Founded by Norse King Sitric

Howth has a strong Viking connection and its name is derived from the old Norse name for ‘Head’. King Sitric, the Norse Viking King of Dublin, founded the earliest church here in 1042 in what was then a waterfront site. The church was replaced in 1235 by this abbey and was served by a small community of priests. The building was enlarged in the 16th century and the bell cote was added. In 2011 a number of skeletons and coffins were washed out of the abbey after heavy thunderstorms.