Balbriggan
Balbriggan (Irish: Baile Brigín) is a seaside town of about 20,000 residents at the north end of County Dublin, 32 km north of Dublin city centre. It was a small fishing village until 1780 then grew rapidly as a textile town, processing cotton and linen. When John Wayne hollered at someone to put their balbriggans on, he meant long-johns, traditionally made here; Queen Victoria and the Czarina of Russia also wore them.
|
The Siege of Balbriggan
In Sept 1920 during the Anglo-Irish war, two police officers were shot dead by the Irish Republican Army in Smyth's Pub here. In revenge, some 100-150 Black and Tans raided the town that night, destroying a factory, 49 houses and four pubs, and two townsmen were beaten to death. The centenary of this event falls on 21 Sept 2020. |
Balbriggan nowadays is a commuter town for Dublin. It is a possible base for exploring the city, but even more for sights just across the county boundary to the north and west such as Newgrange. Or at least it would be if it had more accommodation: there's more in Skerries, an attractive little harbour 8 km south along the coast.
Get in
By train: Commuter trains run to Balbriggan from Dublin Pearse and Connolly stations via Malahide and Skerries, taking 45 min, every 30-60 min. A few continue north to Drogheda and Dundalk, but trains to Newry and Belfast don't stop in Balbriggan, change at Drogheda. An adult single from Connolly is €6.20. 1 Balbriggan railway station is central, near the harbour.
By bus: Bus Éireann 101 runs from Dublin Talbot Street every 20 min via Drumcondra, Dublin Airport, Swords, and Balrothery to Balbriggan (one hour), continuing to Drogheda. This bus is not available for journeys just between Dublin city, airport and Swords.
Dublin Bus 33 runs to Balbriggan from Dublin Lower Abbey Street roughly hourly, via Swords, Lusk, Rush and Skerries, taking 90 min.
Get around
The town is easily walkable, including Ardgillan Castle. Use Bus 33 or the commuter train to reach Skerries. You need your own wheels to reach Courtlough or the Séamus Ennis Arts Centre out in the countryside.
By bus
Town service
Bus Éireann operate a frequent town bus service in Balbriggan :
- Route B1 operates two loops within the town from the Rail Station :
- A north loop via Moylaragh Park and Hamlet Lane back to the Rail Station, roughly every 30 minutes Monday to Friday, with less frequent services on Saturdays and no service on Sundays.
- A south loop via Harry Reynolds Road and Millfield Shopping Centre back to the Rail Station, every hour Monday to Friday, with less frequent services on Saturdays and no service on Sundays.
The cash fare on the town bus service is €2 adult and €1.20 child. If paying with a TFI Leap Card, the fare is €1.40 adult and 84c child.
Local and regional services
Local and regional bus services from Balbriggan include:
- Dublin Bus 33 and Go-Ahead 33a operate along the north Dublin coast, through the towns of Skerries, Rush and Lusk, every 30 to 60 minutes Monday to Sunday. Route 33a terminates in Swords, while route 33 extends all the way into Dublin City Centre. These are part of the Dublin City network and have lower fares, but are a very indirect way to reach Swords or Dublin.
- Bus Éireann 101 is the main commuter service through Balbriggan, running south to Swords, Dublin Airport and Dublin City Centre, and north to Julianstown and Drogheda. Buses run every 20 minutes Monday to Friday, every 30 minutes on Saturdays and every hour on Sundays.
- Local Link 192 operates northwest to Gormanston and Stamullen, 4 to 6 times per day Monday to Sunday.
- Local Link 195 operates southwest to Naul, Ballyboughal, Oldtown, Garristown and Ashbourne, 5 times per day Monday to Saturday.
Route maps, including stop locations, are available by entering the route number into the TFI route mapper.
See
- The Harbour is scenic. Across the bay is what no stretch of Leinster coastline can be without: a Martello tower.
- 1 Saints Peter & Paul Church. This RC church has two stained-glass windows by the Arts & Crafts exponent Harry Clarke: "The Widow's Son" left of the altar and "The Visitation" on the south wall.
- 2 Bremore Castle (north edge of Balbriggan). Scrappy remains of a tower house built in the 14th century, but falling into ruin in the 17th. Supposedly under restoration, but it's just a sorry heap. You can park free here and walk to the beach.
- 3 Ardgillan Castle and Demesne (2 km south of Balbriggan). April-Oct 10:00-18:00, Nov-March 10:00-17:00. The house, built in 1738, is set in extensive park lands overlooking the Irish Sea with a view of the Mourne Mountains. Castle and/or garden tours, wheelchair friendly tea rooms, children’s playground, cycle and walking paths. Guided tours of the castle are usually at 11:00, 13:00 and 15:00. Adult €6.50, concs €5.
- Skerries is an attractive small harbour 8 km south along the coast. There are restored wind- and watermills in a park just south of the village.
- Rush another 8 km south is another small harbour with a good beach where you often see racehorses training. Kenure church is a ruin at the north edge of town, while all that's left of Kenure House is a cod-Hellenistic portico, looking like a derelict NatWest bank.
- Lusk 4 km inland from Rush has a 10th-century round tower, incorporated into a Norman-style 15th-century church.
- Brú Na Bóinne or Newgrange Archaeological Park, a Unesco World Heritage Site, is a remarkable collection of Neolithic chamber tombs 8 km west of Drogheda. By public transport travel via Drogheda. It's a 15-min drive with your own car but you must head for the visitor centre south of the River Boyne (M1 exit 9). From there shuttle buses take visitors to the tombs on the north bank - these have no direct access, so don't follow directions to Newgrange Farm.
Do
- Boat trips: Skerries Sea Tours run trips from Skerries to Lambay Island, the Skerries islands, and Rockabill Lighthouse. The boat is an 11-m RIB, covered but bouncy. Book on 086 304 3847.
- 1 [dead link] Balbriggan Golf Club, Blackhall (south edge of town on road to Balrothery). Parkland 18-hole course amidst mature trees and water hazards, in great condition. Visitors €25.
- 2 Courtlough Adventure Centre, Courtlough (5 km south, past Balrothery). Multi-activity centre for all ages, with high ropes, off-road buggies, paintball and zip lines. The Shooting Grounds have clay pigeon, rifle and archery. Advance booking essential.
- 3 Séamus Ennis Arts Centre, Naul (5 km west of Balbriggan). A non-profit cultural centre dedicated to Séamus Ennis (1919-1982), the uilleann piper, folklore and music collector. Regular concerts and music classes, and excellent food.
- Angling: Gormanstown and District Anglers Club [dead link] has fishing on Wavin Lake and the Delvin River. Day-tickets available to non-members, but only if accompanied by a club member.
Eat
Balbriggan has a huge amount of food outlets/ eating establishments relative to its population. Daytime sit-down no-frills eating includes The Coffee Pot (breakfast a speciality), Milestone (quality pub meals), O'Briens, and Molly's plus the usual chains and takeaways.
- Bracken Grill & Carvery is within the Bracken Court Hotel, see "Sleep".
- Brick Room, 10 Railway St (next to railway station). M-Th 09:00-19:00, F Sa 09:00-20:30, Su 09:00-16:00. Café by day, good vegan selection, wine and tapas bar by night. Live music Friday and Saturday nights.
- Han Lin Palace on Bridge St is open daily 17:00-00:00.
- 1 Karma Thai, 12 Mill St, ☏ +353 1 968-0808. M-Th 17:00-22:00, F 17:00-23:30, Sa 13:00-23:30, Su 13:00-22:00. Thai cuisine. Emphasis on good food, with no additives.
- 2 Libero's, Linen Court, George's Hill. M-Th 12:00-21:00, F Sa 12:00-22:00, Su 13:00-21:00. Italian (and Irish) cuisine. Lots of similar places along main road but this one gets the vote for food and service.
- 3 Pappagallino's Ice Cream (formerly Morelli's), 14 Quay Street. Daily 12:00-20:00. Decent Italian ice cream, maybe not as good as the previous Morelli's.
- Moti Mahal, Linen Court, George's Hill (by railway station). Daily 17:00-23:00. Indian cuisine.
Drink
All of the drinking establishments in Balbriggan are well-run, being both individual and family friendly.
- 1 Fannings (Central Lounge), Bridge Street. Daily 11:30-00:00. Photographs on walls depict history of Balbriggan. Spacious billiard (snooker/pool) area.
- The Harvest on Drogheda St has a bar and grill open daily 16:00-02:00.
- Lusk vineyard produces red wine, but only in small amounts so you'll only find it in their farm shop or online.
Sleep
- 1 Bracken Court Hotel, Bridge St, ☏ +353 1 841 3333, info@brackencourt.ie. A bit old-fashioned, could do with a spruce, but clean and near beach and town centre. With Bracken Grill restaurant and Sunday carvery. B&B double €130.
- 2 Woodview Farmhouse, Margaretstown, Skerries, ☏ +353 1 849 1528. Welcoming B&B just south of Ardgillan Castle. B&B double €80.
- Skerries has caravan parks at North Beach and at Hilly Skilly, plus B&B at The White Cottages, Jantol House and Redbank House.
Connect
There is a decent mobile signal with all Irish carriers. As of Aug 2020, Balbriggan and Skerries have 4G with Eir and Three but not Vodafone. There is 5G with Eir along the M1 from Dublin but not yet in town.
Go next
- Into Dublin for city-centre attractions.
- Around Dublin County for small, interesting places such as Malahide and Howth.
- North to Drogheda and towards Belfast.
| Routes through Balbriggan |
| Belfast ← Drogheda ← | N  S |
→ Swords → Dublin |