A Must See: Dalkey Island

Tucked away, just southeast of Dun Laoghaire Pier, stands the beautiful and enchanting Dalkey Island.

Dalkey Island is amazing for reasons that are simply innumerable.

For one thing, it’s hard to get to … which means that it’s beauty and splendor lay largely untouched. It is also home to not only extraordinary views of Dalkey, Dun Laoghaire, and the Muglins Lighthouse, but also amazing wildlife and incredible historical structures.

Wildlife inhabitants of Dalkey Island include rabbits and goats (the latter species, originally brought to the island in the early 19th century), seals surrounding the perimeter, and birds soaring above—including the critically endangered Roseate Tern bird species. There have even been sightings of bottlenose dolphins around the Island!

The view from the island is an absolute must-see, that few who travel to Dublin are able to boast about given the difficulty in getting to the island. In fact, most natives of Dublin have never even set foot on its grounds.

From an historical standpoint, it is simply extraordinary. Remains from the island (now on display at the National Museum in Dublin) have been dated back to the Middle Stone age! After which use of the island continued through the Iron Age and into the Early Christian period.

Incredibly enough, there is evidence that the island was inhabited 6,000 years ago (during the 4BC).

Ruins of a church on the island date back to the 7th century. The space was later slightly reconstructed for use as living quarters by the builders who’d created island’s other amazing ruins: Martello tower and the gun battery, in 1804.

Be sure to check it out on your trip to Dublin…this is a MUST see.