Situated just off the coast of Howth, Ireland’s Eye is easily accessible from Howth Harbour and tourist boats service the island regularly. The island is situated under two kilometres from the mainland. From Howth Harbour there are excellent views of the island.
On Ireland’s Eye there are ruins of a Martello Tower. Martello towers are small defensive forts that were built by the British Empire during the 19th Century. There are also ruins of a church on the island that date back to the 8th Century. Apart from these two structures there is no evidence of previous habitation on the island.
The island was called Eria’s Island during Celtic times which is a combination of the name Eria which is a woman’s name and Erin which is the Irish name for Ireland. When the Vikings arrived, the substituted the word Island with the word Ey to form Ireland’s Eye eventually.
Among the geological features that grace the island is the rock stack that is home to many species of wildlife and birds. The island also features an excellent beach and great views back towards Howth Head.
Access to Ireland's Eye is from Howth Harbour and is served by two small boating companies. There are several well trodden paths on the island and it is best to stick to these while walking to avoid walking on camouflaged chicks or eggs.
Howth is situated 16km from Dublin City Center and is accessed easily by numerous public transport modes including bus and DART.