Bullock Harbour

Bulloch Harbour, Dalkey, Co. Dublin. Photo courtesy of www.dalkeyphotos.com

Bullock Harbour or Bulloch Harbour (Irish: Cuan Bhlóic)[1] is a small working harbour located near the heritage town of Dalkey on the southeast coast of Dublin Bay in Ireland. The harbour is constructed of local granite cut from nearby Dalkey Hill.

History

Bullock, a small fishing village, has been known to many races, since pre-Christian Druids first built a standing stone circle here (now alas quarried to build the Martello towers). The name is said to derive from the Scandinavian for "Blue Haven" and again from the Gaelic word for a tidal blow hole which existed in the rocks. The land at Bullock was given to the Cistercian monks by an Irish king 'beyond the memory of man'. Fishing rights came with the land and it was to protect these lucrative fisheries from the Wicklow tribes that Bullock Castle was built in the 12th century and around the castle grew up a tiny town, completely walled and protected at intervals by towers.

Location

Bulloch Harbour is located at the Sandycove (northern) end of Harbour Road in Dalkey, County Dublin. Bulloch Castle, an imposing Norman structure, overlooks the harbour which is ten minutes walk from Dalkey Dart Station.

Boat Hire

There are two businesses offering boats for hire for fishing, sightseeing or to visit Dalkey Island, bout a kilometre away.

View of Bullock Harbour inlet from the north, near James Joyce's tower in Sandycove

Wildlife

A family of seals live at the harbour and like being fed by local children and tourists.

References

  1. Bullock Harbour. Placenames Database of Ireland. retrieved: 2010-01-11.

External links

Coordinates: 53°17′07″N 6°06′28″W / 53.28533°N 6.10785°W