Martello Tower in Rush, County Dublin

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Rush Martello Tower No. 8 (Kerrigan 1995, 174). According to Kerrigan (1995, 168) construction of the Dublin area Martello Towers and their batteries commenced in 1804 under the supervision of Colonel Benjamin Fisher of the Royal Engineers and by December 1805 all towers were armed and complete. Kerrigan (ibid.) recorded that; 'Twelve towers were constructed north of Dublin: each tower mounted one 24-pounder, apart from the tower on Ireland's Eye with two 24-pounders. No batteries were constructed with these towers'. Located in a private garden on Harbour Road overlooking the E coast. Two pillars on the street indicate land entrance to tower. Access now completely overgrown. This is a squat cylindrical tower with a parapet level marked by offsets. The entrance is in the W. It has a rendered finish which has begun to fall away especially around the door. Bricked features have been added to roof. There are flat roofed chalets built around the tower (Kerrigan 1996, 175). It sat within a circular stone boundary wall now visible as a low circular bank and fencing. It was manned by a full complement of artillerymen until the end of the Napoleonic wars in 1815. It was then occupied by an invalid Gunner of the Royal artillery until at least 1830. The tower was handed over to the Coast Guard in 1865. It was sold in the 1930's by the Minister for Defence (Bolton et al. 2012, 169). Martello Tower described by the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (NIAH) as a; 'Martello tower, c.1805, on a circular plan with tapered profile, having machicolation above former entrance' (NIAH Reg. No. 11324023; https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/11324023/rush-martello-tower-fingal) See attached plans of Rush Martello Tower No. 8 courtesy of the Irish Military Archives - Archival Reference Code: IE/MA/MPD/ad134124-004 Photo © Eirian Evans (cc-by-sa/2.0) DU008-015----_02 Patrick Healy Collection, https://hdl.handle.net/10599/3110, © South Dublin Libraries, Local Studies Collection, County Library, Town Centre, Tallaght, Dublin 24 Compiled by: Geraldine Stout Updated by: Christine Baker Revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 24 January 2023

From the National Monuments Service (Archaeological Survey of Ireland) record DU008-015

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Picture notes

Eirian Evans, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0
Jonjobaker, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Computer-made picture. It does not show this monument.
Computer-made picture. It does not show this playground.
Eirian Evans, Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0
jwd, Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0
David Medcalf, Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Rush Martello TowerMartello tower · 1 yd

Explorer Tom Rush Martello Tower has a red brick roof that’s falling apart, looking like it hasn’t brushed its teeth since 1805. It’s got a machicolation up top, which is fancy for 'overhang'. Ideal place to rehearse an excuse for being late.

harbour/dock/port304 yd

Explorer Tom Harbour in Rush was built around 1835 with some limestone piers that are still standing strong against the tide of time. It’s got that rugged charm that makes you feel like you’re in a movie about sailors who don’t wash their hands. Get a photo with it before it gets a better agent and charges for entry.

Water PumpMonument · 429 ydComputer-made picture

Explorer Tom Water Pump in County Dublin is an ancient machine for getting water, which seems redundant now that we have taps, but maybe it's still working overtime because the modern pipes are too lazy, so give it a little sympathy while you're there.

Hand Park Public PlaygroundChildren's playground · 506 ydComputer-made picture

Explorer Tom Hand Park Public Playground in County Dublin says yes to access but nothing else. Cheeky! I bet the seesaw can predict the weather. Show me what you discover there!

Well in RushWell · 1404 ydComputer-made picture

Explorer Tom Well in Rush is overgrown and sits at a junction, probably judging everyone who drives past it. I think it remembers the last person who dropped a coin. Tell your mates you found it first.

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Explorer Tom The Millbank has a windmill mound in Rush that's seen better days. The lower part is still standing there. Get a shot of the old stone for me!

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