Malahide
Malahide (Irish: Mullach Íde) is a seaside town 18 km northeast of Dublin. Historically it's part of County Dublin, though nowadays governed by County Fingal. The main reason to visit is the castle and gardens. The town continues south along the coast into Portmarnock.
Get in
By plane: Dublin Airport is five miles west, and can be reached without going into the city. Dublin Bus 102 runs every 30 mins from the airport to Swords and Malahide (40 mins), then winds south to Portmarnock and Sutton.
By train: 1 Malahide railway station is in the centre of town. DART and commuter trains from Dublin Connolly run to Malahide every 15 mins or so, taking 25 mins, fare €3.30. Some continue north to Drogheda, and south of Connolly they run to Dublin Pearse, Greystones or Bray. Connolly has direct trains from Rosslare Europort, Sligo and Belfast: the latter also stop at Drogheda so you might change there rather than at Connolly. Trains from elsewhere in Ireland run to Heuston Station west of city centre: take the tram to Connolly.
By bus: Bus 42 runs from Dublin Talbot St and Connolly Station every 30 mins to Malahide (45 min) then Portmarnock. Bus 32, hourly, travels along the coast via Sutton and Portmarnock, 50 mins.
Get around
It's easy enough to walk to the castle. There's a longer coastal walk to Portmarnock, you might prefer to return on bus 102 or 32, see "Get in".
Bike hire is available from Irish Centre for Cycling on Dublin Rd 100 yards west of the railway station.
Toots, the Malahide road train runs every 40 mins between the railway station, village shops, Grand Hotel, sandy beach and Malahide Castle and gardens. Hop on hop off with a round trip of 40 minutes, adult fare €6, child €4. It's frankly a kiddy-treat but you could always ride it ironically.
See
- 1 Malahide Castle, Malahide Demesne (Half a mile southwest of railway station), ☏ +353 1 8169538. Daily 09:00-17:00. The oldest parts of the castle are 12th century, though most of what you see is 18th & 19th C, richly furnished. Set in a great parkland, the Malahide Demesne. Visit by guided tour only. Behind the castle are Talbot Botanic Gardens. Adult €14.
- Fry Model Railway, Casino Cottage (off Dublin Rd just west of railway station). Closed. This elaborate O-gauge system depicts Ireland in the 1920s / 30s but has been closed for almost a decade. It's now expected to re-open in this new home in autumn 2019. The Casino itself was a 2-story thatched shooting lodge, built circa 1750 but becoming derelict, hence the cost and delay in re-opening.
- For sea views head north up New Street onto 2 The Green.
- In Portmarnock, St Marnock's is the scrappy remains of a 12th C church. Those in its graveyard include members of the Jamesons whiskey family, Larry O’Neill a former Lord Mayor of Dublin, and the Plunkett family.
Do
- Walk to Portmarnock along the coast, about 40 minutes. It's exposed and windy, with no shelter if the rain comes on.
- Paddling and swimming at 1 Low Rock where there's a beach between rocky outcrops.
- Watch cricket at 2 Malahide Cricket Club, Dublin Rd (200 m west of station). This ground, capacity 11,500, is the home of Leinster Cricket and the usual venue for Ireland's international matches.
- 3 Portmarnock Golf Club, Golf Links Rd, Stapolin, ☏ +353-1-8462968, info@portmarnockgolfclub.ie. This is a links course on a sandy peninsula. The championship course is 7463 yards (6824 m), par 72. Both sexes may play but only men may be members: the courts have to date upheld this. There's also a hotel here, B&B double from €150.
Buy
Usual High Street retailers.
Eat
Malahide's many eateries are concentrated in town centre just east of the railway station, with a couple more further along the coast.
- Gibneys of Malahide, 6 New St. Bar to 23:30. Serves food M-F to 21:30, Sa Su to 20:00. Live music four days a week.
- Cape Greko, New St (on first floor, corner of Strand St). M-F 17:00-22:00, Sa 12:30-00:00, Su 12:30-22:00. Greek & Cypriot restaurant.
- Sale e Pepe, Main St. Daily 17:00-23:00. Posh dining on seafood and steaks.
- Asian choices include Kajjal on Gas Yard Lane, Siam on The Green, Roseland Chinese at 3 New St, Orchid Chinese at 12 New St, and Jaipur at 5 St James Terrace.
Drink
Pubs in Malahide are open daily to 23:30, later at weekend. They include Gilbert and Wright on Ross Lane, Duffy's on Main St, Gibney's on New St (listed above), and Fowler's on New St.
Sleep
- 1 Grand Hotel, Grove Rd, Malahide (400 m east of railway station), ☏ +353 1 845 0000, info@grandhotel.ie. Splendid old 4-star on the coast, often hosts weddings and other events. B&B double €300.
- 2 White Sands Hotel, Coast Rd, Carrickhill, ☏ +353 1 866 6000. Simple but good value hotel with 58 rooms in Portmarnock. Decent food, live music in the bar. B&B double €100.
Connect
Malahide has good mobile and 4G coverage with all Irish carriers. As of Aug 2020, parts of town have 5G with Vodafone, but not with Eir or Three.
Go next
- The City of Dublin has attractions and amenities aplenty.
- Drogheda to the north has the prehistoric stones and tombs of Brú na Bóinne, and the site of the Battle of the Boyne.