It has been home to some of Ireland’s most celebrated writers, authors and musicians, from George Bernard Shaw and Robert Fisk to Bono and Enya. This book is aimed at both the general reader and those with a particular interest in the local history of the area. The time period this work explores extends from the earliest settlement about 5,000BC to the present day, covering Dalkey, Bullock Harbour and Dalkey Island. It also examines the urban development of Dalkey in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, looking at topics such as housing, transport, and services. The final two chapters provide brief pen-pictures of people who helped shape the development of Dalkey. Each chapter is illustrated with historic maps, engravings, paintings and photos.

John Martin is a retired town planner who has lived in Dalkey for more than 40 years. His interest in the local history of the area was inspired by guided walks led by the late Harry Latham. His previous book was the Historic Towns Atlas of Dungarvan, Co. Waterford, published by the Royal Irish Academy in 2020, which provided him with valuable experience in a wide range of local history sources.