An Eye that’s worth a look
QUESTION I read your Dalkey Island answer with interest and was wondering if anyone has ever lived on Ireland’s Eye?
IRELAND’S Eye, that small, 21.5-hectare island separated from the north Dublin village of Howth by a channel with fast-flowing currents, has never had a settled population.
However, on two occasions, it did have a small number of people living there. St Nessan’s monastery was founded on Ireland’s Eye in about 570 AD and a small number of monks lived there.
The monastery was noted for having the Book of the Four Gospels, otherwise known as the Garland of Howth.
After about three centuries, the monastery was moved to the mainland, in what are now the ruins of Howth Abbey. The Book of the Four Gospels was also taken across the channel separating Ireland’s Eye from Howth harbour; it’s now in the safe custody of Trinity College, Dublin.
The only other time when Ireland’s Eye had people living on it was in the early 19th century, when a series of Martello towers was built in Ireland, mostly along the east coast. They were designed to protect Ireland from invasion by Napoleon’s force – a threat that never materialised.
Three of these Martello towers were built in the Howth area; one, near the centre of Howth village, now houses Ye Olde Hurdy Gurdy Vintage Radio Museum. Another of the towers was built on Ireland’s Eye and for a number of years, a small number of military personnel were stationed on the island to man the tower.
Apart from those two instances, no-one has ever lived on Ireland’s Eye, which is home to large numbers of seabirds, especially gannets and cormorants.
The history of the island has been recorded since ancient Celtic times, when it was called Eria’s Island. Eria was a woman’s name and was sometimes confused with Erin, derived from the old Irish name for Ireland. When the Vikings arrived, they christened the island Erin’s Ey, the latter word being Norse for island. Eventually, Erin’s Ey turned into Ireland’s Eye.
The island is also known for a murder supposedly committed there in 1852. William Burke Kirwan was a well-to-do artist in Dublin, who lived at Number 11, Upper Merrion Street with his wife Sarah. Kirwan also had a mistress called Teresa Kenny, who came from Sandymount.
In September, 1852, Kirwan and his wife rented rooms in Howth for a short holiday stay. One day, the couple went to Ireland’s Eye, so he could do some sketching, and so that she could swim. Sarah was epileptic and when she was found drowned, it was assumed that her death had been caused by her epilepsy. But her body had many injuries and Kirwan was charged with the murder of his wife.
On December 10, 1852, he was convicted and sentenced to death, later commuted to life imprisonment. Kirwan was imprisoned at Spike Island in Co. Cork until 1879, when he was freed on condition he leave the country. He settled in America with his mistress and children. Many years later, Kirwan was said to have returned from America to Ireland and was reported to have been seen in Howth on several occasions, a wizened old man.
These days, during the summer, people can access Ireland’s Eye by using one of the two boat services that sail between Howth harbour and the island. Many people go to the island to have picnics, while it is also popular with rock climbing enthusiasts.
However, Ireland’s Eye remains totally uninhabited – although there are many thousands of seabirds living there. Robert O’Brien, Galway.
QUESTION Sergio Aguero has become Manchester City’s alltime highest goal scorer. What became of Tommy Johnson, who scored 38 league goals for City in the 1929 season?
TOMMY ‘Tosh’ Johnson played centre-forward for City from May 1918 to March 1930, scoring 166 goals in 354 senior appearances, including 38 in the English First Division in 1928-29. Born in Dalton-on-Furness, Lancashire, on August 19, 1901, he played local club soccer until joining City after a successful trial.
On leaving Maine Road he signed for Everton for £6,000. He went on to score for Everton against City in the 1933 FA Cup final, one of his 64 goals in 159 games for the Goodison Park club. In fact, he helped both City (1927-28) and Everton (1930-31) win the Second Division championship.
Capped five times by England (1926-32), he also went on to help Liverpool (eight goals in 39 appearances) and Darwen before retiring in May 1937.
After his soccer career, he became a publican.
He enjoyed cricket, played golf regularly and was also pretty useful at snooker, as well as being a boxing enthusiast, attending many major fights.
He lived in Manchester until his death in the city’s Monsall Hospital on January 29, 1973, aged 71.
Tony Matthews, author of Manchester City: Player By Player, Almeria, Spain.