wish to foray into Dublin city, while glimpsing rural life and exploring the North-East of Ireland - accessing many sacred centers such as the Hill of Tara, Knowth, Dowth, Newgrange and Mellifont Abbey. The Cooley peninsula in County Louth is an easy drive away and it is also easy to day-trip to Northern Ireland, visiting the city of Belfast, the mountains of Mourne, and so on.

Get in

By train

From central Dublin by the Dublin Suburban Rail Northern Commuter line.

By bus

From central Dublin via Bus Eireann (route 101) or Dublin Bus (route 33).

Get around

The town of Balbriggan lends itself beautifully to walking - all locations within the town are easily accessible by foot.

See

• 🌍 Saints Peter & Paul Church. This church contains two stained-glass windows created by Harry Clarke:
  1) The Widow's Son: A two-light window to the left of the altar, depicting the widow from Nain and her son in the main panel of the first light, and the figure of Jesus wearing dark ruby robes in the main panel of the second light.
  2) The Visitation: A two-light window situated on the south wall, depicting Mary’s visit to her cousin, Elisabeth. A youthful Mary is depicted in the main panel of the first light and the main panel of the second light portrays the older, visibly pregnant Elizabeth. 
• 🌍 Bremore Castle. In the process of restoration, Bremore Castle is a large tower house estimated to have been built in the 14th century. Although the castle itself is not as yet open to the public, there are car-parking facilities in front with easy access by foot to a good beach walk, northwards towards Gormanstown or southwards to Balbriggan town itself. 

Environs

• 🌍 Ardgillan Castle and Demesne. Set in extensive park lands overlooking the Irish Sea with a view of the Mourne Mountains. Castle and/or garden tours, wheelchair friendly tea rooms, children’s playground, cycle and walking paths. 
• 🌍 Séamus Ennis Arts Centre. A non-profit cultural centre dedicated to Séamus Ennis - uilleann piper, folklore and music collector. The centre's café offers excellent food and it's a nice spin from Balbriggan to the Naul, where the centre is located. There is not a lot to do or see at the centre unless you pre-book for a workshop, class or music concert being held at the centre during the time of your visit 

Touring

• 🌍 Newgrange (Brú Na Bóinne Archaeological Park), Donore, Co. Meath, ☎ [phone], fax: [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. UNESCO World Heritage Site. Neolithic chamber tombs. 

Do

• 🌍 Balbriggan Golf Club. A premier parkland course recently redesigned by Eddie Connaughton with USGA standard sand based greens and tee boxes. The blend of mature trees and newly designed water hazards, which come into play on seven holes, give an intriguing character to the course and provides golfers with variety and a challenging round. 

Environs

• Courtlough Adventure Centre. A multi activity centre for all age groups. Activities include high ropes, archery, off road buggies, paintball and zip lines. Advance booking essential. (updated Aug 2017)
• Gormanstown and District Angler's Club, Balrothery, south of Balbriggan. The club controls the rights to Wavin Lake (26 acre site, located 3.3km/2 miles south of Balbriggan) and the Delvin River. Wavin Lake is stocked with rainbow trout is Dublin's largest all year fishery, primarily promoting fly fishing. The Delvin River has a good run of brown and sea trout. Day tickets can be purchased for both fisheries: lake €10 (with member), river €20. 
• Courtlough Shooting Grounds. Clay shooting and rifle shooting; archery; trout fishing; gun room and shop; Café and bar. 
• Dublin Falconry, Courtlough Adventure Centre. 

Eat

Balbriggan has a huge amount of food outlets/ eating establishments relative to its population.

Daytime sit-down no-frills eating: The Coffee Pot (breakfast a speciality) Milestone (quality pub meals) Bracken Court Hotel (lunchtime carvery) Subway O'Briens MacDonalds Costa Mollys

Takeaway (with... Apache Pizza Domino's Mr. Wu's Balrothery Inn,

• 🌍 Bracken Grill, Dublin St. Well-appointed restaurant in the Bracken Court Hotel. 
• 🌍 Brick Room, Railway St. Café by day, wine and tapas bar by night. Live music Friday and Saturday nights. 
• 🌍 Han Lin Palace, Bridge St. Chinese cuisine. 
• 🌍 Harveys American Bar & Grill, Drogheda Street. Upstairs in the Harvest Inn bar and lounge - American diner inspired eating. 
• 🌍 Karma Thai, Mill St, ☎ [phone]. Thai cuisine. Emphasis on good food, with no additives. 
• 🌍 Libero's Restaurant, Linen Court, George's Hill. Italian (and Irish) cuisine. 
• 🌍 Morelli's at The Cottage, Quay Street. Italian ice cream. Crepes and Belgian waffles. 
• 🌍 Moti Mahal, Linen Court, George's Hill. Indian Cuisine. 

Drink

All of the drinking establishments in Balbriggan are well-run, being both individual and family friendly.

• 🌍 Central Lounge (Fannings). Photographs on walls depict history of Balbriggan. Spacious billiard (snooker/pool) area. 

Sleep

• 🌍 Bracken Court Hotel, Bridge St, e-mail: [e-mail]. 
• 🌍 Woodview Farmhouse, Margaretstown, Skerries, ☎ [phone]. 

Connect

Go next

The neighboring town of Skerries