Sailing inyourfootsteps.com

4°C

Swell today

Direction SSE, height 1.0 metres, period 0.0 seconds, significant wave height of 1.6 metres.

Haven position?

53° 24.250' N, 006° 4.600' W

Where is that position?

This is in the two metre contour off the landing beach where you can feal your way into a suitable depth.

What are the initial fixes?

The following waypoints will set up a final approach:

(i) North approach to Carrigeen Bay initial fix
53° 24.600' N, 006° 4.800' W
This waypoint is half a mile northeast of the anchorage on the approach to the sound to facilitate an approach to Irelands Eye from the North.

(ii) South approach to Carrigeen Bay initial fix
53° 23.727' N, 006° 3.593' W
This is the position of the Howth Buoy - Starboard hand F1.G 5 sec position: This buoy is the first marker for the channel into Howth Sound.

Please note: Initial fixes only set up their listed targets. Do not plan to sail directly between initial fixes as a routing sequence.

What is the story here?

Ireland’s Eye is a small uninhabited and rocky island that resides one mile north of Howth Harbour to the north of Dublin Bay. Carrigeen Bay resides the on west side of the island.

This is a tolerable anchorage that you would use in settled conditions to land upon Ireland’s Eye. Carrigeen Bay should be avoided in any unsettled weather conditions and particularly after strong east or southeast conditions that cause a swell to run in the sound.

The anchorage may be approached from the seaward to the east between the Howth Peninsula and Irelands Eye or from the North. Access is straightforward in each case.

Please note that in any unsettled weather conditions go to Howth contacting Howth Marina prior to arrival so that a berth may be allocated.

Why visit here?

Ireland's Eye (Irish: Inis Mac Neasáin) is an interesting island with an abundance of wildlife and spectacular scenery for the visiting yachtsman.

The rugged island has a registered area of 21.5 hectares (53 acres) that comprises of the main island, plus a range of rocks and an islet called ‘Thulla’ to the south. The most spectacular feature is the huge freestanding rock called "the Stack", at the northeastern corner of the island on the opposite side to Carrigeen Bay.

The island is host to a wide array of wildlife including guillemots, terns, gannets, razorbills, gulls plus in the surrounding waters and outcrops you will find cormorants, puffins and grey seals in abundance.

In Celtic times it was called Eria's Island. Eria was a woman's name and this became confused with Erin, a derivation of Éireann, the Irish name for Ireland. Later the Vikings substituted Ey, their Norse equivalent for Island, and so it acquired the name Erin's Ey and ultimately Ireland's Eye.

The Martello Tower that you see whilst anchoring can be visited. In addition there are the remnants of an 8th century church inland from the beach at Carrigeen Bay. This was the historic parish church for Howth until in recent centuries a more convenient church was established in the village.

The island of Ireland's Eye, along with Lambay Island part of the Howth Estate, is a Special Area of Conservation. Although access is not controlled, it is private property. Please do exercise care not to distress bird life during your visit and if you plan to rock climb please do so in late summer.

How to get in?

Northern Approach:
If approaching from the North identify ‘The Steer’ on the north-western most point of Ireland’s Eye, close north of the Martello tower.

Ireland’s Eye Martello tower - position: 53° 24.500 N, 6° 04.200W

From the northern initial fix come straight down to the anchorage. Keep two hundred metres to the northwest of the coast of the island at this point as although the island is steep-to there are a couple of offlying dangers. A rock dries to a height of two metres approximately one hundred metres north east of ‘The Steer’ plus there is a sunken rock close to the west of the steer.

From there proceed through Howth Sound between Baldoyle Spit and Ireland’s Eye to the waypoint as described above.

Southeaster Approach:
The Harbour may be approached from the seaward to the east or south-around Irelands Eye. This eastern access between Ireland’s Eye and Howth is very clear cut; simply follow the buoys in keeping all marks to starboard. The first is Rowan Rocks East cardinal buoy, off SE of Irelands Eye, then Howth Buoy starboard hand F1.G 5 sec, to the south of Irelands Eye, and finally South Rowan Buoy Q.G. starboard hand (in the sound North of harbour entrance).

Detailed positions are as follows:
Rowan Rocks buoy - E cardinal Q - (3) 10 sec position: 53° 23.877’N, 006° 03.269’W
Howth Buoy - Starboard hand F1.G 5 sec position: 53° 23.727’N, 006° 03.593’W
South Rowan Buoy - Starboard Hand Q.G position: 53° 23.790’N, 006° 03.941’W

Once clear of South Rowan turn to starboard and proceed through Howth Sound between Baldoyle Spit and Ireland’s Eye. Follow the two metre contour to the waypoint that lies off a sandy beach to the south of the Martello Tower.


Depending on your vessels draft find a location to anchor in sand. If you intend a short visit to the island you may wish to take advantage of a rising tide to make the dingy ride to the shore shorter by coming in closer.

What are the tides here?

Today's Dover tides — High waters: 11:11, 23:32, Low waters: 06:21, 18:43 ^{From Tide Times}

Dover + 0025, Dublin (North Wall) -0006, mean level 2.4
MHWS 4.1m MHWN 3.3m MLWN 1.3m MLWS 0.5m

Tidal direction in Howth Sound – in line with channel direction:
Dover +0500, Dublin +0430, NW going, achieving 2 knots
Dover -0100, Dublin -0130, SE going, achieving 2 knots

The latest monthly Dover Tides and Cobh Tides courtesy of the National Environmental Research Council. Printable monthly tides for Dublin, Dunmore, Cobh, Galway, Belfast are available from the ISA.

The national weather forecast, Met Éireann and BBC shipping forecasts, plus a very simplified Leinster tourist outlook. From an Atlantic perspective a 24 hour North Atlantic synoptic chart that you may ‘right click’ and save to your hard disk. Met Éireann’s Eastern Atlantic chart and the BBC’s surface area forecast plus visible satellite images for Ireland and Northeast Atlantic from Met Éireann. Wind observations, XC UK & Ireland, Windguru wind & wave reports, and Windfinder where you can determine a forecast time. Coastal radio stations (VHF Channel) Weather forecast at 0103 and thence every 3 hours updated every sixth. Carlingford 04, Dublin 83, Wicklow Head 02, Rosslare 23 and Mine Head 83. Radio broadcasts on RTE 1 (89.1FM) 0603, 1253, 1655 and 2355.

A free tidal range prediction application for windows, a simple tide monitor plus the rule of twelfths are available in inyourfootsteps.com shared ‘experience’.

What facilities are available?

There are no facilities or water available on Ireland’s Eye.

What emergency contacts are there?

Dublin Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC) VHF Ch 83 covers the area from Carlingford Lough to Youghal. Carlingford (04), Wicklow Head (02), Rosslare (23) and Mine Head (83) provide relay stations. Coastguard Radio is always called on a working channel. Emergencies are worked on 16, 67 and working channel.

Alternatively, or if ashore, phone 999 or 121 (free) and ask for ‘Marine Rescue’. Gardai (police), Fire and Rescue are also available on this number. Dublin (MRSC) may be contacted directly on +353 1 662 0922/3

Other useful contacts in this area:
Dublin Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC)
VHF Ch 83, with relay aerials at Carlingford (04), Wicklow Head (02), Rosslare (23) and Mine Head (83). CGR is always called on a working channel. Emergencies are worked on 16, 67 and working channel. Alternatively phone 999 (free) Emergency Gardai (police) / Fire / Rescue.

Contact Harbour Master's Office: Captain Raja Maitra VHF Ch 16/11 when manned
Tel: +353 1 8322252 and +353 86 3814926 at most times (office situated Northern End of Auction Hall).
The Marina Office maintains a 24 hour listening watch on Ch M (37A) and Ch 80; Tel: +353 1 83292777

Any security concerns?

Never an issue known to have occurred off Ireland’s Eye. You are most likely to be alone anchored there.

What navigational resources are available for this area?

British Admiralty 1411 ‘’Irish Sea - Western Part’, Scale of 200,000:1, 1415 ‘Dublin Bay’ scale of 1:25,000 including Howth at a scale of 1:7,500 and 1468 ‘Arklow to the Skerries Islands’ Scale of 100,000:1, Imray C61 St Georges Channel, C62 Irish Sea (overlap at Dublin Bay) and Discovery Ordinance Survey map 50 covers this area. ’Sailing Directions - Irish Cruising Club - East & North Coasts of Ireland’ provides an excellent pilot for this area.

With thanks to:

Charlie Kavanagh - ISA/RYA Yachtmaster Instructor/Examiner - navigation and sail training available - details here: http://www.sailsoutheast.com/

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