Overview
Raheny grew up around a ringfort, and its bank is still down there, buried under the crossroads at the centre of the village and running from beside the Santry River across to the churches on either side. The name gives it away: Ráth Eanaigh, the fort of the marsh (not, as you’ll sometimes read, the fort of the swans). Today Raheny is a north Dublin suburb roughly halfway between the city centre and Howth. It keeps a village core of independent cafés and pubs and has two good reasons to get off the DART: the old Guinness estate at St Anne’s Park, and the coast and nature reserve out on Bull Island.
A walk through time
The ringfort is the oldest thing here, and its enclosure now sits entirely beneath the modern village. Around it grew a cluster of religious sites: the ruin of the original St Assam’s Church (rebuilt in 1712) stands beside its 19th-century successor. Of the two old holy wells, St Ann’s Well survives under a stone cupola near the boating lake in St Anne’s Park, though it has been dry for decades, while St Assam’s Well was diverted into the Santry River.
The oldest buildings in the village are the Crescent Cottages on Station Road: eight small houses built around 1790 by Samuel Dick, a linen merchant and Governor of the Bank of Ireland, for his estate workers, and done up again by Lord Ardilaun in 1879. Locals know them as the ‘Doh-Ray-Mee’ cottages.
What to see and do
The parks and the coast
St Anne’s Park occupies part of the former Guinness estate, developed from 1835. Use the public entrances for its paths, gardens and recreation areas, which include a boating lake, a playground and long tree-lined avenues. Check the Dublin City Council page for the park for what is currently open.
The Raheny causeway leads to North Bull Island, a nature reserve and bird sanctuary at the heart of the Dublin Bay Biosphere, with the Royal Dublin Golf Club taking up part of the island. Follow the council’s access and dog zones, use the public paths, and leave the salt marsh and the northern tip to the wildlife. Check local bathing notices before entering the water, and check tide times before heading out.
On a clear day the shoreline gives views across the bay to the Wicklow Mountains, and the strand draws walkers, kite flyers and families.
Historic buildings and the heritage trail
The Raheny Heritage Trail links 15 blue plaques, put up in 2006 by the Raheny Business Association with wording from the Raheny Heritage Society, on the older buildings around the crossroads. Key stops include:
- St Assam’s Churches: the 1712 ruin and the 1864 Roman Catholic church, both protected structures with historic gravestones.
- All Saints’ Church (Church of Ireland): funded by Arthur Guinness, 1st Baron Ardilaun, with a preserved gate lodge and community hall.
- Crescent Cottages: the eight 1790 dwellings on Station Road.
The village plaza has a Celtic-style cross remembering Marie Elizabeth Hayes, a 19th-century medical missionary.
Local life
The village centre has a mix of independent coffee shops, traditional pubs and restaurants in converted historic buildings, including a former schoolhouse on Main Street. Check Dublin City Libraries for Raheny Library’s current opening arrangements.
Practical information
Getting there – Raheny is on the DART; the station opened in May 1844 and sits opposite the village centre. Harmonstown and Kilbarrack stations serve the streets to the north. Use the TFI journey planner for current DART and bus services. Drivers reach the area via the Howth Road (R105) or the Malahide Road (R107).
Parking – On-street parking around the plaza is limited. Check the signage at any car park for charges and times, or take the DART.
Opening hours and fees – The village streets and heritage trail are open to walk at any time. Parks, the Bull Island paths and sports facilities follow their own managers’ rules, so check the council pages linked above for current notices. Golf clubs keep their own timetables.
Nearby – A short hop north brings you to Ardgillan Castle, a Georgian house in extensive gardens and coastal walks.
For a good short day, walk the public paths of St Anne’s Park, follow the council’s signed routes out onto Bull Island, then double back for a coffee in the village.