Portmarnock facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Portmarnock
Port Mearnóg
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Suburb (village core)
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Martello Tower, Portmarnock
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 Portmarnock
Location in Ireland
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| Country | Ireland |
| Province | Leinster |
| County | Fingal |
| Local authority | Fingal County Council |
| Elevation | 3 m (10 ft) |
| Population
(2011)
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| • Urban | circa 20,000 |
Portmarnock (which in Irish is Port Mearnóg) is a lovely town located right by the sea in Fingal, Ireland. It's known for its beautiful beaches and two amazing golf courses.
This coastal town is also a historic area called a civil parish. It's part of the old barony of Coolock in what used to be County Dublin. In 2011, about 9,285 people lived in Portmarnock.
Contents
Exploring Portmarnock's Location
Portmarnock is found along the coast, nestled between the towns of Malahide and Baldoyle. From the sea, it also borders Sutton and even Howth, especially near Ireland's Eye.
The Famous Velvet Strand Beach
Portmarnock is famous for its long, sandy beach, often called the Velvet Strand. This name comes from how incredibly smooth the sand feels. It's a very popular spot for fun activities like windsurfing and kite-surfing. During the summer, from early April to October, lifeguards are on duty to keep everyone safe.
This beach was also the starting point for some very important flights in history!
Historic Flights from the Beach
On June 23, 1930, a brave Australian pilot named Charles Kingsford Smith and his team took off from this beach. They flew their plane, the Southern Cross, all the way to Newfoundland. This was a huge achievement, as it was only the second time someone had flown across the Atlantic Ocean from east to west. After that, they continued their journey to California, completing a flight around the entire world!
Two years later, on August 18, 1932, another amazing flight began here. Jim Mollison, a British pilot, made the first solo (by himself) flight across the Atlantic from east to west. He flew his de Havilland Puss Moth plane from Portmarnock beach to Canada.
To remember these incredible journeys, there's a special sculpture on the seafront called Eccentric Orbit. It was created in 2002 by Rachel Joynt and Remco de Fouw. This sculpture points towards the North Star, which sailors and pilots have used for navigation for centuries. It celebrates the brave pilots and their historic flights from Portmarnock.
Portmarnock is also home to one of the 29 Napoleonic Martello Towers in the Greater Dublin Area. These towers were built long ago to defend the coast.
Where Portmarnock Got Its Name
The name Portmarnock comes from two Irish words. Port means "port" or "harbor." The second part, Marnock, comes from Saint Marnoch or Mernoc. People say that Saint Marnoch arrived in this area way back in the 5th century AD.
People have lived in this area for a very long time, even since the Neolithic Age (the New Stone Age). We know this because tools made of flint and other materials have been found here. There are also remains of an ancient ring fort that you can see from the air. Some stories even say that Maine, the son of Queen Maedhbh of Connaught, was buried nearby.
Getting Around Portmarnock
Portmarnock is well-connected by transport. It's on the main railway line that goes north from Dublin, which is also the line to Belfast. Portmarnock railway station opened in 1844 and is now part of the DART network, making it easy to travel to and from Dublin city.
Many Dublin Bus routes also serve the village, including the 102, 32, 32X, 42, 42N (a special night bus), and 142. Because it's only about 15 kilometers (9 miles) from Dublin city center, many people who work in the city choose to live in Portmarnock.
Schools in Portmarnock
Portmarnock has two primary schools for younger students: St. Marnock's and St. Helen's. For older students, there is a secondary school called Portmarnock Community School.
Places of Worship
Portmarnock has a Roman Catholic parish and a church for its community.
Sports and Activities
Portmarnock is very famous for its amazing golf courses.
Golf Courses
The Portmarnock Golf Club is world-class and officially opened on December 26, 1894. It covers a large part of the sandy land south of the village. This club has hosted many big golf tournaments, like the Canada Cup (now called the World Cup) in 1960, the Walker Cup in 1991, and the Irish Open many times.
Another golf course, which opened in the 1990s, is part of the Portmarnock Hotel and Golf Links. It was designed by the famous German golfer Bernhard Langer. This hotel and golf course were built around St. Marnock's, which used to be the home of a branch of the Jameson family, who even had their own private golf course there! The St. Marnock's building was mostly built in the late 1890s.
Other Sports Clubs
- Naomh Mearnóg is the local Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) club, where you can play traditional Irish sports.
- Portmarnock Tennis Club is a great place for tennis fans.
- Portmarnock A.F.C. and Seaview Celtic F.C. are local soccer clubs.
- The Portmarnock Sport & Leisure Club offers 16 different sports activities and has a swimming pool that is open to the public at certain times.
- Portmarnock Pitch & Putt Club was started in 1958. It's a members-only club with many adult and under-16 members who enjoy playing pitch and putt.
How Portmarnock is Represented
Portmarnock is part of the Dublin Fingal Dáil constituency, which is how it's represented in the Irish parliament. It also belongs to the modern administrative county of Fingal.
See also
In Spanish: Portmarnock para niños
