Killiney

The village of Killiney takes its name from Leinin, a local chieftain who with his seven daughters converted to Christianity, and subsequently went on to found a monastic community, taking the usual vow of poverty at its foundation. Poverty has been out of favour in the area for quite some time, although the obelisk on top of Killiney Hill records the famine of 1741 and the relief works made for the poor which also include the many walls which cover the top of the hill. Today, the area is home to some of Ireland’s most celebrated luminaries such as Bono and the Edge from U2 and Enya who resides at the splendidly named Manderlay Castle. The coastal areas of Killiney are often compared to the Bay of Naples in Italy and this is reflected in the names of surrounding roads, like Vico, Sorrento, Monte Alverno, San Elmo and Capri.