Martello Tower — Balcarrick

Balcarrick Martello Tower No. 6 (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 at the end of Balcarrick Road, close to the water's edge at the north end of Donabate beach. The tower was in the charge of the Royal Artillery until at least 1830. John King rented the tower from 1896 and bought it in 1909 (Bolton et al. 2012, 163). It is a squat, cylindrical tower with a rendered finish. It has machicolation in place over the door and two string courses encircling the top. West facing door at ground level-some stone has been pulled out to accommodate metal door. Chimney and additional concrete blocks have been added to roof. Large south facing window infilled with concrete. See attached plan of Balcarrick Martello Tower No. 6 courtesy of the Irish Military Archives - Archival Reference Code: IE/MA/MPD/AD119455-003 Photo ©Jonjobaker https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:County_Dublin_-_Balcarrick_Martello_Tower_-_20190517193655.jpg DU012-008----_03 Patrick Healy Collection, https://hdl.handle.net/10599/3211, © South Dublin Libraries, Local Studies Collection, County Library, Town Centre, Tallaght, Dublin 24 See attached Taylor's 1816 Map showing the location of the Martello Tower. Taylor, J. 1816 Taylor's map of the environs of Dublin: extending 10 to 14 miles from the castle, by actual survey, on a scale of 2 inches to one mile. Compiled by Geraldine Stout Updated by: Christine Baker Revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 24 January 2023