Clontarf () is an affluent
coastal suburb on the
Northside of
Dublin
Dublin is the capital and largest city of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. Situated on Dublin Bay at the mouth of the River Liffey, it is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster, and is bordered on the south by the Dublin Mountains, pa ...
in the city's
Dublin 3 postal district. Historically, there were two centres of population, one on the coast towards the city, and the fishing village of Clontarf Sheds, further north on the coast at what is now Vernon Avenue. Clontarf has a range of retail businesses in several locations, mainly centred on Vernon Avenue. It adjoins
Fairview,
Marino,
Killester and
Raheny
Raheny () is a northern suburb of Dublin, Republic of Ireland, Ireland, halfway from the city centre to Howth. It is centred on a historic settlement, first documented in 570 AD (Mervyn Archdall (Irish antiquary), Mervyn Archdall). The district ...
. Clontarf is in the jurisdiction of
Dublin City Council
Dublin City Council () is the Local government in the Republic of Ireland, local authority of the city of Dublin in Republic of Ireland, Ireland. As a city council, it is governed by the Local Government Act 2001. Until 2001, the authority was k ...
.
Clontarf was a core site of the
Battle of Clontarf
The Battle of Clontarf () took place on 23 April 1014 at Clontarf, near Dublin, on the east coast of Ireland. It pitted an army led by Brian Boru, High King of Ireland, against a Norse- Irish alliance comprising the forces of Sigtrygg Silkbea ...
in 1014, in which
Brian Boru
Brian Boru (; modern ; 23 April 1014) was the High King of Ireland from 1002 to 1014. He ended the domination of the High King of Ireland, High Kingship of Ireland by the Uí Néill, and is likely responsible for ending Vikings, Viking invasio ...
, High King of Ireland, defeated the
Vikings
Vikings were seafaring people originally from Scandinavia (present-day Denmark, Norway, and Sweden),
who from the late 8th to the late 11th centuries raided, pirated, traded, and settled throughout parts of Europe.Roesdahl, pp. 9� ...
of Dublin and their allies, the Irish of
Leinster
Leinster ( ; or ) is one of the four provinces of Ireland, in the southeast of Ireland.
The modern province comprises the ancient Kingdoms of Meath, Leinster and Osraige, which existed during Gaelic Ireland. Following the 12th-century ...
. This battle, which extended over a wide area, from modern Ballybough to Kilbarrack, at least, is seen as marking an end to the Irish-Viking Wars.
Etymology
The name ''Cluain Tarbh'' means "meadow of bulls", ''cluain'' being "meadow" and ''tarbh'' meaning "of bulls" in Irish.
Geography

Clontarf is on the northern side of Dublin city, northeast of the city centre, along the coast. It is bounded to the west and south by
Fairview Park and the suburb of
Marino, to the north by the suburbs of
Killester and
Artane and to the northeast by
Saint Anne's Park and the suburb of
Raheny
Raheny () is a northern suburb of Dublin, Republic of Ireland, Ireland, halfway from the city centre to Howth. It is centred on a historic settlement, first documented in 570 AD (Mervyn Archdall (Irish antiquary), Mervyn Archdall). The district ...
. The southern boundary of Clontarf lies on one side of the estuary of one of Dublin's three main rivers, the
River Tolka. The Wad River, another of Dublin's secondary watercourses, joins the Tolka estuary right at the city end of Clontarf's coastline, while the
Naniken River runs through St. Anne's Park and reaches the sea at the Raheny end of the district, its mouth marking the civil parish boundary between Clontarf and Raheny. The district is fairly level, rising slightly inland.
Bull Island
Bull Island (), more properly North Bull Island (), is an island located in Dublin Bay in Ireland, about 5 km long and 800 m wide, lying roughly parallel to the shore off Clontarf, Dublin, Clontarf (including Dollymount), Raheny, Kilbarra ...
– sometimes the North Bull Island to distinguish it from the sandbank of the South Bull – is also shared with Raheny. It is connected to Clontarf at its northern end by a historic wooden bridge, in the locality of
Dollymount. While most of the island is city property, the (North)
Bull Wall and breakwater, related road and path, and the Bull (Wooden) Bridge belong to the Dublin Port Company and are closed for a day each year to assert this. At the end of the breakwater is a statue of ''Our Lady, Star of the Sea'' (), erected to watch over mariners and dockworkers.
Clontarf is a
civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a type of administrative parish used for local government. It is a territorial designation which is the lowest tier of local government. Civil parishes can trace their origin to the ancient system of parishes, w ...
in the ancient
barony Barony may refer to:
* Barony, the peerage, office of, or territory held by a baron
* Barony, the title and land held in fealty by a feudal baron
* Barony (county division), a type of administrative or geographical division in parts of the British ...
of
Coolock, in turn, comprising multiple townlands.
Clontarf Island
There used to be an island, called Clontarf Island, off the coast of Clontarf near the mouth of the Tolka, as shown on maps such as that of
John Rocque
John Rocque (originally Jean; –1762) was a French-born British surveyor and cartographer, best known for his detailed John Rocque's Map of London, 1746, map of London published in 1746.
Life and career
Rocque was born in France in about 1704 ...
in 1753, with a single dwelling, and at some periods (notably in the 19th century), bathing facilities. The island was also used as a refuge from the plague in 1650. Construction work on the
Great South Wall and the
Bull Wall in
Dublin Port
Dublin Port () is the seaport of Dublin, Ireland, of both historical and contemporary economic importance. Approximately two-thirds of Ireland's port traffic travels via the port, which is by far the busiest on the island of Ireland.
Locatio ...
changed the flow of water in
Dublin Bay
Dublin Bay () is a C-shaped inlet of the Irish Sea on the east coast of Ireland. The bay is about 10 kilometres wide along its north–south base, and 7 km in length to its apex at the centre of the city of Dublin; stretching from Howth He ...
, threatening its existence, though it was in fact eventually destroyed by a large storm in 1844.
Access
Clontarf lies between the coastal and inland roads from Dublin to Howth, and its seafront is served by the 130, 104 and H2 bus routes, while the inland parts are covered by buses on the Howth Road, such as the H1, H2 and H3. The area's historic railway station, on Howth Road, closed many years ago, but a new railway station,
Clontarf Road railway station
Clontarf Road railway station () is a railway station in Dublin, Ireland, on the Dublin Area Rapid Transit, DART commuter rail line.
Location
It is located at the south-western end of Clontarf Road on Dublin's Northside (Dublin), Northside, on ...
, the first stop north of the city centre on the
Dublin Area Rapid Transit
The Dublin Area Rapid Transit system (stylised as DART) is an electrified commuter rail railway network serving the coastline and city of Dublin, Ireland. The service makes up the core of Dublin's suburban railway network, stretching from Gre ...
system, is located between Clontarf and Fairview.
History
Following the defeat of the Vikings and the Leinstermen at the
Battle of Clontarf
The Battle of Clontarf () took place on 23 April 1014 at Clontarf, near Dublin, on the east coast of Ireland. It pitted an army led by Brian Boru, High King of Ireland, against a Norse- Irish alliance comprising the forces of Sigtrygg Silkbea ...
in 1014, the High King of Ireland Brian Boru (Brian Boroimhe) is said to have been killed with a battle axe while he was found in prayer in his tent by a Danish Viking named Brodu. So great was the fighting which ensued among competing kings following this event that one analyst stated they "...turned the country into a trembling sod". Clontarf itself enjoyed relative peace for over 100 years until the arrival of the
Normans
The Normans (Norman language, Norman: ''Normaunds''; ; ) were a population arising in the medieval Duchy of Normandy from the intermingling between Norsemen, Norse Viking settlers and locals of West Francia. The Norse settlements in West Franc ...
in 1172. Shortly afterwards, Clontarf was granted to Adam de Pheypo, a follower of
Strongbow, who built the first Clontarf Castle.
A settlement at Clontarf has been dated to at least the 12th century, and in the 19th century remains from earlier times were thought to have been found. Clontarf features on the 1598 map "A Modern Depiction of Ireland, One of the British Isles" by
Abraham Ortelius
Abraham Ortelius (; also Ortels, Orthellius, Wortels; 4 or 14 April 152728 June 1598) was a cartographer, geographer, and cosmographer from Antwerp in the Spanish Netherlands. He is recognized as the creator of the list of atlases, first modern ...
as "Clantarfe".
The manor and church of Clontarf were held by the
Templars, and subsequently the
Hospitallers
The Order of Knights of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem, commonly known as the Knights Hospitaller (), is a Catholic military order. It was founded in the crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem in the 12th century and had headquarters there ...
, and there was a holy well in the area near what is now The Stiles Road until recent times (another spring, named for Brian Boroimhe, of uncertain age, still exists, on Castle Avenue near the coast).
A manor house and a small associated village were located on the 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
A tower house is a particular type of stone structure, built for defensive purposes as well as habitation. Tower houses began to appear in the Middle Ages, especially in mountainous or limited access areas, to command and defend strategic points ...
on the site is a 19th-century replica of the original Templar structure. The adjoining ruined church is the old
Church of Ireland
The Church of Ireland (, ; , ) is a Christian church in Ireland, and an autonomy, autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. It is organised on an all-Ireland basis and is the Christianity in Ireland, second-largest Christian church on the ...
parish church, which dates to the mid-17th century.
Clontarf Castle was burnt in 1641 by the Governor of Dublin,
Sir Charles Coote, apparently in revenge for the disloyalty of the then owner, George King. The castle, estate and district were given in 1649 by
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell (25 April 15993 September 1658) was an English statesman, politician and soldier, widely regarded as one of the most important figures in British history. He came to prominence during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, initially ...
to John Blackwell, who assigned his interest to
John Vernon
John Keith Vernon (born Adolphus Raymondus Vernon Agopsowicz; February 24, 1932 February 1, 2005) was a Canadian actor. He made a career in Hollywood after achieving initial television stardom in Canada. He was best known for playing Dean Wormer ...
,
Quartermaster-General of Cromwell's army in Ireland, although this is described in Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of 1837 as “conferred by the Crown on Admiral Vernon”. The
Vernon family
The Vernon family was a wealthy, prolific and widespread English family with 11th-century origins in Vernon, Normandy, France. Their extant titles include Baron Vernon and Vernon baronets of Shotwick Park.
Vernon of Shipbrook, Cheshire
William ...
subsequently
occupied the Castle for nearly three hundred and fifty years.
In 1659, the population of Clontarf was 79.
Fishing, oyster-catching and farming remained the main occupations over the following centuries, with a major fish-curing industry at ''the Sheds'', near the foot of Vernon Avenue (the Public House at the site still bears the name), around 1 km from the original village. In the 18th century, this developed into a secondary settlement of fishermen and small farmers, living in basic cabins and with drying sheds for their catch. The settlement is prominently marked on navigation maps for Dublin Bay dating to the 18th century. However, as with many such 'informal' settlements in Ireland, ''Clontarf Sheds'' became the site for a 19th-century Roman Catholic church – the
Church of Ireland
The Church of Ireland (, ; , ) is a Christian church in Ireland, and an autonomy, autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. It is organised on an all-Ireland basis and is the Christianity in Ireland, second-largest Christian church on the ...
St. John's Church, and the Roman Catholic St. Anthony's closer to the original settlement – and then outgrew the original village.
The 1837 Lewis report remarked that "The land in this Parish is reported to be in the very highest state of cultivation..."
19th century
In the early 19th century, Clontarf had become a holiday resort for the citizens of Dublin, who came out from the city to enjoy bathing in the sea or in the hot and cold seawater baths erected by Mr. Brierly. A horse omnibus service from the city was started and Clontarf became a fashionable place to live – Samuel Lewis lists twenty-seven major houses, apart from Clontarf Castle, in which resided wealthy and important gentry.
[Among them were Thomas Gresham, founder of the Gresham Hotel and W.C. Colville, owner of major property holdings in the centre of Dublin] The Confirmation list for 1824 includes four titled ladies – Lady Charlemont, Lady Caroline Clements, Lady Maria Caulfield and Lady Emily Caulfield. Clontarf had an important role in the career of the prominent Irish nationalist leader
Daniel O'Connell
Daniel(I) O’Connell (; 6 August 1775 – 15 May 1847), hailed in his time as The Liberator, was the acknowledged political leader of Ireland's Roman Catholic majority in the first half of the 19th century. His mobilisation of Catholic Irelan ...
who sought to hold on this location, symbolic because of its association with the
Battle of Clontarf
The Battle of Clontarf () took place on 23 April 1014 at Clontarf, near Dublin, on the east coast of Ireland. It pitted an army led by Brian Boru, High King of Ireland, against a Norse- Irish alliance comprising the forces of Sigtrygg Silkbea ...
in 1014, a mass meeting calling for
repeal
A repeal (O.F. ''rapel'', modern ''rappel'', from ''rapeler'', ''rappeler'', revoke, ''re'' and ''appeler'', appeal) is the removal or reversal of a law. There are two basic types of repeal; a repeal with a re-enactment is used to replace the law ...
of the
Act of Union. The meeting was banned by then-
Prime Minister
A prime minister or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. A prime minister is not the head of state, but r ...
, Sir
Robert Peel
Sir Robert Peel, 2nd Baronet (5 February 1788 – 2 July 1850), was a British Conservative statesman who twice was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (1834–1835, 1841–1846), and simultaneously was Chancellor of the Exchequer (1834–183 ...
, and despite appeals from his supporters, O'Connell refused to defy the authorities and he called off the meeting, as he was unwilling to risk bloodshed.
A key arrival at Clontarf was Sir
Benjamin Lee Guinness, son of
Arthur Guinness II and his partner in running the brewery, who purchased various lands in Clontarf and Raheny, combining them to form St. Anne's Estate (the remnants of which form
Saint Anne's Park).
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. A tram line was laid along the coast, increasing activity in the area.
Amenities
Clontarf's most notable amenity is its seafront, with a promenade running continuously from Alfie Byrne Road to the wooden bridge at Dollymount, totalling 4.5 km in length. From 1911 to 1958 the promenade was improved with a variety of shelters and lifeguard stations added by the
Dublin Corporation
Dublin Corporation (), known by generations of Dubliners simply as ''The Corpo'', is the former name of the city government and its administrative organisation in Dublin since the 1100s. Significantly re-structured in 1660–1661, even more si ...
. The most notable of these structures date from the 1930s and were designed by
Herbert Simms, which are primarily executed in pre-cast concrete. More shelters were added later, in the 1950s.
The seafront is used by runners, walkers, sailors and cyclists. Among the features of the promenade is an
Easter Island
Easter Island (, ; , ) is an island and special territory of Chile in the southeastern Pacific Ocean, at the southeasternmost point of the Polynesian Triangle in Oceania. The island is renowned for its nearly 1,000 extant monumental statues, ...
Moai
Moai or moʻai ( ; ; ) are monolithic human figures carved by the Rapa Nui people on Easter Island, Rapa Nui (Easter Island) in eastern Polynesia between the years 1250 and 1500. Nearly half are still at Rano Raraku, the main moai quarry, but h ...
replica statue, a diplomatic gift from the ambassador of
Chile
Chile, officially the Republic of Chile, is a country in western South America. It is the southernmost country in the world and the closest to Antarctica, stretching along a narrow strip of land between the Andes, Andes Mountains and the Paci ...
, which is located just across the road from The Sheds pub.

Also on the promenade is Clontarf's privately-owned open-air seawater swimming pool, once a recreational destination with hot and cold baths, closed in 1996, and then became derelict. But in 2017 it was redeveloped with a restaurant and bar open to the public within licensed hours. Originally scheduled to open in autumn 2017, it eventually did so in February 2018, but it was announced in January 2018 that public-access swimming would not initially be offered, only, under certain conditions, swimming for clubs, unless a six-figure public subsidy was made available. The city council noted that this might breach planning conditions, as the substantial development on the publicly owned promenade was approved on an assumption of public swimming potential.
There is also a public slipway, across the road from the Clontarf Yacht and Boat Club clubhouse.

Clontarf also reaches into
Saint Anne's Park, which it shares with
Raheny
Raheny () is a northern suburb of Dublin, Republic of Ireland, Ireland, halfway from the city centre to Howth. It is centred on a historic settlement, first documented in 570 AD (Mervyn Archdall (Irish antiquary), Mervyn Archdall). The district ...
. As well as extensive walks and green areas, the park contains numerous sporting facilities, such as playing pitches and non-sport amenities. These include an Arts Centre in the Red Stables, featuring artists' stores and studios, a coffee shop and markets on some weekends, along with a large rose garden which is located alongside the
Gaelic Athletic Association
The Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA; ; CLG) is an Irish international amateur sports, amateur sporting and cultural organisation, focused primarily on promoting indigenous Gaelic games and pastimes, which include the traditional Irish sports o ...
pitches.
Clontarf also has access to the
North Bull Island in the area known as
Dollymount. The island contains the amenity of Dollymount Strand as well as two golf courses. The island is also known for its wildlife, and the lagoon and mudflats between the island and the mainland are a favourite spot for birdwatching.
Clontarf is home to a wide range of businesses, many of which are members of the local Chamber of Commerce. There is a supermarket on Vernon Avenue, and there are, for example, a number of public houses, restaurants, convenience stores, bank branches, pharmacies and medical practitioners.
Dublin Bus
Dublin Bus () is an Irish State-owned enterprise, state-owned bus operator providing services in Dublin. By far the largest bus operator in the city, it carried 145 million passengers in 2023. It is a subsidiary of CIÉ, Córas Iompair Éireann ...
has a depot on Clontarf Road, at the corner with Conquer Hill Road. It was one of the six original depots of Dublin Bus, upon its creation in February 1987.
Schools
Local primary schools are the Belgrove National School group on Seafield Road West, Greenlanes NS (mixed, Church of Ireland patronage), off Seafield Road East, and Howth Road NS (mixed, Presbyterian patronage), on the border with Fairview. Greenlanes and Howth Road Presbyterian have "junior" and "senior" divisions, while the Belgrove group actually consists of four legally distinct schools, all formally named for
John the Baptist
John the Baptist ( – ) was a Jewish preacher active in the area of the Jordan River in the early first century AD. He is also known as Saint John the Forerunner in Eastern Orthodoxy and Oriental Orthodoxy, John the Immerser in some Baptist ...
and each with its own roll number, staff and principal, on a common campus, which also holds the premises of Clontarf GAA club.
At second level, the area holds
Holy Faith School (a former convent school for girls, now in the patronage of
The Le Cheile Schools Trust
''The'' is a grammatical article in English, denoting nouns that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The ...
), and the mixed
Mount Temple Comprehensive School
Mount Temple Comprehensive School is a secondary school in Clontarf, Dublin, Ireland. The school operates under the patronage of the Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin, and has, as a primary objective, the provision of state-funded second ...
, which, while it appears to be in Donnycarney, is actually in a remote pocket of Clontarf. Other popular schools are
St. Paul's College, Raheny for boys, followed by CUS Leeson Street, and
Belvedere College S.J. both in the city centre, Loreto College, St Stephens Green for girls, and the Institute of Education (mixed, 4th to 6th year only).
Special education facilities exist at the premises of the Central Remedial Clinic and the Irish Wheelchair Association.
Churches
Clontarf today has three Roman Catholic parishes (for more see
Parish of Clontarf (Roman Catholic)), a
Church of Ireland Parish of Clontarf, a Presbyterian congregation and a
Methodist
Methodism, also called the Methodist movement, is a Protestant Christianity, Christian Christian tradition, tradition whose origins, doctrine and practice derive from the life and teachings of John Wesley. George Whitefield and John's brother ...
parish. In addition to existing churches, there is a ruined church near Clontarf Castle, and the current Catholic Church of St Anthony is built behind the old St Anthony's Church, still in use as a hall; this building was previously Clontarf Town Hall.
Historically Clontarf has had a strong Protestant community for many years, with the Church of Ireland parish being one of the most populated Anglican parishes in the country up to the 1950s. In the 1911 census, 39% of the population of Clontarf were Protestant, 25% being
Church of Ireland
The Church of Ireland (, ; , ) is a Christian church in Ireland, and an autonomy, autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. It is organised on an all-Ireland basis and is the Christianity in Ireland, second-largest Christian church on the ...
, 8.5% Presbyterian and 5.5% Methodist. Relations between all the faith communities have always been good in Clontarf and mixed marriages were part of life even in 1911.
Sport and social organisations
Clontarf has many clubs whose members take part in sporting activities, including
rugby,
soccer
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a team sport played between two teams of 11 Football player, players who almost exclusively use their feet to propel a Ball (association football), ball around a rectangular f ...
,
golf
Golf is a club-and-ball sport in which players use various Golf club, clubs to hit a Golf ball, ball into a series of holes on a golf course, course in as few strokes as possible.
Golf, unlike most ball games, cannot and does not use a standa ...
,
cricket
Cricket is a Bat-and-ball games, bat-and-ball game played between two Sports team, teams of eleven players on a cricket field, field, at the centre of which is a cricket pitch, pitch with a wicket at each end, each comprising two Bail (cr ...
,
sailing
Sailing employs the wind—acting on sails, wingsails or kites—to propel a craft on the surface of the ''water'' (sailing ship, sailboat, raft, Windsurfing, windsurfer, or Kitesurfing, kitesurfer), on ''ice'' (iceboat) or on ''land'' (Land sa ...
and
Gaelic games
Gaelic games () are a set of sports played worldwide, though they are particularly popular in Ireland, where they originated. They include Gaelic football, hurling, Gaelic handball and rounders. Football and hurling, the most popular of the s ...
.
Clontarf has a strong rugby club, with their senior XV reaching two all-Ireland league finals under former coach Phil Werahiko. The
Clontarf Cricket Club Ground, based at the same premises as the rugby club, was the host for the final of the
2005 ICC Trophy
The 2005 ICC Trophy was a cricket tournament held in Ireland between 1 July and 13 July 2005. It was an international one-day tournament played over 50 overs per side between 12 Associate Members of the International Cricket Council. It served a ...
cricket tournament. It has hosted various cricket internationals, most recently against Australia in the summer of 2010, and is the home ground of the
Ireland cricket team in the Republic of Ireland. Ireland is due to play another ODI against England in August 2011 at the ground.
The Clontarf Cricket Club senior 1st XI have won the Leinster Senior Cup in 2007 and 2008.
Clontarf is home to a number of GAA clubs that compete in the Dublin county championship in Gaelic football, ladies' football, hurling and camogie. Founded in 1961,
Clontarf GAA are based on Seafield Road and play their home matches at St Anne's Park in Raheny.
Scoil Uí Chonaill CLG are located on the Clontarf Road and have been competing since 1953.
The area also has two tennis clubs - Clontarf Lawn Tennis Club on Oulton Road, and Clontarf Parish Lawn Tennis Club on Seafield Road.
Clontarf Taekwon-do Club, based in Belgrove Boys' school, has been in existence since 2013. The club competes at National, International, European and World level in Taekwondo.
Sailing
Sailing employs the wind—acting on sails, wingsails or kites—to propel a craft on the surface of the ''water'' (sailing ship, sailboat, raft, Windsurfing, windsurfer, or Kitesurfing, kitesurfer), on ''ice'' (iceboat) or on ''land'' (Land sa ...
has long been associated with Clontarf with its local Clontarf Yacht & Boat Club, one of the- oldest yacht clubs in Dublin Bay, celebrating its centenary in 1975. The area used for sailing is tidal, which limits the number of hours per day when sailing is possible.
Hydroplane racing
Hydroplane racing (also known as hydro racing) is a sport involving racing hydroplanes on lakes, rivers, and bays. It is a popular spectator sport in several countries.
Racing circuits
International professional outboard hydroplane racing
The ...
In the 1930s Clontarf was the base for the North Dublin branch of the Motor Yacht Club of Ireland. It is assumed that the racing took place in the "Blue Lagoon", the space between Bull Island and Dollymount.
The Clontarf Scout Troop was established in 1931.
Clontarf is also home to the Central Remedial Clinic (whose swimming pool has some public access hours) and to the Incorporated Orthopaedic Hospital of Ireland (since 1876), as well as a major centre of the Irish Wheelchair Association.
There is no current local newspaper, but past journals included "Clontarf's Eye".
Governance and representation
The districts of Clontarf, Dollymount and Ballybough, in the barony of Coolock and the county of Dublin, were joined to form a township governed by
town commissioners
Town commissioners were elected local government bodies that existed in urban areas in Ireland from the 19th century until 2002. Larger towns with commissioners were converted to urban districts by the Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898, wit ...
under the Clontarf Township Act 1869. The town commissioners commissioned Clontarf Town Hall (now
St Anthony's Hall) which was completed in 1896. The area became an
urban district under the
Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898
The Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898 ( 61 & 62 Vict. c. 37) was an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland that established a system of local government in Ireland
Ireland (, ; ; Ulster Scots diale ...
. In 1900, the urban district was abolished and the area was transferred from the county into the jurisdiction of the city of Dublin.
It is one of the main components of the Clontarf
local electoral area
A local electoral area (LEA; ) is an electoral area for elections to Local government in the Republic of Ireland, local authorities in Ireland. All elections in the Republic of Ireland, elections use the single transferable vote. Republic of Ir ...
for elections to
Dublin City Council
Dublin City Council () is the Local government in the Republic of Ireland, local authority of the city of Dublin in Republic of Ireland, Ireland. As a city council, it is governed by the Local Government Act 2001. Until 2001, the authority was k ...
.
Clontarf is in the
Dáil constituency of
Dublin Bay North for national elections.
Points of note

On Castle Avenue is a water outlet in a wall, believed locally to be from the spring known as Brian Boru's well, reputed to be the one mentioned in accounts of the Battle of Clontarf, where Brian Boru's men refreshed themselves during the battle.
Clontarf was the original home of the
Grove Social Club disco which ran from 1967 to 1997. It started in 1967 in Mount Prospect Avenue in Clontarf, Belgrove Football Club (from which the social club got its name). It moved to St. Pauls College, Sybil Hill Road, Raheny, in 1975 when the old pavilion was burnt down.
Along the coastal promenade, there is a circular rain shelter, which forms a cap over a former lead mine, which ran out under the shallow waters of the bay, as recorded in Cosgrave's "North Dublin"; it was closed due to persistent flooding.
People
*
Sharon Ní Bheoláin
Sharon Ní Bheoláin (, approximately ; born Boland on 15 February 1971) is an Irish journalist, newsreader and presenter with RTÉ, Ireland's national radio and television broadcaster, where she has presented the '' Nine O'Clock News'' since 2 ...
, presenter, lives in Clontarf
*
Harry Boland and
Gerald Boland, revolutionaries, lived at 15 Marino Crescent in the early 20th century
*
Richie Boucher, former
Bank of Ireland
Bank of Ireland Group plc () is a commercial bank operation in Ireland and one of the traditional Big Four Irish banks. Historically the premier banking organisation in Ireland, the bank occupies a unique position in Irish banking history. At ...
chief executive
*
Gerry Breen, politician, former Lord Mayor of Dublin
*
Sharon Commins, aid worker who was kidnapped in
Sudan
Sudan, officially the Republic of the Sudan, is a country in Northeast Africa. It borders the Central African Republic to the southwest, Chad to the west, Libya to the northwest, Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the east, Eritrea and Ethiopi ...
in July 2009, was born and lived in Clontarf
*
Maria Doyle, actress, born in Clontarf
*
Joe Duffy
Joseph Duffy (born 27 January 1956) is an Irish people, Irish radio and TV presenter employed by RTÉ. One of the public service broadcaster's highest-earning stars, he is the current presenter of ''Liveline'', an interview and phone-in chat s ...
, broadcaster and presenter
*
Ciara Ní É, broadcaster and poet
*
Barry Fitzgerald
William Joseph Shields (10 March 1888 – 4 January 1961), known professionally as Barry Fitzgerald, was an Irish stage, film and television actor. In a career spanning almost forty years, he appeared in such notable films as ''Bringing Up Bab ...
(real name William Shields) and his brother,
Arthur Shields
Arthur Shields (15 February 1896 – 27 April 1970) was an Irish actor on television, stage and film.
Early years
Born in Portobello, Dublin into a family who were members of the Church of Ireland, Shields started acting in the Abbey Theatre w ...
, lived at 13 Vernon Avenue; Barry Fitzgerald also lived on Seaview Avenue
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Paddy Glackin, fiddler
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Bernadette Greevy,
mezzo-soprano
A mezzo-soprano (, ), or mezzo ( ), is a type of classical music, classical female singing human voice, voice whose vocal range lies between the soprano and the contralto voice types. The mezzo-soprano's vocal range usually extends from the A bel ...
singer
*
Arthur Edward Guinness, 1st Baron Ardilaun, of Guinness brewing fame, was born in St. Anne's House (the house lies in the Clontarf part of the estate, while the majority of the park is in Raheny), as was his elder brother
Edward Cecil Guinness, 1st Earl of Iveagh.
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Cian Healy, Irish rugby international
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Neil Jordan
Neil Patrick Jordan (born 25 February 1950) is an Irish filmmaker and writer. He first achieved recognition for his short story collection, ''Night in Tunisia (short story collection), Night in Tunisia,'' which won the Guardian Fiction Prize in ...
, went to school in the area (he was born in
Rosses Point
Rosses Point ( or ) is a village in County Sligo, Ireland and also the name of the surrounding peninsula.
Rosses Point is at the entrance to Sligo Harbour from Sligo Bay with Oyster Island being the long thin landmass notable when entering th ...
, County Sligo), lived on Victoria Road
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Ray Kennedy
Raymond Kennedy (28 July 1951 – 30 November 2021) was an English Association football, footballer who won every domestic honour in the game with Arsenal F.C., Arsenal and Liverpool F.C., Liverpool in the 1970s and early 1980s. Kennedy playe ...
, RTÉ journalist & newscaster
*
Declan Kiberd
Declan Kiberd (born 24 May 1951) is an Irish writer and scholar with an interest in modern Irish literature, both in the English and Irish languages, which he often approaches through the lens of postcolonial theory. He is also interested in th ...
, academic
*
Phil Lynott
Philip Parris Lynott (, ; 20 August 1949 – 4 January 1986) was an Irish musician, songwriter, and poet. He was the co-founder, lead vocalist, bassist, and primary songwriter for the hard rock band Thin Lizzy. He was known for his distinctive ...
, of
Thin Lizzy
Thin Lizzy are an Irish rock band formed in Dublin in 1969. The band initially consisted of bass guitarist, lead vocalist and principal songwriter Phil Lynott, drummer Brian Downey, guitarist Eric Bell and organist Eric Wrixon although Wr ...
, musician, lived at 28 Castle Avenue.
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Jack McCaffrey, Dublin Gaelic footballer and winner of several All-Ireland's and All-Stars
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Noel McCaffrey, former All-Star Dublin Gaelic footballer and All-Ireland Senior Football Championship medal winner
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Christy O'Connor Snr, professional golfer
*
Brian O'Driscoll
Brian Gerard O'Driscoll (born 21 January 1979) is an Irish former professional rugby union player. He played at outside Centre (rugby union), centre for the Irish provincial team Leinster Rugby, Leinster and for Ireland national rugby union te ...
, former Ireland rugby captain
*
Maureen Potter
Maria Philomena Potter (3 January 1925 – 7 April 2004), known as Maureen Potter, was an Irish singer, actress, comedienne and performer.
Early life
Potter was born in Dublin and educated at St. Mary's school in Fairview. She had a long caree ...
, actress and comedian who lived in Fairview and Clontarf until her death in 2004; buried in the St John the Baptist cemetery on Castle Avenue, with her gravestone reading "In Loving Memory...Super Trouper"
[ Retrieved on 17 December 2008.]
*
John Rawson, Viscount Clontarf, a leading statesman in the reign of
Henry VIII
Henry VIII (28 June 149128 January 1547) was King of England from 22 April 1509 until his death in 1547. Henry is known for his Wives of Henry VIII, six marriages and his efforts to have his first marriage (to Catherine of Aragon) annulled. ...
, last Prior of the local branch of the
Order of St. John of Jerusalem
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Jim Ronayne, former Dublin Gaelic footballer and All-Ireland Senior Football Championship medal winner
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Gerry Ryan, RTÉ DJ, grew up in Clontarf, lived on Kincora Avenue, and during his married life, on Castle Avenue
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Erwin Schrödinger
Erwin Rudolf Josef Alexander Schrödinger ( ; ; 12 August 1887 – 4 January 1961), sometimes written as or , was an Austrian-Irish theoretical physicist who developed fundamental results in quantum field theory, quantum theory. In particul ...
, scientist, moved to
Dublin
Dublin is the capital and largest city of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. Situated on Dublin Bay at the mouth of the River Liffey, it is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster, and is bordered on the south by the Dublin Mountains, pa ...
and lived on Kincora Road in Clontarf
*
Bryan Smyth, actor, singer and television presenter
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John Stafford, Former Lord Mayor of Dublin lives in Clontarf
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Bram Stoker
Abraham Stoker (8 November 1847 – 20 April 1912), better known by his pen name Bram Stoker, was an Irish novelist who wrote the 1897 Gothic horror novel ''Dracula''. The book is widely considered a milestone in Vampire fiction, and one of t ...
, author of ''
Dracula
''Dracula'' is an 1897 Gothic fiction, Gothic horror fiction, horror novel by Irish author Bram Stoker. The narrative is Epistolary novel, related through letters, diary entries, and newspaper articles. It has no single protagonist and opens ...
'', was born at 15
Marino Crescent in 1847
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Emma Teeling, professor at UCD, specialised in the study of bats and genetics
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John Teeling, academic turned entrepreneur, operator of mines in various countries and developer of Cooley Distillery and other whiskey projects
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Marty Whelan- DJ and presenter
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Sir Patrick White, High Court judge and the principal landowner here in the 1540s and 1550s
See also
*
List of towns and villages in Ireland
Notes
References
External links
*
Clontarf Township layeron
OpenStreetMap
OpenStreetMap (abbreviated OSM) is a free, Open Database License, open geographic database, map database updated and maintained by a community of volunteers via open collaboration. Contributors collect data from surveying, surveys, trace from Ae ...
Dublin Historic Maps: Dublin Townships and Urban Districts, between 1847 and 1930
{{Authority control
Towns and villages in Dublin (city)
Former urban districts in the Republic of Ireland