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| HOWTH VILLAGE AND IRELAND'S EYE, CO. DUBLIN. -The foregoing is a sketch of the small village of Howth, with its rather straggling formation and humble dwellings. Beyond it, rising boldly from the waters of Dublin Bay, on which the hamlet is situated, is the small spot of rocky island known popularly as Ireland's Eye. Howth which, until recently, used to be a mere fisher folks' village is now quite popular as a resort for sea-bathers and other seekers after health or pleasure. The island bore, in ancient times, the name of Innis-mac-Nessan-the Island of the Sons of Nessan. Antiquaries say that the name it now bears comes from the Norse, or Danish, tongue, in which "Ey" means island. Hence, Prof. Addey claims, all places having the termination of "ey" in their names, as Lambey, Anglesey, Jersy, and so on, were inhabited by the hardy sons of Denmark and Norway, who circled with fire and sword the shores of Britain and Ireland from the eighth to the eleventh century. It was almost under the shadow of the Hill of Howth, and in sight of Ireland's Eye, that they met their final overthrow, at Irish hands, in 1014. It seems a long time ago, and a great many bigger battles have been fought since then, including Hastings, Agincourt and Waterloo, but Clontarf is still remembered in Ireland as if it had been fought in our own day. |
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