Clontarf Road

One of Dublin's most ancient settlements.

In the pleasant spot that is Clontarf, you can stroll down the promenade by the sea and take in spectacular views of Dublin Bay, the Wicklow mountains and the Irish Sea. 

Clontarf attracts many people including nature enthusiasts, history lovers, foodies, fitness fanatics, families and sports fans ... the list goes on!

Whatever the length of your stay, you'll find great hospitality in local B&Bs, hotels, bars and restaurants. 

Steeped in history, Clontarf or ‘Cluain Tarbh’ meaning ‘meadow of the bulls,’ was a major Celtic settlement until the 9th century when the Vikings invaded the area. 

This incursion led to the famous Battle of Clontarf in 1014. Th momentous battle is seen as marking an end to the Irish-Viking Wars. Its 1,000 year anniversary was marked with many events in 2014.

Around a century after the battle, the Normans arrived here. In 1172, Hugh de Lacy, Lord of Meath or his tenant, Adam de Phepoe, built a castle in Clontarf. 

This changed hands many times in the centuries that followed, most famously in the 1640s when its owner joined a rebellion against Oliver Cromwell.

Cromwell subsequently seized the castle and awarded the estate to a new owner, John Blackwell. No trace of the original structure remains.

Clontarf Castle (the current building dates back to 1837) has also held many guises over the years but is now a luxury hotel.

Clontarf grew significantly as a suburb of the city in the 19th century and benefited from the addition of a tramline along the coast. 

In 1835, Sir Benjamin Lee Guinness, of the noted brewing dynasty, purchased lands in Clontarf and Raheny and combined them to form St. Anne’s Estate (most of which now encompasses St. Anne’s Park). 

This park spans over 109 hectares of parkland and also has a multitude of sporting and other facilities.
Clontarf is the birthplace of renowned Irish author, Bram Stoker, who wrote the spine-tingling novel,
Dracula. 

From actor, Barry Fitzgerald to Erwin Schrodinger, many well-known individuals have lived or currently reside here.

Over the years, it has only increased in popularity as a neighbourhood and adjoins the likes of Marino, Killester and Raheny.

The attractive area has many amenities, from Dollymount Strand to Bull Island, which was designated as a national nature reserve in 1988.

Participation sports are well serviced in Clontarf, along with rugby, GAA, soccer, tennis, cricket, hockey, kitesurfing and badminton clubs.

There are also three golf clubs and a yacht and boat club. Clontarf has regular events throughout the year including an annual festival (generally held in summer), fundraisers, sports fixtures and much more.

Clontarf has much to recommend it just come and see for yourself! clontarf.ie

To explore more in Clontarf click here.

Docklands 

Dublin's newest cosmopolitan hangout.

The Dublin Docklands district is a massive area consisting of 526 hectares of land on both sides of the Liffey. When the Vikings invaded Ireland in the ninth century, Dublin's importance as a port started to grow.

Step back in time to the 19th century docklands where thousands of men were employed on a casual basis as labourers and carters on the docks. 

Sailing ships were sometimes weeks in port slowly offloading their cargoes. The owners of more expensive steamships were anxious to load or unload ships fast so they hired a large number of casual labourers.

The strong seafaring tradition among docklands families still survives today. If you were to take a walk along the quays in those days, you would also spot coal merchants bringing coal to homes throughout Dublin.

The working conditions in the docklands were harsh. There were often two to three men for every job and injuries were common.

These tough conditions sparked industrial disputes; the most famous being the ‘1913 Lock Out’ led by Irish trade union leader and socialist activist, James Larkin.

Typical industries along the docklands included fertiliser and manure companies, flourmills, as well as a joinery plant and a sugar refinery. 

Goods were then transported throughout Dublin and Ireland via the canal system.

However, after World War II, the number of jobs in the Docklands decreased significantly with the rise of container traffic and the switch from rail to road transport. 

Coal was a less important source for fuel and this gave rise to fewer coal merchants. Most of the older factories closed and much of the docks area fell into dereliction.

Thanks to a revival starting in the nineties, the Docklands is thriving again today with many cosmopolitan buildings, bustling workplaces and apartment blocks. 

Attractions include the premier entertainment venue the 3 Arena and notable structures such as the Convention Centre, which plays host to international conferences and other events. 

It features a glass-fronted atrium which runs the full height of the building and gives visitors spectacular views of the River Liffey, Dublin city centre and the Wicklow mountains. 

There are umpteen things to see and do here. 

There are also lots of wonderful restaurants and watering holes to be found in the Docklands. The restaurants, cafes and bars cater to the varied tastes of the hungry visitor. 

To explore more in the Clontarf Rd & Docklands click here.