Things to see & doPublic buildings
- Home
- Things to see & do
- Ireland's Eye
Ireland's Eye
![View of Ireland's Eye from Dublin Bay Cruises, County Dublin](https://assets-eu-01.kc-usercontent.com:443/aa24ba70-9a12-01ae-259b-7ef588a0b2ef/22833339-9230-4409-854e-e8ab9287bb08/header-view-of-irelands-eye-county-dublin.jpg?w=1280&h=480&fm=jpg&fit=crop)
![](https://assets-eu-01.kc-usercontent.com:443/aa24ba70-9a12-01ae-259b-7ef588a0b2ef/22833339-9230-4409-854e-e8ab9287bb08/header-view-of-irelands-eye-county-dublin.jpg?w=500&h=281&fm=jpg&fit=crop)
- Free to visit
- Family friendly
Around 700 AD three monks, sons of Nessan, a prince of the Royal House of Leinster, founded a monastery on Ireland's Eye. According to tradition it's here that the holy manuscript known as the Garland of Howth, now preserved in Trinity College, was created.
In the early 19th century, at the time of the Napoleonic Wars, a Martello Tower was built on the island to defend against attacks from France.
The island, now a Special Area of Conservation, has a rugged coast with a free standing rock formation known as 'The Stack'. Large numbers of guillemots, terns, gannets, razorbills, cormorants and puffins nest around the shore.
You may also like
- Trinity College
- Walks ToursThings to see & doCity tours
- Dublin Whiskey ToursFood & drinkFood & drink tours
- Experience Glasnevin: Ireland's National CemeteryThings to see & doStatues & monuments
- The Dubline TrailThings to see & doHiking
- Dublin en FrançaisThings to see & doCity tours
- Walking Food Tours - DublinFood & drinkFood & drink tours
- The Lazy Bike Tour Company LimitedThings to see & doCycling
- The Round Tower ClondalkinThings to see & doMuseums
- National Gallery of IrelandThings to see & doGalleries
- Experience Gaelic GamesThings to see & doAdventure activities