Raheen-A-Cluig — Attraction in The Municipal District of Bray

History

The oldest built feature on Bray Head is Raheen-a-Cluig, a ruined medieval church believed to have been built in the 12th-13th century AD. The name translates to "Little Fort of the Bell". The site was given to the Augustinian order by the Archbold family, then prominent landowners in the area. It was partially restored in the 18th century. Over the years it has also been used as a hideout by smugglers and is associated with various ghost stories. The ruins are easily accessed through the car park. The Dublin-Rosslare railway line runs below the Cliff Walk, sometimes travelling within feet of the cliffs. Designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, British civil engineer of the 19th century, the line is referred to as Brunel's Folly due to the ongoing costs associated with maintaining a cliff-face line. The original line, which included several viaducts, has had to be diverted on three occasions in 1876, 1879, and 1917. A serious accident occurred on one of the viaducts in August 1867 when a passenger train derailed, causing the deaths of two passengers. Following the crash, a new tunnel was built further into the cliff face. When walking the Cliff Walk from Greystones, at a prominent bend in the path one of the tunnel entrances of the older, diverted, line can be seen further out on the sea side of the existing line.

Lord Meath's Lodge

The ruins of Lord Meath's Lodge can be reached in a 10-15 min walk along the Cliff Walk from this car park. The Lodge was built by the 11th Earl William Brabazon (1803-1887) as a toll house an the Cliff Walk and a gate installed across the pathway. A toll of one penny was charged to members of the public who wished to use the cliff path. This levy was active Saturday to Thursday only as on Fridays the gate was locked so that the Brabazon family could use the path for ineir own leisure activities. A set of stone steps beside the lodge originally led to the Killruddery estate but now they just end in scrub land.

The Brandy Hole

Smuggling was prevalent in the Bray area for many years, mainly in the 1700s. "The Brandy Hole" on Bray Head was a well-known smuggling location. It was a large cavern facing the sea, with passages leading in under Bray Head. It was big enough and dry enough to store contraband delivered from boats guided ashore by lights lig at night. A hidden shaft constructed to the surface enabled access from the land side Although it was destroyed when the railway was borit, the area of the cliff just beyond Lord Meath's Lodge, near where the Cliff Walk crosses over the first railway tunnel, 300 named "The...

This old ruin is only a Strone's throw from the Bray head car park, its a magnet for dog walkers and the Head can be accessed from here too. The ruin is charming and the views are stunning from this elevation, a very pleasant visit and a nice...

There's really not a lot here to see apart from the remains an old church. However, from here you can walk up to Bray head which has a lovely view. There is plenty of parking and good place to...