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Red Island has always played an important part
in the life of Skerries. In earlier times it was
known as Key Island and later as Haven Island.
These names undoubtedly refer to the harbour on
the north side of the Island. The Island, because
of its position, forms a shelter and breakwater
for the harbour. Red Island despite its name,
is no longer an island. Now it is a rocky headland
connected to the mainland by a roadway, which
forms part of the quay wall of the harbour. The
island is rocky and in former times was only partially
covered by a thin layer of soil. The origin of
its present name is in dispute. Some link the
name with the dyeing or "barking" of sails an
industry for which Skerries had a reputation.
The actual dyeing took place in an old barking
yard in the town. Huge pots or cauldrons filled
with bark of certain trees, and a pitch-like substance
called "cutch" were boiled over fires. The heat
changed the mixture to a reddish brown liquid,
into which the sails were dipped. They were then
taken to the island where they were spread out
to dry. Continuous spreading of sails, still wet
with dye, caused the rocks and the soil to become
reddish in colour and gave the island its name.
This seems to be a likely explanation, because
the island was known as Haven Island in the 17th
century, before the barking of sails was started.
Others suggest that the name comes from the time
when Skerries was a large fishing centre. The
fishermen used to spread hundreds of their reddish-brown
nets on the island to dry and gave the island
its name in this way. A Martello Tower stands
on this island. Its massive walls are two and
a half metres thick and a parapet surrounds the
stone roof. The door leads into the second story
of the tower and was reached by a ladder and inside
a set of stone steps, built into the wall as a
spiral, leads up to the roof. On the roof a cannon
was mounted on a pivot which allowed it to fire
in all directions. This tower has been altered
since its military days. Doors were added on the
ground floor and windows on both floors.
The tower has been used as a private dwelling,
as tearooms and as part of a holiday camp. In
the beginning of this century, when Skerries became
a popular holiday resort, Red Island was the centre
of activities during the summer time. Angling
from the harbour, the round the cliff walk, two
excellent deep water bathing place i.e. The Captains
and The Springboards and its facilities for sunbathing
and relaxing were always the big attractions of
Skerries. In 1947, a holiday camp was opened on
Red Island. The camp had comfortable bedrooms
and central heating. It also had a dance hall,
theatre, a miniature golf course, a sun lounge
and a bar. However cheap air travel, which arrived
in the 1960s, allowed people to holiday abroad.
This gradually brought an end to Skerries as a
major holiday resort and the camp was demolished
in 1980.
Back to: History of Skerries
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