Dalkey

Dalkey (Deilginis in Irish) is a town in southern County Dublin. It was originally founded as a Viking settlement and became an important port during the middle ages. According to John Clyn, it was one of the points through which the plague entered Ireland in the mid-14th century. In modern times, Dalkey has become a prosperous seaside suburb and a minor tourist attraction.

The town is named after Dalkey Island, just offshore. The name is an adaptation from the Irish, Deilginis ("Thorn Island"). Vikings added their own word for island - øy - to the first syllable of the native name. (The same "-ey" suffix is present in other Irish place names too.)

The freemen of Dalkey inherited the right to elect a King through the boredom of young bloods back in the Dublin of 1787. The full title isKing of Dalkey, Emperor of the Muglins, Prince of the Holy Island of Magee, Baron of Bulloch, Seigneur of Sandycove, Defender of the Faith and Respector of All Others, Elector of Lambay and Ireland's Eye, and Sovereign of the Most Illustrious Order of the Lobster and Periwinkle. Hugh Dempsey was crowned the first "King of Dalkey" in about 1780. The current King, Larry Wilmott or Larry the 2^nd, was elected in 1983.

Dalkey is the original home town of two well-known Irish writers: Novelist, Maeve Binchy (Light a Penny Candle, Echoes, Circle of Friends), and playwright, Hugh Leonard (Da, A Life, Kill). It is also the setting for many of Flann O'Brien's writings, notably The Dalkey Archive. In recent years, Dalkey developed a reputation as Dublin's Beverley Hills when several well-known Irish and international figures bought property there during the 1990s, such as Bono, the lead singer from U2 and Enya the reclusive celtic music artiste. In addition, Irish musican Chris de Burgh also resides in Dalkey.

Dalkey Quarry is a disused granite quarry, stone from which was used in the 19th century to build Dún Laoghaire harbour, and is now a popular rock-climbing location within Killiney Hill Park. During the construction of the harbour, the quarry was connect to Dún Laoghaire via a metal tram way known as 'The Metals' which are still visible in some parts of Dalkey.

Dalkey was the terminus for the first commercial application of the atmospheric system of propulsion of trains. Dalkey is served by the DART, which passes through a tunnel south of Dalkey, emerging on a cliff giving spectacular views over Killiney Bay.

This article is licenced under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Dalkey".