The Brandy Hole Bray Head

Northern end of Bray Head

From Bray and Environs, Dublin 1903

Map showing the location of The Brandy Hole

Image from the Journal of the Geographical Society of Dublin Volume 5 1851

Before the building of the railway, Bray Head was a noted spot for smugglers and one feature on Bray Head was an immense cavern used for smuggling known as the Brandy Hole. The area known as the Brandy Hole was located on the northern end of Bray Head, close to the Brandy Hole Tunnel, the second tunnel coming from Bray. It was located a mile and a half from the road bridge crossing the railway line at the bray end of Bray Head. The hole was known to be in use in the towards the close of the 18^th century and named after the main cargo that was smuggled in there.

The Brandy Hole was an immense cavern leading far under the hill at Bray Head, which boats could easily get in unnoticed and load their cargo. Over the cavern was a shaft ran to the subterranean chamber half was down the cliff, all connected by ladders. According to “Bray and Environs” the Brandy hole had an inland opening close to the old church on Bray Head. Another source said the cavern was linked to a goat track on the hilltop. The entrance to this was so well covered by gorse that only a few smugglers new the entrance. He Brandy Hole was destroyed when the railway line was built and nothing is meant to be left of it today.