Howth

Howth (Irish: Beann Éadair) is a residental area in the County of Fingal (previously County Dublin) in the Republic of Ireland.

Originally just a small fishing village, Howth is now a busy suburb of Dublin. It is one of the northern termini of the DART suburban rail system. The village of Howth spans most of the northern part of Howth Head and is connected to nearby Sutton via a narrow strip of land. In the past, Howth could become isolated from the mainland during stormy weather and high tides.

The island of Ireland's Eye lies about a kilometre north of Howth harbour, with Lambay Island some 5 km further to the north. At the south-east corner of Howth Head is the automated Baily Lighthouse. Howth is a popular area for birdwatching and sailing, and is also a mecca for anglers. Anything from cod to ray can be caught from Howth's rocky shore marks.

In ancient legend, Howth was home to a chieftain called Croimhthain whose fort (Irish: Dún Croimhthain) gives the name Dungriffan to a local road.

In the early 19th century, Howth was chosen as the location for the harbour for the mail packet. One of the arguments used against Howth by the advocates of Dún Laoghaire was that coaches might be raided in the badlands of Sutton! (At the time Sutton was open countryside.)^[1] Unfortunately, the harbour needed to be frequently dredged to accommodate the packet and eventually the service was relocated to Dún Laoghaire.

In 1914, thousands of rifles were landed at Howth by Erskine Childers for the Irish Volunteers. Many were used against the British in the Easter Rising and the subsequent Anglo-Irish War.

Among Howth's more famous current residents are broadcaster Gay Byrne, writer Conor Cruise O'Brien, and musician Barney McKenna of The Dubliners.