to the Moon (aka Rocket to the Moon) (1967). The house fell into disrepair and was demolished in 1978, when the housing estate Saint Catherines was built on part of the former estate. A number of Rush people did protest at the time, and managed to prevent at least the portico from being destroyed. Smuggling Rush was notorious for smuggling in the 18th century after the British imposed excise duties on a large number of goods. It was home to the famed smuggler, Jack Connor (aka Jack the Batchelor and also Jack Field) and was the birthplace of the pirate Luke Ryan on 14 February 1750. Ryan is said to have been a privateer for the French government during the American Revolutionary War. He was reportedly arrested and tried as a pirate at the Old Bailey. He was arrested on 25 February 1789 and supposedly died in prison on 18 June 1789 aged 39 due to septicaemia during his imprisonment for failing to pay a debt of £200. Jack Connor was a popular Robin hood type figure who is mentioned in an old ballad: The lover may sigh The courtier may lie And Croesus his treasure amass, All these joys are but vain They are blended with pain I'll stand behind Field and my glass Jack operated out of the "Smugglers Cave" between Loughshinny and Skerries. He died in 1772 and was buried in Kenure cemetery, on the outskirts of Rush. His namesake is used for Jack the Bachelors, a steakhouse and bar on Main Street. Luke Ryan was born in Rush in 1750. He emigrated to France when he was young and became a Lieutenant in Dillon's Irish Regiment. He later became a smuggler after returning to Rush. He was commissioned by Benjamin Franklin to run a privateer, The Black prince, to plunder English ships. He accumulated great wealth from his smuggling, but it was taken from him by the French. He eventually died in a debtors' prison in 1789 owing a debt of 200 pounds. Martello towers Rush is home to 2 of the 29 Martello Towers in the Greater Dublin Area; they are on the headland near the North Beach and at Drumanagh, and were built in 1804 as a defence against Napoleon. Amenities Rush has two sandy beaches, called the North Beach and South Beach, which are separated by the rocky head of the peninsula and