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Balbriggan Martello Tower No. 12 (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 on a slight promontory, just north of Balbriggan town. Area to west and south landscaped into park. It was built in 1805 'for the defence of the Pier and Cove at Balbriggan' (Bolton et al. 2012, 180). It was manned with a full complement of Royal Artillerymen until the end of the Napoleonic Wars , after which it was manned by a local invalid Gunner (ibid). This is a squat tower with a base batter. Doorway from first floor is inaccessible. There are corbels over entrance and musket hole pairs either side of doorway. Recess for canon is visible on west side. Central parapet is damaged. A photograph from the Valentine collection dated sometime between 1929 and 1950 shows the tower with parapet, render, door and window opening, flagstaff and chimney. The parapet was dismantled and the stone is alleged to have been used in the construction of Nos. 67-72 Drogheda Street, Balbriggan (ibid). Manuscript of 1804 refers to the Martello tower being built on 'part of an old Danish fort' (DU002-017----).
See attached plans of Balbriggan Martello Tower No. 12 courtesy of the Irish Military Archives - Archival Reference Code: IE/MA/MPD/ad134124-007 & IE/MA/MPD/ad134124-010
Photo © Alan Reid (cc-by-sa/2.0)
Photo © Declan Geraghty https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Martello_Tower_at_Balbriggan.jpg
Photo © Jonjobaker https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:County_Dublin_-_Tankardstown_Martello_Tower_-_20190706184003.jpg
Photo © Offdaw https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Balbriggan_Martello_Tower_Sep2015.jpg
Photo © Jonjobaker https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:County_Dublin_-_Tankardstown_Martello_Tower_-_20190706175045.jpg
Compiled by : Geraldine Stout
Update by: Christine Baker
Revised by: Caimin O'Brien
Date of revised upload: 24 January 2023
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