Tower No. 7
Inauguration 12 July 2008
No. 7 Tower was part of the defences of Killiney Bay against a possible French invasion in the period 1804 to 1815. The other towers and batteries have suffered a variety of fates, but this one was rescued and restored to its original glory and function by Niall O'Donoghue, who has thereby done the State and the people of Ireland no small service.
The project has been long and meticulous and the (almost) finished Tower was inaugurated with much ceremony, jollity and efficiency on the 12th of July 2008. The newly cast cannon was successfully fired and a blaze of colour was added by the Redcoat finery and arms of the firing party and their escort. Musket volleys were also fired as a teaser to the main event.
You can get some general background to the Martello towers, with particularl reference to the examples in Dublin Bay, here and here.
This would be the main entrance during an attack. The ground level door on the other side would have been rendered inaccessable and anyone trying to get in this way would get a load of hot whatever poured down on them from above.
The guard is inspected at the beginning of the ceremony.
Niall, who has duly completed his master gunner manual cannon firing course, does a last minute check on his new baby.
The cannon commands the horizon, but, true to form, the French do not appear.
Safe then for the ladies to dally while final preparations for the firing are made.
Meanwhile we can take a look around inside the tower, well protected by the Redcoats outside.
Is this where the commander figured out his strategy for dealing with the French, should they dare to show their foreign faces on his patch?
A combined military and civilian examination of Major La Chaussée's original analysis of the vulnerability of the Bay to a French attack.
Part of Niall's credentials for running today's show!
Niall's son-in-law, Terry Murray (phone: 01- 6273138 / email: murray52 [at] eircom [dot] net / ), has made a magnificent model of the tower and its surrounds. This is on display inside the tower..
It allows the whole project to be viewed from otherwise inaccessable vantage points.
Back outside, some discarded cannon balls which will not be required for today's firing.
A few moments of relaxation and sustenance before the big event.
Finally, into line and ready for action.
Click the still shot below to see the video of the volley.
Be aware, however, that the file is 2MB, the picture is 320x240px, and it lasts for about 30 seconds.
The crowd, including camera crews, are herded back to a safe viewing and listening distance; earplugs are distributed and inserted; and the excitement starts to mount.
Powder is rammed and packed down the cannon's barrel.
The cannon is rolled forward, the countdown is over and the fuse is lit.
Be aware, however, that the file is 3MB, the picture is 320x240px, and it lasts for about 30 seconds. Enjoy!
And so the neverending story goes on. A lookout will henceforth be kept for the French and, if they dare appear, we will be ready, thanks to Niall.