Don’t Rush
The small coastal village of Rush is one of Dublin's best kept secrets - we explore its charms
We visit North Dublin gem
Rush or Rós Eó in Irish, translates as the Peninsula of the Yew Trees and is a small seaside town on the coast of north County Dublin. Often overshadowed by neighbouring towns such as Skerries and Malahide, Rush is a lesser-known, picture-perfect spot for visitors who are eager to experience life in a small Irish town with a strong tradition of fishing and farming.
The first point of call for visitors to Rush is the newly opened Rogerstown Park where you’ll be rewarded with spectacular views of the north Dublin coastline. In particular views of the privately-owned Lambay Island, which is also the only place in Ireland you’ll find wild wallabies. Once the site of the Balleally Landfill, Rogerstown Park is a project undertaken by Fingal County Council in an effort to restore this site and hand it back to the local community as a much sought after amenity. With environmental sustainability a priority for the council, a key focus of the project was ensuring natural remediation and biodiversity are supported at every point.
Moving on from the park, take your time to enjoy the beauty of both the north and south beaches, each with their own distinct attractions, and both within walking distance of the town. The south beach offers views of Ireland’s Eye on a clear day, while those with good eyesight are even able to see the Poolbeg Towers when the light is right. The north beach is home to conservation areas with many protected species of sea life and birds. The beach is still overlooked by the remaining caravans on the camping grounds, a summer tradition that remains priceless for many families from Dublin and beyond, who pack their bucket and spade for a week by the sea.
If history is your thing, the Drumanagh Headland is worth a visit. One of 12 remaining Martello Towers along the Dublin coastline (there are two in Rush) Drumanagh is particularly important as it holds the key to unearthing key information about Ireland’s relationship with the ancient Roman world. Finds include evidence dating back as far as the Iron Age and decorated antler combs dated to the 1st to 3rd centuries AD. The site is still being excavated today by archaeologists, much to the delight of the locals who have been invited to take part in the process and have taken up the offer with enthusiasm.
Rush was once known as the mMarket Garden of Leinster and while farming is not as abundant as it once was it's still big business in Rush. Strong smells are observed around the town depending on what’s in season at the time. The Rush Queens potatoes in the summer are waited for with baited breath and all year round the Butterly family can be found in the town selling fresh, locally grown produce!
Once you’re done exploring and have worked up an appetite, there’s only one place for lunch - The Harbour Bar. Located right on the harbour in Rush, you won’t be disappointed with the food. The chowder and seafood pie are second to none, but the weekly specials are what really keeps the locals coming back. If whiskey is your tipple of choice you won't be disappointed with the selection, tended with care by the staff. While fires in both the lounge and the bar make it hard to leave once you've picked your spot. You’d be hard pressed to get out of the Harbour Bar without having a conversation with the locals as they are inherently chatty and friendly – essentially summing up the beauty of this little town.