Originally an early monastic site founded by Saint Sampson, Balgriffin and its environs provide plenty of appeal for anyone alert to the history of their surroundings. The area’s heritage is preserved in sites such as St Doulagh’s Church, a tiny medieval chapel that sits on the Malahide Road.

This little architectural gem is the oldest stone-roofed church still in use in Ireland. Nearby, Malahide Abbey boasts a rare example of one of Celtic Ireland’s ancient Sheela na Gig sculptures; and the famous Malahide Castle, built during the twelfth century by Sir Richard Talbot, is only a stone’s throw away. As the seat of the knightly De Burgo family in the fourteenth century, the Balgriffin area was a vital political centre during the late middle ages.