Rush, Dublin
Encyclopedia
Rush is a small seaside town, with a population of 8,280, situated between the communities of Skerries
and Lusk
in Fingal
, Ireland
. There has been a large population increase since the previous census
in 2002, comprising mostly people from north Dublin.
Rush was once viewed as the heart of market gardening
in Leinster
and many people were employed in agriculture. Nowadays, however, horticulture and agriculture have been superseded by Rush's increasing role as a commuter belt town.
times. Flint tools have been found in the area and there is a passage grave
and cist
located off the Skerries Road on the headland to the north of North Beach.
is located on the headland of Drumanagh
, north of Rush. It is surrounded on three sides by cliffs and a large rampart
encloses the fourth side. The site has not been excavated, but it is thought that it dates back to the Bronze
or Iron age
.
An article in The Sunday Times
in January 1996 claimed that Roman coins, broaches and copper ingots were found at the site and that there was "clear evidence...of a Roman coastal fort of up to 40 acres...a significant Roman
beachhead, built to support military campaigns in the 1st and 2nd centuries A.D.". This claim is disputed by many Archaeologists who see this simply as evidence of trade between Ireland and the Romans. The aritfacts were illegally excavated after being discovered with metal detectors, so they have not been available for further study.
According to Barry Raftery of UCD
Drumanagh "may well have been (and probably was) a major trading station linking Ireland and Roman Britain. It was probably populated with a mixture of Irish, Romano-British, Gallo-Roman, and others, doubtless including a few genuine Romans as well". Legal disputes with the land owner have meant that further excavations have not been carried out to be able to settle the debate.
The ruins of the original St. Maur's chapel lie in Whitestown cemetery, about a mile west of the centre of Rush. These date back to Anglo-Norman times and are named after Saint Maurus, a followers of St. Benedict. There is a legend connected with these ruins that some French navigators, who may have been crusaders
, got caught in a storm. They made a vow to St. Maur
that if they survived they would build a chapel in his honour on the first point of land they reached. They subsequently landed at Rogerstown and built a chapel there in his honour. The area became known as Knightstown and later Whitestown.
In 1776, a church was built closer to the centre of Rush to replace the old chapel. It was also dedicated to St. Maur and is one of the earliest examples of a penal
Catholic
church in the Fingal
area. It now houses Rush library.
which is all that remains of Kenure House, a large mansion which had many acres of an estate around it. The name is an anglicised version of "Ceann Iubhair", meaning headland of the yew trees. There is a nearby ruined church which was dedicated to St. Damnan and also nearby are the ruins of a small Norman
keep
.
Kenure formed part of the ancient manor of Rush, which was vested in the Earls and Dukes of Ormonde in 1666. They held on to their lands in Rush until 1714 until the Echlins
took over. They remained there until 1780. Elizabeth Echlin married Francis Palmer of Castlelacken Co Mayo. Colonel R H Fenwick-Palmer, the last of the line, sold the estate to the Irish Land Commission in 1964. The portico of Kenure House was added to the house in and about 1840, by George Papworth
, an English architect who practised in Ireland during the 19th century. Many films were made on location at the great house. These include The Face of Fu Manchu
(1965), Ten Little Indians
and Jules Verne's Rocket to the Moon
(aka Rocket to the Moon) (1967). The house fell into disrepair and was demolished in 1978, when the housing estate Saint Catherines was built on part of the former estate.
in the 18th century after the British imposed excise duties on a large number of goods. It was home to the famed smuggler, Jack Connor (aka Jack the Batchelor and also Jack Field) and the birthplace of the pirate Luke Ryan.
Jack Connor was a popular Robin hood
type figure who is mentioned in an old ballad
:
The lover may sigh
The courtier may lie
And Croesus his treasure amass,
All these joys are but vain
They are blended with pain
I'll stand behind Field and my glass
Jack operated out of the "Smugglers Cave" between Loughshinny
and Skerries
. He died in 1772 and was buried in Kenure cemetery.
Luke Ryan was born in Rush in 1750. He immigrated to France when he was young and became a Lieutenant in Dillon's Irish Regiment
. He later became a smuggler after returning to Rush. He was commissioned by Benjamin Franklin
to run a privateer
, The Black prince, to plunder English ships. He accumulated great wealth from his smuggling, but it was taken from him by the French. He eventually died in a debtors prison in 1789 owing a debt of 200 pounds.
GAA club, Rush Athletic F.C. Rush Sailing Club, Rush Cricket Club, Rush Fight Academy and the Benny Murphy darts tournament.
Cardiff City and Ireland footballer Stephen McPhail
is from Rush and played for Rush Athletic in his junior years. There is also a number of players playing in the League of Ireland from the area.
Rush has two sandy beaches, called the North Beach and South Beach, which are separated by the rocky head of the peninsula and a small tidal harbour, Rush Harbour. The peninsula is the closest point of land to the privately owned Lambay Island
. The prevailing winds and tides make Rush South Beach an extremely popular kitesurfing
location while its sand and dunes attract many visitors. Close to the south shore is 9 hole golf links. In the past, Rush had many caravan sites which were popular for summer holidays. It still has some caravan sites close to its beaches.
Rush sailing club is also located near the south shore and operates from a second harbour, Rogerstown harbour, situated on the Rogerstown Estuary
. This harbour is also used by a supply boat, The Shamrock, which provides supplies for the inhabitants of Lambay island.
, opened on 25 May 1844, is served by Commuter (formerly "Arrow") suburban trains between Dublin and Drogheda
. As this is situated about 3 km from the town, many find it impractical to walk to the station.To cope with this problem Dublin Bus services have improved in recent years with several bus lines,the 33,33 A and 33 X and also many bus stops throughout the town.Many people find this a great convenience as it runs all the way to Lower Abbey Street and back to Balbriggan.And it makes the railway station more practical as its easy to get to on bus.
, Sicily
, Italy
Skerries, Dublin
-The 20th century and today:Historically, Skerries has been a thriving fishing port and a major center of hand embroidery. In the late 20th century, it became a resort town , and another suburb for commuters to the city of Dublin....
and Lusk
Lusk, County Dublin
Lusk is a village in Ireland located north of Dublin city centre. The name "Lusk" is said to date back to St. MacCullin, who founded a church there c.450. Oral tradition suggests MacCullin may have either lived in or been buried in a cave and that the name "Lusk" derives from an old Gaelic word...
in Fingal
Fingal
Fingal is a county in Ireland. It is one of three smaller counties into which County Dublin was divided in 1994. With its county seat located in Swords, it has a population of 239,992 according to the 2006 census...
, Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. There has been a large population increase since the previous census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
in 2002, comprising mostly people from north Dublin.
Rush was once viewed as the heart of market gardening
Market gardening
A market garden is the relatively small-scale production of fruits, vegetables and flowers as cash crops, frequently sold directly to consumers and restaurants. It is distinguishable from other types of farming by the diversity of crops grown on a small area of land, typically, from under one acre ...
in Leinster
Leinster
Leinster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the east of Ireland. It comprises the ancient Kingdoms of Mide, Osraige and Leinster. Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the historic fifths of Leinster and Mide gradually merged, mainly due to the impact of the Pale, which straddled...
and many people were employed in agriculture. Nowadays, however, horticulture and agriculture have been superseded by Rush's increasing role as a commuter belt town.
History and historic features
There is evidence of settlement in the Rush area dating back to NeolithicNeolithic
The Neolithic Age, Era, or Period, or New Stone Age, was a period in the development of human technology, beginning about 9500 BC in some parts of the Middle East, and later in other parts of the world. It is traditionally considered as the last part of the Stone Age...
times. Flint tools have been found in the area and there is a passage grave
Passage grave
thumb|250px|right|A simple passage tomb in [[Carrowmore]] near [[Sligo]] in IrelandA passage grave or passage tomb consists of a narrow passage made of large stones and one or multiple burial chambers covered in earth or stone. Megaliths are usually used in the construction of passage tombs, which...
and cist
Cist
A cist from ) is a small stone-built coffin-like box or ossuary used to hold the bodies of the dead. Examples can be found across Europe and in the Middle East....
located off the Skerries Road on the headland to the north of North Beach.
Drumanagh
A giant promontory fortPromontory fort
A promontory fort is a defensive structure located above a steep cliff, often only connected to the mainland by a small neck of land, thus utilizing the topography to reduce the ramparts needed. Although their dating is problematic, most seem to date to the Iron Age...
is located on the headland of Drumanagh
Drumanagh
Drumanagh is a headland 20 km north of Dublin, Ireland. It features a 19th century Martello tower and a large iron age promontory fort which has produced Roman artefacts....
, north of Rush. It is surrounded on three sides by cliffs and a large rampart
Defensive wall
A defensive wall is a fortification used to protect a city or settlement from potential aggressors. In ancient to modern times, they were used to enclose settlements...
encloses the fourth side. The site has not been excavated, but it is thought that it dates back to the Bronze
Bronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
or Iron age
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
.
An article in The Sunday Times
The Sunday Times
The Sunday Times is a British Sunday newspaper.The Sunday Times may also refer to:*The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times...
in January 1996 claimed that Roman coins, broaches and copper ingots were found at the site and that there was "clear evidence...of a Roman coastal fort of up to 40 acres...a significant Roman
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
beachhead, built to support military campaigns in the 1st and 2nd centuries A.D.". This claim is disputed by many Archaeologists who see this simply as evidence of trade between Ireland and the Romans. The aritfacts were illegally excavated after being discovered with metal detectors, so they have not been available for further study.
According to Barry Raftery of UCD
University College Dublin
University College Dublin ) - formally known as University College Dublin - National University of Ireland, Dublin is the Republic of Ireland's largest, and Ireland's second largest, university, with over 1,300 faculty and 17,000 students...
Drumanagh "may well have been (and probably was) a major trading station linking Ireland and Roman Britain. It was probably populated with a mixture of Irish, Romano-British, Gallo-Roman, and others, doubtless including a few genuine Romans as well". Legal disputes with the land owner have meant that further excavations have not been carried out to be able to settle the debate.
Saint Maur's church
Crusaders
The Crusaders are a New Zealand professional rugby union team based in Christchurch that competes in the Super Rugby competition. They are the most successful team in Super Rugby history with seven titles...
, got caught in a storm. They made a vow to St. Maur
Saint Maurus
Saint Maurus was the first disciple of St. Benedict of Nursia . He is mentioned in St. Gregory the Great's biography of the latter as the first oblate; offered to the monastery by his noble Roman parents as a young boy to be brought up in the monastic life. Four stories involving Maurus recounted...
that if they survived they would build a chapel in his honour on the first point of land they reached. They subsequently landed at Rogerstown and built a chapel there in his honour. The area became known as Knightstown and later Whitestown.
In 1776, a church was built closer to the centre of Rush to replace the old chapel. It was also dedicated to St. Maur and is one of the earliest examples of a penal
Penal Laws (Ireland)
The term Penal Laws in Ireland were a series of laws imposed under English and later British rule that sought to discriminate against Roman Catholics and Protestant dissenters in favour of members of the established Church of Ireland....
Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
church in the Fingal
Fingal
Fingal is a county in Ireland. It is one of three smaller counties into which County Dublin was divided in 1994. With its county seat located in Swords, it has a population of 239,992 according to the 2006 census...
area. It now houses Rush library.
Kenure House
Two miles north from the centre of Rush village lies a magnificent porticoPortico
A portico is a porch leading to the entrance of a building, or extended as a colonnade, with a roof structure over a walkway, supported by columns or enclosed by walls...
which is all that remains of Kenure House, a large mansion which had many acres of an estate around it. The name is an anglicised version of "Ceann Iubhair", meaning headland of the yew trees. There is a nearby ruined church which was dedicated to St. Damnan and also nearby are the ruins of a small Norman
Norman architecture
About|Romanesque architecture, primarily English|other buildings in Normandy|Architecture of Normandy.File:Durham Cathedral. Nave by James Valentine c.1890.jpg|thumb|200px|The nave of Durham Cathedral demonstrates the characteristic round arched style, though use of shallow pointed arches above the...
keep
Keep
A keep is a type of fortified tower built within castles during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars have debated the scope of the word keep, but usually consider it to refer to large towers in castles that were fortified residences, used as a refuge of last resort should the rest of the...
.
Kenure formed part of the ancient manor of Rush, which was vested in the Earls and Dukes of Ormonde in 1666. They held on to their lands in Rush until 1714 until the Echlins
Echlin Baronets
The Echlin Baronetcy, of Clonagh in the County of Kildare, was a title in the Baronetage of Ireland. It was created on 17 October 1721 for Sir Henry Echlin, 2nd Baron of the Court of the Exchequer in Ireland. He was the grandson of the Right Reverend Henry Echlin, Bishop of Down and Connor between...
took over. They remained there until 1780. Elizabeth Echlin married Francis Palmer of Castlelacken Co Mayo. Colonel R H Fenwick-Palmer, the last of the line, sold the estate to the Irish Land Commission in 1964. The portico of Kenure House was added to the house in and about 1840, by George Papworth
George Papworth
George Papworth was an English architect who practised mainly in Ireland during the nineteenth century.-Early life and career:Papworth was born in London in 1781 and was the third son of the English stuccoist John Papworth...
, an English architect who practised in Ireland during the 19th century. Many films were made on location at the great house. These include The Face of Fu Manchu
The Face of Fu Manchu
The Face of Fu Manchu is a 1965 British/German Constantin Film co-production thriller based on the character of Fu Manchu, the Chinese villain created by Sax Rohmer...
(1965), Ten Little Indians
Ten Little Indians (1965 film)
The 1965 version of Ten Little Indians is the second film version of Agatha Christie's detective novel And Then There Were None . Although its background story is the same as the 1945 version , this one takes place on an isolated snowy mountain...
and Jules Verne's Rocket to the Moon
Jules Verne's Rocket to the Moon
Jules Verne's Rocket to the Moon is a 1967 British science fiction comedy film directed by Don Sharp and produced by Harry Alan Towers...
(aka Rocket to the Moon) (1967). The house fell into disrepair and was demolished in 1978, when the housing estate Saint Catherines was built on part of the former estate.
Smuggling
Rush was notorious for smugglingSmuggling
Smuggling is the clandestine transportation of goods or persons, such as out of a building, into a prison, or across an international border, in violation of applicable laws or other regulations.There are various motivations to smuggle...
in the 18th century after the British imposed excise duties on a large number of goods. It was home to the famed smuggler, Jack Connor (aka Jack the Batchelor and also Jack Field) and the birthplace of the pirate Luke Ryan.
Jack Connor was a popular Robin hood
Robin Hood
Robin Hood was a heroic outlaw in English folklore. A highly skilled archer and swordsman, he is known for "robbing from the rich and giving to the poor", assisted by a group of fellow outlaws known as his "Merry Men". Traditionally, Robin Hood and his men are depicted wearing Lincoln green clothes....
type figure who is mentioned in an old ballad
Ballad
A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads were particularly characteristic of British and Irish popular poetry and song from the later medieval period until the 19th century and used extensively across Europe and later the Americas, Australia and North Africa. Many...
:
The lover may sigh
The courtier may lie
And Croesus his treasure amass,
All these joys are but vain
They are blended with pain
I'll stand behind Field and my glass
Jack operated out of the "Smugglers Cave" between Loughshinny
Loughshinny
Loughshinny is a small village in Fingal, County Dublin, Ireland. The seaside village is between Skerries and Rush. Loughshinny's more famous landmarks are the Martello Tower and some unusual rock formations visible on some of the many coastal walks in the area. Loughshinny's most famous resident...
and Skerries
Skerries, Dublin
-The 20th century and today:Historically, Skerries has been a thriving fishing port and a major center of hand embroidery. In the late 20th century, it became a resort town , and another suburb for commuters to the city of Dublin....
. He died in 1772 and was buried in Kenure cemetery.
Luke Ryan was born in Rush in 1750. He immigrated to France when he was young and became a Lieutenant in Dillon's Irish Regiment
Irish Brigade (French)
The Irish Brigade was a brigade in the French army composed of Irish exiles, led by Robert Reid. It was formed in May 1690 when five Jacobite regiments were sent from Ireland to France in return for a larger force of French infantry who were sent to fight in the Williamite war in Ireland...
. He later became a smuggler after returning to Rush. He was commissioned by Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin
Dr. Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. A noted polymath, Franklin was a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, musician, inventor, satirist, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat...
to run a privateer
Privateer
A privateer is a private person or ship authorized by a government by letters of marque to attack foreign shipping during wartime. Privateering was a way of mobilizing armed ships and sailors without having to spend public money or commit naval officers...
, The Black prince, to plunder English ships. He accumulated great wealth from his smuggling, but it was taken from him by the French. He eventually died in a debtors prison in 1789 owing a debt of 200 pounds.
Martello towers
The Martello towers on the headland near the North Beach and at Drumanaugh were built in 1803 as a defence against Napoleon.Sports
Rush is home to several sports clubs, including Naomh MaurNaomh Maur
Naomh Maur is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in Rush, Dublin, Ireland. The club was founded in 1928.-History:Naomh Maur G.A.A. club is based in Rush, Fingal, North County Dublin. Rush is a farming and market gardening area, seventeen miles from Dublin City. Football was played in the area...
GAA club, Rush Athletic F.C. Rush Sailing Club, Rush Cricket Club, Rush Fight Academy and the Benny Murphy darts tournament.
Cardiff City and Ireland footballer Stephen McPhail
Stephen McPhail
Stephen John Paul McPhail is an Irish footballer who plays for Cardiff City. He has won 10 caps for his country, the Republic of Ireland, and scored one goal...
is from Rush and played for Rush Athletic in his junior years. There is also a number of players playing in the League of Ireland from the area.
Amenities
Rush has several pubs and clubs together with a small number of restaurants. The local Millbank Theatre, home to Rush Dramatic Society is respected for its quality plays and dramas. Rush Musical Society is well respected for its annual productions also.Rush has two sandy beaches, called the North Beach and South Beach, which are separated by the rocky head of the peninsula and a small tidal harbour, Rush Harbour. The peninsula is the closest point of land to the privately owned Lambay Island
Lambay Island
Lambay lies off the coast of Fingal / north County Dublin, Ireland in the Irish Sea. It is located north of Ireland's Eye at and is the easternmost point of the Republic of Ireland...
. The prevailing winds and tides make Rush South Beach an extremely popular kitesurfing
Kitesurfing
Kitesurfing or Kiteboarding is an adventure surface water sport that has been described as combining wakeboarding, windsurfing, surfing, paragliding, and gymnastics into one extreme sport. Kitesurfing harnesses the power of the wind to propel a rider across the water on a small surfboard or a...
location while its sand and dunes attract many visitors. Close to the south shore is 9 hole golf links. In the past, Rush had many caravan sites which were popular for summer holidays. It still has some caravan sites close to its beaches.
Rush sailing club is also located near the south shore and operates from a second harbour, Rogerstown harbour, situated on the Rogerstown Estuary
Rogerstown Estuary
Rogerstown Estuary is an estuary in Ireland. It is situated just north of the Donabate-Portrane peninsula, and also south of Rush, on Ireland's east coast about north of Dublin....
. This harbour is also used by a supply boat, The Shamrock, which provides supplies for the inhabitants of Lambay island.
Transport
Rush and Lusk railway stationRush and Lusk railway station
Rush and Lusk railway station serves the towns of Rush and Lusk in County Dublin, Ireland.The station opened on 25 May 1844. The station was also featured in one scene in the biopic, Michael Collins.- External links :*...
, opened on 25 May 1844, is served by Commuter (formerly "Arrow") suburban trains between Dublin and Drogheda
Drogheda
Drogheda is an industrial and port town in County Louth on the east coast of Ireland, 56 km north of Dublin. It is the last bridging point on the River Boyne before it enters the Irish Sea....
. As this is situated about 3 km from the town, many find it impractical to walk to the station.To cope with this problem Dublin Bus services have improved in recent years with several bus lines,the 33,33 A and 33 X and also many bus stops throughout the town.Many people find this a great convenience as it runs all the way to Lower Abbey Street and back to Balbriggan.And it makes the railway station more practical as its easy to get to on bus.
Twinning
Rush is twinned with the following place: San Mauro CastelverdeSan Mauro Castelverde
San Mauro Castelverde is a comune in the province of Palermo in Sicily. As of 2011 San Mauro Castelverde had an estimated population of 1,896....
, Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
See also
- List of towns and villages in Ireland