We saved the best for last. On our last day in Dublin, we spent the day checking out “Howth” (rhymes with both). Howth is a small fishing village about 25-30 minutes north of Dublin City Center. We took the DART (Dublin Area Rapid Transit) which is the commuter rail line like in Boston. The train station puts you in the main dock area where there are restaurants, who get their fish straight from their own boats right there.
The community website is “Howth Is Magic” and we loved the town. Of all the places we’ve seen so far, this one was by far, the one that our family could live if we chose to move to Dublin. It was a cross between Marblehead, Gloucester and Winthrop – three of our favorite places, so you’ll see why it’s perfect. Marblehead in that it has some multi-million homes on the sea and a lively Yacht Club. Gloucester in that it is a main fishing village with loads of history. And Winthrop in that it has a quite working-class, seaside vibe and close to the big city.
In addition, on the weekends throughout the year, there is a market which is a typical one you find. Fresh bread, fruit & veg, along with some crafts and other home made bits.
Each day when the fishing vessels unload, they throw all their scraps and chum into the water and that is why the inlet is filled with about a dozen seals.
Also off of Howth’s coast are several shipwrecks, the MV Tayleur and the MV Geraldine! Since it was underwater we couldn’t see it BUT I found out some of it’s history. During WWII England was experiencing severe food shortages because many of their transport vehicles had been targeted by Germans. They relied very heavily on fishing vessels and since Ireland is so close they were a large provider of the fish. Once Germany realized this they started targeting Irish fishing vessels bringing fish to England. During one such incident, a German submarine sunk the MV Geraldine and killed 5 of its crew members.
After we left the pub, we walked up to the top of the hill and took some photos and took in the view and then walked back down via St. Mary’s Abbey.
As we approached the town, we saw a Coast Guard helicopter flying above hovering around the piers. Then we spotted a bunch of emergency vehicles near the side of the pier. We later found out that there was a fishing vessel which left the pier and a person onboard fell down the stairs and was knocked unconscious. The Coast Guard lowered a paramedic onboard to stabalize the person until they brought their boat back in to the waiting ambulance.
By this time, Maebh was fast asleep and we popped into the Bloody Stream, where we Soren & I enjoyed our oysters before heading back on the train to Dublin to get our bags and head to the airport for our flight home.