Enclosing a large harbour that includes a 820 berth marina and an international ferry port, Dun Laoghaire Pier is the perfect place to spend the day when visiting Dublin. All year round Dun Laoghaire pier and the surrounding town of Dun Laoghaire host a number of events that provide fun for all the family.
Historic of Dun Laoghaire Pier
Dun Laoghaire takes its name from the 5th century High King Loegaire Mac Neil who built his fort in the area. Dun is the Irish word for fort. From here he carried out raids on the coasts of Britain and France.
The town proper did not come into being until much later in the early 19th century when the Dun Laoghaire pier, known as the west pier, began construction. The Dun Laoghaire Pier was commissioned to provide a safe harbour after several ships floundered in the heavily silted waters of Dublin Bay around the mouth of the river Liffey.
When King George IV visited to see the newly constructed Dun Laoghaire pier the town was renamed Kingstown in his honour. The town would not regain its name until Irish independence was declared almost a century later.
Sea views along the Pier
Walking out along either of Dun Laoghaire’s piers provides stunning panoramic views of the Dublin Bay area. Directly across the bay Howth head juts up out of the water, looking almost like an island. To the north is the bustling Dublin City Centre where, on a sunny summers day you might just see the glinting Spire on O’Connells St.
Looking back from Dun Laoghaire Pier into the town the quaint skyline of its Victorian buildings is pierced here and there by the steeples of Dun Laoghaire’s historic Churches. To the west and inland are the rolling foothills of the ancient Dublin/Wicklow mountains. Nestled amongst them is the obelisk topped, Killiney hill.
The rugged coastline to the south belongs to Dalkey point which, along with Killiney Hill, is easily reached by a short train ride from the station just next to Dun Laoghaire Pier. Out to the East is the sleepy Irish Sea.
