 |
HOWTH VILLAGE AND IRELAND'S EYE, CO. DUBLIN. -The
foregoing is a sketch of the small village of Howth, with its rather
straggling formation and humble dwellings. Beyond it, rising boldly
from the waters of Dublin Bay, on which the hamlet is situated,
is the small spot of rocky island known popularly as Ireland's Eye.
Howth which, until recently, used to be a mere fisher folks' village
is now quite popular as a resort for sea-bathers and other seekers
after health or pleasure. The island bore, in ancient times, the
name of Innis-mac-Nessan-the Island of the Sons of Nessan. Antiquaries
say that the name it now bears comes from the Norse, or Danish,
tongue, in which "Ey" means island. Hence, Prof. Addey claims, all
places having the termination of "ey" in their names, as Lambey,
Anglesey, Jersy, and so on, were inhabited by the hardy sons of
Denmark and Norway, who circled with fire and sword the shores of
Britain and Ireland from the eighth to the eleventh century. It
was almost under the shadow of the Hill of Howth, and in sight of
Ireland's Eye, that they met their final overthrow, at Irish hands,
in 1014. It seems a long time ago, and a great many bigger battles
have been fought since then, including Hastings, Agincourt and Waterloo,
but Clontarf is still remembered in Ireland as if it had been fought
in our own day. |
|