{{Short description|Small working harbour near Dalkey, Ireland}} {{Update|part=History|reason=Latest discussions about development are missed|date=September 2023}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{use Hiberno-English|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox port | name = Bullock Harbour | native_name = Cuan Bhlóic | native_name_lang = ga | image = | image_caption = | pushpin_map = Ireland | pushpin_map_caption = Location in Ireland | country = Ireland | location = Dalkey, County Dublin | coordinates = {{coord|53|17|07|N|6|06|28|W|type:landmark_region:IE|display=inline,title}} | built = 1818–1819 (current quay and walls) | owner = | type = Fishing, Leisure }} thumb|Bulloch Harbour, Dalkey, Co. Dublin. Photo courtesy of www.dalkeyphotos.com '''Bullock Harbour''' or '''Bulloch Harbour''' ({{langx|ga|Cuan Bhlóic}})<ref>[https://www.logainm.ie/1375670.aspx Bullock Harbour.] Placenames Database of Ireland. retrieved: 2010-01-11.</ref> is a small working harbour located near the heritage town of Dalkey on the southeast coast of Dublin Bay in Ireland.
The current harbour quay and walls were constructed of local granite<ref name="ages">{{Cite web|url=http://www.dalkeyhomepage.ie/bullockages.html|title=Bullock, Dalkey, through the Ages - History|website=www.dalkeyhomepage.ie|access-date=2017-03-15}}</ref> in the early 19th century where previously a rocky inlet had provided a natural harbour.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mariner.ie/history-3/articles/engineering/earlydublinbay/|title=National Maritime Museum of Ireland, Lost to Time and Tide}}</ref> Bullock Harbour is the subject of a specific local objective (SLO22) in the Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council's county development plan.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Development Plan 2016|publisher=DLR CoCo|year=2016|location=Dublin|pages=section 9}}</ref> {{citation needed|date=October 2013}}
==History== Bulloch Castle was built in the 12th century by the Cistercian monks of Dublin's St Mary's Abbey, in order to protect local fisheries. There was a small stone quay situated below the castle walls, which was partially sheltered by a breakwater. Records notably show the embarking and departure of several Viceroys at Bulloch en route to Dublin.
The quay would stay in use, unchanged from its medieval state, until construction of the current harbour began in 1818, with the facility being finished in 1819. The quay was heavily expanded, with a new granite pier and walls built to form the current harbour. Cranes were installed on the pier to facilitate the transport of stone, sourced from the rocks to the east, and later used for the commercial transport of coal. Large iron rings, which can still be seen on the rocks outside the pier, were used to winch boats in and out of the harbour.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://bullochharbour.org/bulloch-harbour-history/ | title = Bulloch Harbour Preservation Association | website = Bullochharbour.org | date = 14 August 2017 | access-date = May 5, 2024 }}</ref>
==Name== The name of the harbour and castle has variously been Bullock, Bulloch, Bloyke and Bullog.<ref>Samuel Lewis, 'A topographical dictionary of the parishes towns and villages of Dublin City and County'</ref>
==Location== Bulloch Harbour is located at the Sandycove (northern) end of Harbour Road in Dalkey, County Dublin. Bulloch Castle, an imposing Norman structure, overlooks the harbour which is ten minutes walk from Dalkey Dart Station.
==Harbour activities== There are two businesses offering boats for hire for fishing, sightseeing or visiting Dalkey Island, about a kilometre away.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.dalkeycastle.com/location/other-local-attractions/|title=Attractions Dublin {{!}} Things to do in Dublin {{!}} Dublin Ireland Attractions {{!}}|work=Dalkey Castle and Heritage Centre|access-date=2017-03-15|language=en-US}}</ref> Lobster and crabs are harvested when weather permits, and mackerel are fished for in season.
Marine leisure activities include kayaking,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://kayaking.ie/kayaking-dalkey-dublin/|title=Kayaking Ireland}}</ref> sea scouts,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dalkeyseascouts.ie/|title=Dalkey Sea Scouts}}</ref> sea fishing and angling,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://fishinginireland.info/sea/east/dublin/index.htm|title=Fishing in Ireland: Dublin Sea Fishing Map}}</ref> and rock climbing.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://wiki.climbing.ie/index.php/Bullock_Harbour|title=Bullock Harbour - Irish Climbing OnLine}}</ref> [[File:View from outside the Martello Tower - geograph.org.uk - 160166.jpg|thumb|250px|View of Bullock Harbour inlet from the north, near James Joyce's tower in Sandycove]]
==Wildlife== A family of seals lives at the harbour and likes being fed by local children and tourists. Common and bottleneck dolphins have been reported in the vicinity. The diversity of marine flora and fauna reflects that of the Dalkey coastline.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dalkeytidytowns.com/wildlife/wildlife.htm|title=Dalkey Tidy Towns - Wildlife & images & with links to monthly newsletters|website=www.dalkeytidytowns.com|access-date=2017-03-15|archive-date=4 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111104144509/http://www.dalkeytidytowns.com/wildlife/wildlife.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==In Media== Bullock Harbour is mentioned in Michael O'Hanrahan's romance ''A Swordsman of the Brigade'' as "Bullock Strand". In the book, the protagonist Piaras Grás oversees the smuggling of recruits to join the Irish Brigade, and later duels a British officer.
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * [https://web.archive.org/web/20100823070827/http://www.western-marine.com/bulloch-harbour-crane.htm Bulloch Harbour Crane]
Category:Ports and harbours of the Republic of Ireland