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Dublin: Howth Cliffs and Ireland's Eye Boat Cruise
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The St Bridget departs from Howth’s West Pier on a relaxed 60-minute loop, tracing a route that gives you the full measure of Dublin Bay’s northern coastline. You head north first, opening up long views towards Malahide and Lambay Island, before swinging south-east along the dramatic cliff face that defines Howth Head. From the water you get the scale of these cliffs properly - they look very different down here than from the top of the walking paths above.
The trip’s centrepiece is Ireland’s Eye, the small uninhabited island that sits just offshore and is already visible from the harbour before you set out. What looks like a modest rocky outcrop from the village turns out to be a designated Special Protection Area and Special Area of Conservation - part of the Dublin Bay Biosphere - with serious wildlife credentials. Grey seals haul out on the lower rocks year-round, and the cliffs support breeding colonies of guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes and cormorants. Puffins are there in smaller numbers during summer. Seeing all of this from water level, at close range, is genuinely different from anything you’d get from the cliff path above.
The St Bridget carries an on-board bar with coffee and wine. Settle on deck with a drink and let the coastline do its thing. The cruise returns to the West Pier in Howth Harbour, leaving you well-placed to explore the village on foot.
The departure pontoon is at the end of Howth’s West Pier, opposite AQUA restaurant - a useful landmark when you’re navigating the harbour for the first time. Total time on the water is approximately 60 minutes. Free cancellation is available, so you can book ahead without committing if you’re watching the forecast. It’s one of the most satisfying half-days you can build around dublin’s coastline, especially combined with a wander through the village before or after.
Come by DART and skip the parking search entirely. The DART from Connolly, Tara Street or Pearse Street takes roughly 25 to 30 minutes to Howth. Get off at Howth station, not Howth Junction - that’s a stop before and leaves you on the wrong hill. A day return runs about €6.25 and drops you right at the harbour, a short walk from the West Pier.
Dress for the open water, not the weather app. Even on a warm Dublin day, the Irish Sea off Howth Head has a persistent chill once the boat picks up speed. A light windproof layer is the difference between enjoying the deck and retreating inside.
Arrive a few minutes before departure. The West Pier is easy to locate from the village, but you’ll want a moment to get your bearings at the pontoon. The St Bridget keeps to its timetable.
Beshoff Bros for lunch afterwards is a very sound plan. You’ll find them at 12 Harbour Road, right on the quayside - been serving Howth’s fish and chips long enough that the queue is almost part of the appeal. Take your order to the pier wall for the full effect.
Ireland’s Eye is genuinely better from the water than from above. The seal colony hauling out on the rocks and the dense bird colonies on the cliffs are essentially invisible from the walking paths. The cruise puts you at exactly the right angle to see what’s actually there.