Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland
Martello tower
Balcarrick, County Dublin, Ireland
The record
- Townland
- Balcarrick
- County
- Dublin
- Country
- Ireland
- First-edition OS map
- Martello Tower
- Latest-edition OS map
- Martello Tower
- Coordinates
- 53.47832, -6.11535
- SMR number
- DU012-008----
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
Shown on 4 historical map sheets, the earliest the 1799 "Ireland." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
This record in the National Monuments Service's Historic Environment Viewer ↗
The National Monuments Service's description
Balcarrick Martello Tower No. 6 (Kerrigan 1995, 174). According to Kerrigan (1995, 168) construction of the Dublin area Martello Towers and their batteries commenced in 1804 under the supervision of Colonel Benjamin Fisher of the Royal Engineers and by December 1805 all towers were armed and complete. Kerrigan (ibid.) recorded that; 'Twelve towers were constructed north of Dublin: each tower mounted one 24-pounder, apart from the tower on Ireland's Eye with two 24-pounders. No batteries were constructed with these towers'. Located at the end of Balcarrick Road, close to the water's edge at the north end of Donabate beach. The tower was in the charge of the Royal Artillery until at least 1830. John King rented the tower from 1896 and bought it in 1909 (Bolton et al. 2012, 163). It is a squat, cylindrical tower with a rendered finish. It has machicolation in place over the door and two string courses encircling the top. West facing door at ground level-some stone has been pulled out to accommodate metal door. Chimney and additional concrete blocks have been added to roof. Large south facing window infilled with concrete.
See attached plan of Balcarrick Martello Tower No. 6 courtesy of the Irish Military Archives - Archival Reference Code: IE/MA/MPD/AD119455-003
Photo ©Jonjobaker https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:County_Dublin_-_Balcarrick_Martello_Tower_-_20190517193655.jpg
DU012-008----_03 Patrick Healy Collection, https://hdl.handle.net/10599/3211, © South Dublin Libraries, Local Studies Collection, County Library, Town Centre, Tallaght, Dublin 24
See attached Taylor's 1816 Map showing the location of the Martello Tower.
Taylor, J. 1816 Taylor's map of the environs of Dublin: extending 10 to 14 miles from the castle, by actual survey, on a scale of 2 inches to one mile.
Compiled by Geraldine Stout
Updated by: Christine Baker
Revised by: Caimin O'Brien
Date of revised upload: 24 January 2023
References
Kerrigan P.M. 1995 Castles and fortifications in Ireland 1485-1945. Cork. The Collins Press.
Bolton, J., Carey, T., Goodbody, R., and Clabby, G. 2012 The Martello Towers of Dublin. Dublin. Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and Fingal County Council.
Nearby in the register
- House - 16th/17th centuryunder 1 mi
- Fulacht fiaunder 1 mi
- Ritual site - holy wellunder 1 mi
- Churchunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.