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Lambay IslandLambay Island is situated off the coast of north east county Dublin, further past the island of Ireland's Eye. Ireland's Viking age began with a raid on a church on Lambay Island in 795 A.D. It is the largest island off the east coast of Ireland and is about 2.5 square kilometres in size. The ancient Greek writers Pliny and Ptolemy knew about the island and referred to it as Limnus or Limni. Its early Irish name, Reachra, was eventually replaced by the Danish Lambay, meaning Lamb Island. This name probably originated with the practice sending over ewes to the island in spring and allowing them to remain there until the Autumn. During the Williamite war in Ireland the island was used as an interment camp for Irish soldiers. More then one thousand of them were imprisoned there after the Battle of Aughrim in 1691. Now privately owned, Lambay is home to a medieval castle, a bird sanctuary and a herd of about 200 deer. Due to its deep surrounding waters, the island is a particularly popular location for scuba-divers. The island is accessible only by prior permission from Rogerstown Harbour, 27 km north of Dublin in Rush.
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