Howth

History

On the grounds of Howth Castle is a 3000 year old dolmen tomb known as Aideen's Grave. According to legend it is the resting place of the mythological figure Aideen. This legend is the subject of the poem 'Aideen's Grave' by Samuel Ferguson. In ancient history Ptolemy's second-century map of Ireland shows Howth as an island named Edri Deserta (sometimes rendered as Edros). After Brian Ború, the High King of Ireland, defeated the Norse in 1014, many Norse fled to Howth to regroup and remained a force until their final defeat in Fingal in the middle of the 11th century. Howth still remained under the control of Irish and localised Norse forces until the invasion of Ireland by the Anglo-Normans in 1169. Without the support of either the Irish or Scandinavian powers, Howth was isolated and fell to the Normans in 1177. One of the victorious Normans, Armoricus (or Almeric) Tristram, was granted much of the land between the village and Sutton. According to the historian Samuel Lewis: In 1177, Sir Amorey Tristram and Sir John de Courcy landed here at the head of a large military force, and totally defeated the Danish inhabitants in a sanguinary battle at the bridge of Evora, over a mountain stream which falls into the sea near the Baily lighthouse. This victory secured to Sir Amorey the lordship of Howth, of which his descendants have continued in possession to the present day, under the name of St. Laurence, which Almaric, third baron, assumed in fulfilment of a vow previously to his victory over the Danes near Clontarf, in a battle fought on the festival of that saint. The territory of Howth was confirmed to Almaric de St. Laurence by King John.... Tristam built his first castle overlooking the harbour and the St. Lawrence link remained until 2019 (see Earl of Howth).…

Most-observed species

• Herring Gull

  Larus argentatus Pontoppidan, 1763 · Aves
  16,528
• Hooded Crow

  Corvus cornix Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  13,566
• Eurasian Magpie

  Pica pica (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  13,490
• Common Wood-Pigeon

  Columba palumbus Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  12,425
• European Robin

  Erithacus rubecula (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  10,221
• European Starling

  Sturnus vulgaris Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  9,319
• Black-headed Gull

  Chroicocephalus ridibundus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  9,189
• Rock Pigeon

  Columba livia J.F.Gmelin, 1789 · Aves
  9,117

Most recent

• M 3.2 — 2005-12-14
  27 km E of Wicklow, Ireland