St Catherine's Church, Portrane/Stella's Castle

The ruins of St Catherine's are to be found near the gates of St Ita's Hospital. The church dates back to the Norman days. The church was built in the early 12^th century. The lands of Portrane were granted to Christ Church Cathedral by Sitric the Dane in 1038 A.D. This grant was confirmed by St Laurence O Toole and is mentioned, among other possessions of Christ Church, by Pope Urban in 1186. It was once the property of the Nuns of Grace Dieu who are said to have moved there when their monastery was suppressed (1538) and they lived at Portrane until the end of the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1. High up on two sides of the tower can be seen two ugly faces. This was a very ancient custom from pre-christian times and was supposed to frighten off evil spirits.

Near the church is a Norman Peel Tower which is often called "Stella Castle" because it is said that Dean Swift's lady friend, Stella, lived there for a time in 1712. It is also said that Dean Swift visited her here.

It is interesting to note that Portrane and Donabate were distinct parishes. For example, Ambrose Mooney was living in Aungier Street Dublin in 1704 and yet was registered as Parish Priest of Portrane. He was ordained by St Oliver Plunkett in Dundalk in 1672 (during the Penal Times in Ireland) .

It is also known that there were many other churches in the Portrane area including a monastic settlement at the Tower Portrane and also a chapel and Holy well in the Burrow associated with St Mochuda. The Holy Well is still here today.

Evan's Round Tower

In the grounds of St Ita's Hospital, stands a one hundred foot round tower. It was built by Sophie Evans in memory of her husband, George Evans M.P. who died in 1844. The door to to the Tower stands 15 feet from the ground (See Photo by Fr Aquinas T. Duffy). Originally there was also a marble bust of George Evans inside the Tower with the inscription "To the memory of George Evans M.P., an honest man, firm friend and true patriot. This monument a rivival of the ancient architecture of his country, is respectfully, affectionately and mournfully dedicated". This bust was later taken by Professor Pritchard Evans of Oxford University.

Sophie Evans (nee Parnell) was the grand auunt of Charles Stewart Parnell M.P. She also contributed to the building of the two catholic schools in the parish. To this day, each year a small amount of money (£20) is given towards the cleaning of the schools from the Sophie Evans Trust fund. She died in Paris but her remains were brought back to Portrane and she is buried alongside her husband at St Catherine's Cemetery Portrane.

The Caves at Tower Bay

At the very end of the Portrane Road, is the scenic Tower Bay Cove. There are many caves along this shore line and these were used by smugglers in the past. Indeed it said that there was an underground tunnel linking one of the caves for two miles to Turvey House in Donabate.

Newbridge House Donabate

This beautiful old mansion style house is open to the public. It was built by Archbishop Cobbe after he purchased lands at Donabate in 1736. There is eveidence that a house alos existed on the property in the early 1700's. The house was owned by the Cobb Family but is now maintained by the State. Guided tours of the house take place at regular intervals. The film "The Spy who came in from the cold" was filmed here. The house is situated on 300 acres of parkland which also contains another Norman Peel Tower (Lanistown Castle).

Martello Tower Balcarrick Donabate

At the entrance to the long sandy corballis beach, beside the Dunes Hotel, is a Martello tower. The tower goes back to the time of the Napoleonic wars. They were built in Ireland around 1804 for the purposes of defence. This particular tower was Tower No 6 and was built in September 1830.

For further information on the history of Fingal and places of interest see:
"Fingall-Land of Strangers" by Bernadette Marks and "Fair Fingall" by Patrick Archer.