Clontarf, Dublin

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Clontarf (Cluain Tarbh in Irish, meaning "Meadow of the Bull") is a coastal suburb on the northside of Dublin, Ireland. It is most famous for the Battle of Clontarf in 1014 where Brian Boru, High King of Ireland defeated the Viking invaders. The Battle of Clontarf is seen as marking an end to the Irish-Viking Wars.

1 History
2 Facilities
3 Points of note
4 External links

[edit] History

A settlement at Clontarf has been dated to at least the 12th Century. A manor house and small associated village was located on slight ridge overlooking the sea where the Clontarf Castle Hotel is now situated. The manor house was rebuilt many times, with the current hotel dating largely to the early 19th Century. The tower house on the site is a 19th century replica of an original structure on the site. The adjoining ruined church dates to the early 17th Century and includes what may be the earliest use of red brick in Ireland.^{[citation needed]}

In the 18th Century another settlement in Clontarf developed 1km to the east of the existing village. This was known locally as 'the Sheds' and was essentially a poor settlement of fishermen and small farmers. It is prominently marked on navigation maps for Dublin Bay dating to the 18th Century, but was never considered important enough for a formal name. However, in line with many such 'informal' settlements in Ireland, it became the site for a 19th Century catholic church (the Church of Ireland St. Johns Church is closer to the original settlement), and then outgrew the existing settlement. By the late 19th Century Clontarf was becoming urbanised, initially as a holiday resort for wealthy Dubliners, but rapidly as a suburb of the city. By the mid 20th Century it was fully absorbed into the city and would now be considered part of the inner suburbs.

[edit] Facilities

Clontarf has many sporting facilities including Rugby, Cricket, Football and Gaelic Athletic Association clubs. Its open air seawater swimming pool, once a popular recreational destination, is now derelict. Clontarf was the venue for the final of the 2005 ICC Trophy cricket tournament.