A wave-battered sentinel. That’s Ireland’s Eye. This small island just off Howth has witnessed centuries unfold. From prehistoric promontory forts to Viking raids its story is etched into the very rock. Ireland’s Eye wasn’t always called that. Its original name Inis-Ereann meaning Ireland’s Island was later changed by Vikings. They called it Ireland’s Ey ey meaning island in Old Norse.
The island’s most enduring landmark is the ruins of Kilmacnessan church. This church reputedly founded by three sons of Nessan a Leinster prince in the 6th or 7th century. It’s a fascinating mix of history and legend. Some say the church housed the Garland of Howth a manuscript copy of the Gospels. This book a treasure now rests in Trinity College Dublin.
The Annals of the Four Masters tell a darker tale. They speak of Viking attacks in 897 AD and 960 AD. The Vikings plundered the monastery associated with the church. Ireland’s Eye wasn’t only home to monks and Vikings. Its dramatic cliffs and surrounding waters teem with wildlife. Thousands of guillemots razorbills kittiwakes and cormorants nest here. You might even spot puffins or peregrine falcons. Grey seals are abundant in the surrounding waters.
The island’s most recent addition is a Martello tower. Built in 1805 or 1806 it stands as a testament to a time of Napoleonic fears. It was part of a coastal defence system. This tower a silent guardian against potential invasion.
But perhaps Ireland’s Eye’s most chilling story involves a tragic death. In 1852 Sarah Maria Louisa Kirwan died on the island. Her husband William Burke Kirwan was convicted of her murder. Although the evidence was largely circumstantial he served 27 years before fleeing to America.
Ireland’s Eye. A place of stunning natural beauty. A place steeped in history and legend. A place of both serenity and shadows. It’s a place that whispers tales of saints Vikings and tragedy. A place you’ll never forget.