landmark
Dublin Zoo
Ireland's largest zoo in Phoenix Park, one of the oldest zoos in Europe, home to over 400 animals.
9 km · about 15 min drive
EuropeIrelandLeinster
Hartstown
Leinster, Ireland · Europe
About Hartstown
Hartstown works well as a base: 10 minutes from Lucan, 24km from Hill of Tara.
Hartstown is a town located in Leinster, Ireland. With a population of 5,882, it is an important destination in Europe.
On a road trip, Hartstown sits in Ireland, where you drive on the left. It's in the Europe/Dublin time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add Hartstown to your route.
About Hartstown
Joseph Rafferty (c. 1974 – 12 April 2005) was an Irish murder victim. Following the assault of Rafferty's sister Carmel at a party, Rafferty confronted the alleged attacker, who reportedly told him that his family had connections to the "IRA" and could get him killed. Rafferty continued to receive threats that theRead more
Provisional IRA (PIRA) would get him for several months before his killing.
The Rafferty family met with Daithí Doolan, the local Sinn Féin representative, asking him to have the threat stopped. On 12 April 2005, Rafferty was shot twice with a sawn-off shotgun, once in the leg and once in the chest, as he left his flat in at the Hayworth Court apartment complex in Ongar, Dublin to go to work.
Then Taoiseach Bertie Ahern stated in September 2005 that he was satisfied that there was no official involvement from the IRA. Ahern stated the murder was committed by "Elements, probably of criminality, claim[ing] they had links with republicans." Both Doolan and Gerry Adams have called for co-operation with the Garda in the investigation of Rafferty's murder. Adams stated he would be willing to meet with members of the Rafferty family.
The tenth and twelfth reports of the Independent Monitoring Commission (IMC), released in April and October 2006 respectively, contain a table on the number of murders believed to be linked to paramilitary groups between March 2003 and August 2006. While Rafferty's murder is not included in the table, a footnote states that "a member or former member of PIRA may have been involved", and that while the IMC have no reason to believe the attack was carried out by the PIRA, they believe that members of Sinn Féin and the PIRA "were aware in advance of the threat and did not take sufficient action to prevent it."
Rafferty's other sister, Esther Uzell-Rafferty, said "It's what we have been saying all along. We've never said [the murder] was sanctioned by the IRA's top man, but other Sinn Féin members knew it was going to happen and did nothing about it." Uzell-Rafferty ran as an independent candidate in the 2007 Irish general election for Dublin South-East to call on Daithí Doolan to fully co-operate with the Garda investigation into her brother's killing. In 2007 results, she received 673 first preference votes.
Rafferty's family have stated there are similarities between the murder of Rafferty and that of Robert McCartney.
Where to Stay in Hartstown
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best things to do in Hartstown?
Hartstown offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.
How do I plan a road trip to Hartstown?
Plan your road trip to Hartstown with Plan Your Road Trips! Add Hartstown as a destination, and we'll help you find the best route and discover more amazing places along the way.
Where is Hartstown located?
Hartstown is located in Leinster, Ireland, Europe. The coordinates are 53.3931 latitude, -6.4269 longitude.
What is the population of Hartstown?
Hartstown has a population of approximately 5,882 people, making it a town in Ireland.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 5,882
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- Ireland
- Region
- Leinster
- Timezone
- Europe/Dublin
- Coordinates
- 53.3931, -6.4269
Tags
Worth the detour from Hartstown
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
cathedral
St Patrick's Cathedral
Ireland's largest cathedral and national cathedral of the Church of Ireland, once led by Jonathan Swift.
12 km · about 20 min drive
scenic viewpoint
Howth Cliff Walk
A looped cliff path around Howth Head with views to Ireland's Eye and the Wicklow mountains, easily reached from Dublin.
24 km · about 30 min drive
ancient ruins
Hill of Tara
The ceremonial seat of the High Kings of Ireland, a set of grassy earthworks with the Lia Fáil standing stone on top.
24 km · about 30 min drive
racetrack
Mondello Park
Ireland's only permanent motorsport circuit, located in County Kildare and the home of Irish national racing since 1968.
26 km · about 30 min drive
mountain pass
Sally Gap
A high crossroads pass over the Wicklow Mountains amid blanket bog, with the famous Military Road running through.
29 km · about 35 min drive
castle
Trim Castle
Ireland's largest Anglo-Norman castle, used as a Braveheart filming location, with a massive 20-sided keep dominating the Boyne Valley.
30 km · about 35 min drive
film location
Trim Castle, County Meath (Braveheart's York)
Ireland's largest Anglo-Norman castle doubled for the city of York in Braveheart, with the battles shot on the Curragh plain nearby.
30 km · about 35 min drive
Driving roads near Hartstown
- 24 kmHowth Cliff WalkA looped cliff path around Howth Head with views to Ireland's Eye and the Wicklow mountains, easily reached from Dublin.
- 29 kmSally GapA high crossroads pass over the Wicklow Mountains amid blanket bog, with the famous Military Road running through.
- 34 kmLough Tay (Guinness Lake)A dark lake with a pale sand beach at one end, viewed from the R759 above; used as the Viking village in the series Vikings.
- 39 kmWicklow GapHigh mountain pass on the R756 across the Wicklow Mountains between Hollywood and Glendalough, following the medieval pilgrims' route of St Kevin's Road through wild granite moorland.
- 43 kmThe Spinc, GlendaloughA boardwalk ridge walk high above the Upper Lake at Glendalough, climbing beside the Poulanass waterfall.
- 61 kmVale of AvocaA wooded river valley on the R752 in Wicklow at the meeting of the Avonmore and Avonbeg rivers.
Driving in Ireland
- Drives on
- the left
- Petrol
- ~€1.78/litre
- Motorway tolls
- ~€2.10/100km
When to drive here
April to October
Nearby Destinations
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