County Wicklow
Encyclopedia
County Wicklow is a county
in Ireland
. It is part of the Mid-East Region
and is also located in the province
of Leinster
. It is named after the town of Wicklow
, which derives from the Old Norse
name Víkingalág or Wykynlo. Wicklow County Council
is the local authority
for the county. The population of the county is 136,448 according to the 2011 census.
, rises to 925 metres, making Wicklow the second highest county peak after Kerry
. The Wicklow Way
is the oldest waymarked
long distance walking trail
in Ireland, and the area is a popular attraction, as the region offers multiple choices of recreation including fishing
, rafting
and hillwalking
. Also in its midst lies the monastic settlement of Glendalough
, believed to have been founded by St. Kevin
, and now a popular tourist attraction; as well as Powerscourt Waterfall
, the highest waterfall in Ireland.
The mountainous area is formed in the main by granite, with a marginal zone of micraschist produced by the contact of Silurian strata, which extends from Shillelagh to the sea north of Bray with the peak of Lugnaquilla its highest elevation.
.
The principal headlands are Wicklow Head, Ardmore Point, Bray Head
and Mizen Head, not to be confused with the better known headland in County Cork
. Bray Head is unusual in Ireland being crossed by a national railway line running just above sheer cliffs. It has had to be adjusted or realigned several times due to coastal erosion.
, the Liffey
and the River Vartry
which flows through the Devil's Glen to its mouth north of Wicklow town. The confluence of the rivers Avonmore
and Avonbeg
is locally known as "the meeting of the waters"; the combined entity, now known as the River Avoca
, collects the waters of the River Aughrim
before discharging into the Irish Sea
at Arklow. The River Slaney
is in the western part of the county, bordering County Carlow
. The Turlough Hill pumped-storage scheme
, a significant civil engineering
project, was carried out in the mountains in the 1960s and 1970s. Ireland's first offshore wind farm is located off the coast at Arklow Bank
. The lakes are small but numerous, located mainly in mountain valleys or glacial corries
. They include Lough Dan
, Lough Tay
, Lough Brae, the lakes of Glendalough as well as the Poulaphouca
reservoir (the largest by volume).
County Wicklow was the last of the traditional counties of Ireland to be shired in 1606 from land previously part of counties Dublin
and Carlow
. Established as a distinct county, it was aimed at controlling local groups such as the O'Byrnes
. The Military Road
, stretching from Rathfarnham
to Aghavannagh
crosses the mountains, north to south, was built by the British army to assist them in defeating the rebels still active in the Wicklow Mountains
following the failed 1798 rebellion
. It provided them with access to an area that had been a hotbed of Irish rebellion for centuries. Several barracks to house the soldiers were built along the route and the Glencree Centre for Peace and Reconciliation
was built alongside the remains of barracks there. Battalions of the Irish Army
use firing ranges in County Wicklow for tactical exercises, especially the largest one in the Glen of Imaal
which was previously used by the British Army
prior to independence. The ancient monastery
of Glendalough
is located in County Wicklow.
During the Cromwellian invasion of Ireland, local authorities immediately surrendered without a fight. During the 1798 rebellion, some of the insurgents took refuge in the Wicklow Mountains, resulting in clashes between British troops and the troops commanded by Joseph Holt
(1756-1826) near Aughrim and later at Arklow. A Military Road was built through the territory of the county to open it up to British troops for quick access to the Irish rebels in the Wicklow Mountains in the early 1800s.
which returns 24 councillors. The town of Bray
has town council. For elections to Dáil Éireann
, the entire county in included in the Wicklow
constituency along with some eastern parts of County Carlow
. The constituency elects five deputies to the Dáil.
The county is a very popular film-making location in Ireland. Bray
is home to Ardmore Studios
, where many of Ireland's best known feature films, including John Boorman
's Excalibur
, Jim Sheridan's
Oscar winning In the Name of the Father, and several Neil Jordan
films, have been shot. The BBC
series Ballykissangel
was also filmed in County Wicklow. Scenes from the movie P.S. I Love You
were shot in the Wicklow Mountains National Park
while several scenes from other movies, from Barry Lyndon
to Haywire
, have been filmed in the county.
Counties of Ireland
The counties of Ireland are sub-national divisions used for the purposes of geographic demarcation and local government. Closely related to the county is the County corporate which covered towns or cities which were deemed to be important enough to be independent from their counties. A county...
in Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. It is part of the Mid-East Region
Mid-East Region, Ireland
The Mid-East Region is a NUTS Level III region of Ireland and is governed by the Mid-East Regional Authority. It consists of the area under the jurisdiction of the county councils of counties Kildare, Meath and Wicklow which border the Dublin Region...
and is also located in the province
Provinces of Ireland
Ireland has historically been divided into four provinces: Leinster, Ulster, Munster and Connacht. The Irish word for this territorial division, cúige, literally meaning "fifth part", indicates that there were once five; the fifth province, Meath, was incorporated into Leinster, with parts going to...
of Leinster
Leinster
Leinster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the east of Ireland. It comprises the ancient Kingdoms of Mide, Osraige and Leinster. Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the historic fifths of Leinster and Mide gradually merged, mainly due to the impact of the Pale, which straddled...
. It is named after the town of Wicklow
Wicklow
Wicklow) is the county town of County Wicklow in Ireland. Located south of Dublin on the east coast of the island, it has a population of 10,070 according to the 2006 census. The town is situated to the east of the N11 route between Dublin and Wexford. Wicklow is also connected to the rail...
, which derives from the Old Norse
Old Norse
Old Norse is a North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age, until about 1300....
name Víkingalág or Wykynlo. Wicklow County Council
Wicklow County Council
Wicklow County Council is the local authority which is responsible for County Wicklow in Ireland. The Council is responsible for Housing and Community, Roads and Transportation, Urban planning and Development, Amenity and Culture, and Environment. The head of the council has the title of...
is the local authority
Local government in the Republic of Ireland
Local government functions in the Republic of Ireland are mostly exercised by thirty-four local authorities, termed county or city councils, which cover the entire territory of the state. The area under the jurisdiction of each of these authorities corresponds to the area of each of the 34 LAU I...
for the county. The population of the county is 136,448 according to the 2011 census.
Geography and political subdivisions
Wicklow is colloquially known as the Garden County. It is the 17th largest of Ireland’s 32 counties by area and 17th largest by population. It is the fourth largest of Leinster’s 12 counties by size and the fifth largest in terms of population.Towns and villages
- AghavannaghAghavannaghAghavannagh is a small village and townland in south County Wicklow, Ireland in the barony of Ballinacor South. It is located on the Military Road originally constructed between 1804 and 1809, in the wake of the 1798 rebellion...
- AnnamoeAnnamoeAnnamoe is small picturesque village in County Wicklow, Ireland about from Dublin located on the Avonmore river. It is on the R755 between Roundwood and Laragh on the road to Glendalough....
- ArklowArklowArklow , also known as Inbhear Dé from the Avonmore river's older name Abhainn Dé, is a historic town located in County Wicklow on the east coast of Ireland. Founded by the Vikings in the ninth century, Arklow was the site of one of the bloodiest battles of the 1798 rebellion...
- AshfordAshford, County WicklowAshford , historically known as Ballymacahara , is a village County Wicklow, Republic of Ireland. It lies on the R772 regional road. The Vartry River flows under the road in the village centre...
- AughrimAughrim, County WicklowAughrim is a small town in County Wicklow, Ireland. It lies in a scenic valley in the east of Ireland where the Ow and Derry rivers meet to form the Aughrim river...
- AvocaAvoca, County WicklowAvoca is a small town near Arklow, in County Wicklow, Ireland. It is situated on the River Avoca.The Avoca area has been associated with its famous copper mines for many years and the valley has been immortalised by Thomas Moore in the famous song The Meeting of the Waters...
- BallinaclashBallinaclashBallinaclash is a village in east County Wicklow centred on a bridge that carries the R753 regional road across the River Avonbeg.The village is mentioned in J.M...
- BallinakilBallinakilBallinakil is a small, sparsely populated townland, located in County Wicklow, Ireland. It is situated off the Glenealy-Rathdrum road, close to Deputy's Pass....
- Ballycoogue
- BaltinglassBaltinglassBaltinglass or Baltinglas is a town in south-west County Wicklow, Ireland. It is situated on the River Slaney near the border with County Carlow and County Kildare, on the N81 road. Its Irish name means "the way of Conglas", Conglas being a member of the mythological warrior collective, the Fianna...
- BlessingtonBlessingtonBlessington, historically known as Ballycomeen , is a town in County Wicklow, Ireland. It is located on the N81 road, which connects Dublin to Tullow.- History :...
- BrayBrayBray is a town in north County Wicklow, Ireland. It is a busy urban centre and seaside resort, with a population of 31,901 making it the fourth largest in Ireland as of the 2006 census...
- Brittas BayBrittas BayBrittas Bay Coastcare Group Brittas Bay in County Wicklow, Ireland is a 4 km stretch of beach on the Irish Sea coast. The beach is accessed from the R750 regional road which runs parallel to the beach, separated from it by extensive areas of sand dunes...
- CarnewCarnewCarnew is a village in County Wicklow, Ireland. It is the most southerly town in Wicklow situated just a mile from the border with County Wexford...
- CoolafancyCoolafancyCoolafancy is a village in County Wicklow in Ireland. It is located roughly between Tinahely and Carnew, close to the neighbouring village of Coolboy. The area of Coolafancy is often referred to as Crosspatrick on maps. Coolafancy contains the only primary national school in the area, St. Mary's...
- CoolboyCoolboyCoolboy is a village in County Wicklow in Ireland. It is roughly located between Tinahely and Carnew, nestled in the middle of Holts Way, close to the scenic location of the Kilcavan Gap.- Location and access :...
- DelganyDelganyDelgany is a village in County Wicklow on the R762 road between Greystones and the N11 road at the Glen of the Downs. It is about south of Dublin City centre....
- DonardDonardDonard is a small village in County Wicklow, Ireland located at the northern end of the Glen of Imaal, in the western part of the Wicklow Mountains....
- DunlavinDunlavinDunlavin is a village in County Wicklow, Ireland, situated about thirty miles south west of Dublin. It is centred on the junction of the R412 and R756 regional roads...
- EnniskerryEnniskerryEnniskerry is a village in County Wicklow, Ireland. It had a population of 2,672 at the 2006 census.- Location :...
- GlencreeGlencreeGlencree is a valley in the Wicklow Mountains in eastern Ireland. It is the second closest valley in the mountains to Dublin city, the first being Glencullen. The river Dargle flows down the valley, which rises to a height of abut 400 metres...
- GlendaloughGlendaloughGlendalough or Glendaloch is a glacial valley in County Wicklow, Ireland. It is renowned for its Early Medieval monastic settlement founded in the 6th century by St Kevin, a hermit priest, and partly destroyed in 1398 by English troops....
- GlenealyGlenealy, County WicklowGlenealy is a village west of Wicklow Town, in County Wicklow, on the R752. The Dublin - Rosslare railway line also passes through the village....
- GrangeconGrangeconGrangecon is a village in County Wicklow, Ireland. It has a population of about 200 people, and is located between Baltinglass and Dunlavin.- History :...
- Greenan
- GreystonesGreystonesGreystones is a coastal town and small seaside resort in County Wicklow, Ireland. It is located on Ireland’s east coast, south of Bray and south of Dublin , with a population in the region of 15,000....
- HollywoodHollywood, County WicklowHollywood, historically known as Killinkeyvin , is a village in west County Wicklow, Ireland. It is situated on the Wicklow Gap road, near its junction with the N81 national secondary road...
- Kilbride
- KilcooleKilcooleKilcoole is a village in County Wicklow, Ireland. It is three kilometres south of Greystones, 14 kilometres north of Wicklow, and about 25 kilometres south of Dublin. It was used as the set for the Irish television series Glenroe, which ran through the 1980s and 1990s...
- KillincarrigKillincarrigKillincarrig is a suburban village between Greystones and Delgany in North County Wicklow. It lies at the crossroads of the R762 and the R761 roads. Like neighbouring Delgany it has been steadily built-up over the past 40 years and now forms part of the continuous urban area of Greystones....
- KilmacanogueKilmacanogueKilmacanogue, officially Kilmacanoge , is a small village in North County Wicklow, Ireland.The village lies on the junction of the R755 to Roundwood and the N11, south of Bray town centre...
- KilpedderKilpedderKilpedder or Killpedder is a village in County Wicklow, Ireland, located on the N11 road between Kilmacanogue and Newtownmountkennedy, just south of the Glen of the Downs Nature Reserve....
- KilteganKilteganKiltegan is a village in west County Wicklow, Ireland, on the R747 regional road close to the border with County Carlow.The 19th century mansion Humewood House lies just outside of the village...
- KnockanannaKnockanannaKnockananna is a village in County Wicklow, Ireland.The village has a GAA team and the club colours are red and white.-External links:*...
- LackenLacken, County WicklowLacken is a small village in the west of County Wicklow in Ireland, located on the shores of the Blessington lakes. It is part of the parish of Valleymount...
- LaraghLaragh, County WicklowLaragh is a small picturesque village in County Wicklow, Ireland. It lies at the junction of three roads through the Wicklow Mountains and is primarily known for its proximity to the monastic settlement of Glendalough...
- Manor Kilbride
- Meeting of the WatersRiver AvocaThe Avoca is a river in County Wicklow, Ireland. It is contained completely within the county.The Avoca starts life as two rivers, the Avonmore and the Avonbeg...
- NewcastleNewcastle, County WicklowNewcastle is a village situated on the R761 that runs along the East Coast of County Wicklow, Ireland from Bray to Wicklow town. It is about south of Dublin and 2 km east of the N11. Newcastle had a population of 1,636 in the village and hinterland in the census of 2002.- History :The...
- NewtownmountkennedyNewtownmountkennedyNewtownmountkennedy is a village in County Wicklow, Ireland. It developed within the historic townland of Ballygarny . It is just off the N11 road to Wexford, just south of Kilpedder and south-west of Greystones. It is about north of Wicklow Town approximately from Dublin.The R772 regional road...
- PoulaphoucaPoulaphoucaPoulaphouca, officially Pollaphuca , is a townland in County Wicklow, Ireland, on the border with County Kildare. It is primarily known for its hydroelectric generating station and artificial lake, known as Poulaphouca Reservoir, Poulaphouca Lake, or Blessington Lake...
- RathnewRathnewRathnew is a village of County Wicklow, Ireland. Located south of the capital Dublin along the N11 between Dublin and Wexford, it is the exit point for those wishing to visit the county town of Wicklow, situated to the East.-Education:...
- RathdrumRathdrum, County WicklowRathdrum is a village in County Wicklow, Ireland. It is situated high on the western side of the Avonmore river valley, which flows through the Vale of Clara.-People:Born in Rathdrum:...
- RedcrossRedcrossRedcross is a village in County Wicklow, Ireland. It lies on the R754 regional road, about east of the N11 national primary route.- See also :* List of towns and villages in Ireland...
- RoundwoodRoundwoodRoundwood, historically known as Tochar , is a village in County Wicklow, Ireland. It was listed as having a population of 589 in the census of 2006....
- ShillelaghShillelagh, County WicklowShillelagh is a village located in County Wicklow, Ireland.The town was planned as part of the FitzWilliam estate in the 17th century. Nearby Coolattin House was the seat of the Fitzwilliam Estate. Tomnafinnoge Woods is the largest remaining oak forest in Ireland...
- Stratford-on-SlaneyStratford-on-SlaneyStratford-on-Slaney , also known as Stratford or Stratford-upon-Slaney, is a small village on the River Slaney in West Wicklow in Ireland....
- TinahelyTinahelyTinahely is a village in the barony of Ballinacor South, County Wicklow in Ireland. It is also a parish in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ferns.- Location and access :...
- ValleymountValleymountValleymount is a small village in western County Wicklow, Ireland. Neighbouring villages are Hollywood, Ballymore Eustace, Blessington, Ballyknockan and Lacken.-Location and transport:...
- WicklowWicklowWicklow) is the county town of County Wicklow in Ireland. Located south of Dublin on the east coast of the island, it has a population of 10,070 according to the 2006 census. The town is situated to the east of the N11 route between Dublin and Wexford. Wicklow is also connected to the rail...
- WoodenbridgeWoodenbridgeWoodenbridge is a small village in County Wicklow, Ireland. It lies between Arklow and Avoca, at the meeting of the Avoca, Aughrim and Goldmine rivers. The village is located at the junction of the R747 and R752 roads...
Geology and mountains
The Wicklow Mountains range is the largest continuous upland region in Ireland. The highest mountain in the range, LugnaquillaLugnaquilla
Lugnaquilla or Lugnaquillia, historically called Lugnaculliagh is a mountain in County Wicklow, Republic of Ireland. It is the highest peak of the Wicklow Mountains range, the highest in the province of Leinster, and the 13th highest peak in Ireland and affectionately known as "Lug".Views, on a...
, rises to 925 metres, making Wicklow the second highest county peak after Kerry
County Kerry
Kerry means the "people of Ciar" which was the name of the pre-Gaelic tribe who lived in part of the present county. The legendary founder of the tribe was Ciar, son of Fergus mac Róich. In Old Irish "Ciar" meant black or dark brown, and the word continues in use in modern Irish as an adjective...
. The Wicklow Way
Wicklow Way
The Wicklow Way is a long-distance trail that crosses the Wicklow Mountains in Ireland. It runs from Marlay Park in the southern suburbs of Dublin through County Wicklow and ends in the village of Clonegal in County Carlow. It is designated as a National Waymarked Trail by the Irish Sports...
is the oldest waymarked
Waymarking
Waymarking is an activity where people locate and log interesting locations around the world, usually with a GPS receiver and a digital camera. Waymarking differs from geocaching in that there is no physical container to locate at the given coordinates. Waymarking identifies points of interest for...
long distance walking trail
Long-distance trail
Long-distance trails are the longer recreational trails mainly through rural areas, used for non-motorised recreational travelling ....
in Ireland, and the area is a popular attraction, as the region offers multiple choices of recreation including fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
, rafting
Rafting
Rafting or white water rafting is a challenging recreational outdoor activity using an inflatable raft to navigate a river or other bodies of water. This is usually done on white water or different degrees of rough water, in order to thrill and excite the raft passengers. The development of this...
and hillwalking
Hillwalking
In the British Isles, the terms hillwalking or fellwalking are commonly used to describe the recreational outdoor activity of walking on hills and mountains, often with the intention of visiting their summits...
. Also in its midst lies the monastic settlement of Glendalough
Glendalough
Glendalough or Glendaloch is a glacial valley in County Wicklow, Ireland. It is renowned for its Early Medieval monastic settlement founded in the 6th century by St Kevin, a hermit priest, and partly destroyed in 1398 by English troops....
, believed to have been founded by St. Kevin
Kevin of Glendalough
Saint Cóemgen , popularly anglicized to Kevin is an Irish saint who was known as the founder and first abbot of Glendalough in County Wicklow, Ireland.-Life:...
, and now a popular tourist attraction; as well as Powerscourt Waterfall
Powerscourt Waterfall
Powerscourt Waterfall is a waterfall near Enniskerry, County Wicklow, in Ireland, located in a valley surrounded by Djouce Mountain and the Great Sugar Loaf...
, the highest waterfall in Ireland.
The mountainous area is formed in the main by granite, with a marginal zone of micraschist produced by the contact of Silurian strata, which extends from Shillelagh to the sea north of Bray with the peak of Lugnaquilla its highest elevation.
The Coast
The coast runs down the eastern side of the county and extends for 60km, from Bray to Arklow. It consists of a series of sweeping shallow bays with sandy beaches, often backed by formations of sand dunes, notably at Brittas BayBrittas Bay
Brittas Bay Coastcare Group Brittas Bay in County Wicklow, Ireland is a 4 km stretch of beach on the Irish Sea coast. The beach is accessed from the R750 regional road which runs parallel to the beach, separated from it by extensive areas of sand dunes...
.
The principal headlands are Wicklow Head, Ardmore Point, Bray Head
Bray Head
Bray Head is a hill and headland located in northern County Wicklow, Ireland, between the towns of Bray and Greystones. It forms part of the Wicklow Mountains and is a popular spot with hillwalkers. At the top of the head is a concrete cross which was placed there in 1950 during the holy year...
and Mizen Head, not to be confused with the better known headland in County Cork
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
. Bray Head is unusual in Ireland being crossed by a national railway line running just above sheer cliffs. It has had to be adjusted or realigned several times due to coastal erosion.
Hydrology
Rivers in Wicklow include the AvocaRiver Avoca
The Avoca is a river in County Wicklow, Ireland. It is contained completely within the county.The Avoca starts life as two rivers, the Avonmore and the Avonbeg...
, the Liffey
River Liffey
The Liffey is a river in Ireland, which flows through the centre of Dublin. Its major tributaries include the River Dodder, the River Poddle and the River Camac. The river supplies much of Dublin's water, and a range of recreational opportunities.-Name:The river was previously named An Ruirthech,...
and the River Vartry
River Vartry
The River Vartry is a river in Ireland. It rises in Calary Bog under the Great Sugar Loaf mountain in north County Wicklow. In 1861 Parliament passed the Dublin Waterworks Act creating the project to dam the River Vartry in Roundwood to form the Vartry Reservoir. This was completed in 1865 and...
which flows through the Devil's Glen to its mouth north of Wicklow town. The confluence of the rivers Avonmore
River Avonmore
The Avonmore River also known as Abhainn Dé flows from Lough Dan in the Wicklow Mountains west of Roundwood. It flows in a generally southerly direction for approximately before joining the Avonbeg at the Meeting of the Waters to form the River Avoca, which in turn discharges into the Irish Sea...
and Avonbeg
River Avonbeg
The Avonbeg River rises on the northern flank of Carmenbologue Mountain in the Wicklow Mountains and flows southeast into the valley of Glenmalure. It continues southeast through the villages of Greenan and Ballinaclash before joining the Avonmore at the Meeting of the Waters to form the River...
is locally known as "the meeting of the waters"; the combined entity, now known as the River Avoca
River Avoca
The Avoca is a river in County Wicklow, Ireland. It is contained completely within the county.The Avoca starts life as two rivers, the Avonmore and the Avonbeg...
, collects the waters of the River Aughrim
River Aughrim
The Aughrim River flows from confluence of the Derry Water and River Ow south of the village of Aughrim in County Wicklow in Ireland. It flows in a generally easterly direction for approximately following the R747 regional road for its full length before joining the River Avoca in the Vale of...
before discharging into the Irish Sea
Irish Sea
The Irish Sea separates the islands of Ireland and Great Britain. It is connected to the Celtic Sea in the south by St George's Channel, and to the Atlantic Ocean in the north by the North Channel. Anglesey is the largest island within the Irish Sea, followed by the Isle of Man...
at Arklow. The River Slaney
River Slaney
The Slaney is a river in the southeast of Ireland. It rises on Lugnaquilla Mountain in the western Wicklow Mountains and flows west and then south through counties Wicklow, Carlow and Wexford, before entering St George's Channel in the Irish Sea at Wexford town...
is in the western part of the county, bordering County Carlow
County Carlow
County Carlow is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Carlow, which lies on the River Barrow. Carlow County Council is the local authority for the county...
. The Turlough Hill pumped-storage scheme
Pumped-storage hydroelectricity
Pumped-storage hydroelectricity is a type of hydroelectric power generation used by some power plants for load balancing. The method stores energy in the form of water, pumped from a lower elevation reservoir to a higher elevation. Low-cost off-peak electric power is used to run the pumps...
, a significant civil engineering
Civil engineering
Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including works like roads, bridges, canals, dams, and buildings...
project, was carried out in the mountains in the 1960s and 1970s. Ireland's first offshore wind farm is located off the coast at Arklow Bank
Arklow Bank Wind Park
The Arklow Bank Wind Park is the first offshore wind farm in Ireland and the world's first commercial application of offshore wind turbines over 3 megawatts in size. It is located on the Arklow Bank, a shallow water sandbank in the Irish Sea, around off the coast of Arklow with an area of...
. The lakes are small but numerous, located mainly in mountain valleys or glacial corries
Cirque
Cirque may refer to:* Cirque, a geological formation* Makhtesh, an erosional landform found in the Negev desert of Israel and Sinai of Egypt*Cirque , an album by Biosphere* Cirque Corporation, a company that makes touchpads...
. They include Lough Dan
Lough Dan
Lough Dan is a boomerang-shaped ribbon lake near Roundwood, County Wicklow, Ireland. It is a popular area for hikers and kayakers and lies very close to the Wicklow Way....
, Lough Tay
Lough Tay
Lough Tay is a small but scenic lake set in the Wicklow Mountains in County Wicklow, Ireland. It lies between the mountains of Djouce and Luggala, and is most easily viewed from above, from the R759 or the Wicklow Way as it descends past the J. B. Malone memorial...
, Lough Brae, the lakes of Glendalough as well as the Poulaphouca
Poulaphouca
Poulaphouca, officially Pollaphuca , is a townland in County Wicklow, Ireland, on the border with County Kildare. It is primarily known for its hydroelectric generating station and artificial lake, known as Poulaphouca Reservoir, Poulaphouca Lake, or Blessington Lake...
reservoir (the largest by volume).
History
County Dublin
County Dublin is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Dublin Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the city of Dublin which is the capital of Ireland. County Dublin was one of the first of the parts of Ireland to be shired by King John of England following the...
and Carlow
County Carlow
County Carlow is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Carlow, which lies on the River Barrow. Carlow County Council is the local authority for the county...
. Established as a distinct county, it was aimed at controlling local groups such as the O'Byrnes
Fiach McHugh O'Byrne
Fiach mac Aodh Ó Broin was Lord of Ranelagh and sometime leader of the Clann Uí Bhroin, or the O'Byrne clan, during the Elizabethan conquest of Ireland.-Background:...
. The Military Road
R115 road
The R115 road is a regional road in counties Dublin and Wicklow in Ireland. It follows the Military Road for its entire length. The R115 is long; the full length of the Military Road is...
, stretching from Rathfarnham
Rathfarnham
Rathfarnham or Rathfarnam is a Southside suburb of Dublin, Ireland. It is south of Terenure, east of Templeogue, and is in the postal districts of Dublin 14 and 16. It is within the administrative areas of both Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown and South Dublin County Councils.The area of Rathfarnham...
to Aghavannagh
Aghavannagh
Aghavannagh is a small village and townland in south County Wicklow, Ireland in the barony of Ballinacor South. It is located on the Military Road originally constructed between 1804 and 1809, in the wake of the 1798 rebellion...
crosses the mountains, north to south, was built by the British army to assist them in defeating the rebels still active in the Wicklow Mountains
Wicklow Mountains
The Wicklow Mountains form the largest continuous upland area in Ireland. They occupy the whole centre of County Wicklow and stretch outside its borders into Counties Carlow, Wexford and Dublin. Where the mountains extend into County Dublin, they are known locally as the Dublin Mountains...
following the failed 1798 rebellion
Irish Rebellion of 1798
The Irish Rebellion of 1798 , also known as the United Irishmen Rebellion , was an uprising in 1798, lasting several months, against British rule in Ireland...
. It provided them with access to an area that had been a hotbed of Irish rebellion for centuries. Several barracks to house the soldiers were built along the route and the Glencree Centre for Peace and Reconciliation
Glencree Centre for Peace and Reconciliation
The Glencree Centre for Peace and Reconciliation is a non-governmental charitable organization located in Republic of Ireland. Its goal is to promote peace and reconciliation, especially as a response to the Troubles and its aftermath....
was built alongside the remains of barracks there. Battalions of the Irish Army
Irish Army
The Irish Army, officially named simply the Army is the main branch of the Defence Forces of Ireland. Approximately 8,500 men and women serve in the Irish Army, divided into three infantry Brigades...
use firing ranges in County Wicklow for tactical exercises, especially the largest one in the Glen of Imaal
Glen of Imaal
The Glen of Imaal is a remote valley in the western Wicklow Mountains in Ireland. It is ringed by the Lugnaquilla massif and its foothills, including Table mountain and Keadeen...
which was previously used by the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
prior to independence. The ancient monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
of Glendalough
Glendalough
Glendalough or Glendaloch is a glacial valley in County Wicklow, Ireland. It is renowned for its Early Medieval monastic settlement founded in the 6th century by St Kevin, a hermit priest, and partly destroyed in 1398 by English troops....
is located in County Wicklow.
During the Cromwellian invasion of Ireland, local authorities immediately surrendered without a fight. During the 1798 rebellion, some of the insurgents took refuge in the Wicklow Mountains, resulting in clashes between British troops and the troops commanded by Joseph Holt
Joseph Holt
General Joseph Holt was a leading member of the Buchanan administration and was Judge Advocate General of the United States Army, most notably during the Lincoln assassination trials.-Early life:...
(1756-1826) near Aughrim and later at Arklow. A Military Road was built through the territory of the county to open it up to British troops for quick access to the Irish rebels in the Wicklow Mountains in the early 1800s.
Local government and politics
The local government authority is Wicklow County CouncilWicklow County Council
Wicklow County Council is the local authority which is responsible for County Wicklow in Ireland. The Council is responsible for Housing and Community, Roads and Transportation, Urban planning and Development, Amenity and Culture, and Environment. The head of the council has the title of...
which returns 24 councillors. The town of Bray
Bray
Bray is a town in north County Wicklow, Ireland. It is a busy urban centre and seaside resort, with a population of 31,901 making it the fourth largest in Ireland as of the 2006 census...
has town council. For elections to Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann is the lower house, but principal chamber, of the Oireachtas , which also includes the President of Ireland and Seanad Éireann . It is directly elected at least once in every five years under the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote...
, the entire county in included in the Wicklow
Wicklow (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Wicklow is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 5 deputies...
constituency along with some eastern parts of County Carlow
County Carlow
County Carlow is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Carlow, which lies on the River Barrow. Carlow County Council is the local authority for the county...
. The constituency elects five deputies to the Dáil.
Dáil Éireann deputies
| TD | Party | |
|---|---|---|
| Andrew Doyle Andrew Doyle Andrew Doyle is an Irish Fine Gael politician. He is currently a Teachta Dála for the Wicklow constituency. He was elected to Dáil Éireann on his first attempt at the 2007 general election... |
Fine Gael Fine Gael Fine Gael is a centre-right to centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland. It is the single largest party in Ireland in the Oireachtas, in local government, and in terms of Members of the European Parliament. The party has a membership of over 35,000... |
|
| Billy Timmins Billy Timmins Billy Timmins is an Irish Fine Gael politician. He is currently a Teachta Dála for the Wicklow constituency.Timmins was born in Baltinglass, County Wicklow. He was educated at Patrician College, Ballyfin, County Laois; and University College Galway where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in... |
Fine Gael Fine Gael Fine Gael is a centre-right to centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland. It is the single largest party in Ireland in the Oireachtas, in local government, and in terms of Members of the European Parliament. The party has a membership of over 35,000... |
|
| Simon Harris | Fine Gael Fine Gael Fine Gael is a centre-right to centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland. It is the single largest party in Ireland in the Oireachtas, in local government, and in terms of Members of the European Parliament. The party has a membership of over 35,000... |
|
| Anne Ferris Anne Ferris Anne Ferris is an Irish Labour Party politician. She was elected as a Teachta Dála for the Wicklow constituency at the 2011 general election. She was a member of Bray Town Council from 1999–2009 and Wicklow County Council from 2003–09.-External links:*... |
Labour Labour Party (Ireland) The Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in the Republic of Ireland. The Labour Party was founded in 1912 in Clonmel, County Tipperary, by James Connolly, James Larkin and William X. O'Brien as the political wing of the Irish Trade Union Congress. Unlike the other main Irish... |
|
| Stephen Donnelly Stephen Donnelly Stephen Donnelly is an Irish independent politician. He was elected as a Teachta Dála for the Wicklow constituency at the 2011 general election... |
Non-Party Independent (politician) In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do... |
|
County Council councillors
| Political Party | Members | |
|---|---|---|
| Fine Gael Fine Gael Fine Gael is a centre-right to centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland. It is the single largest party in Ireland in the Oireachtas, in local government, and in terms of Members of the European Parliament. The party has a membership of over 35,000... |
9 | |
| Labour Labour Party (Ireland) The Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in the Republic of Ireland. The Labour Party was founded in 1912 in Clonmel, County Tipperary, by James Connolly, James Larkin and William X. O'Brien as the political wing of the Irish Trade Union Congress. Unlike the other main Irish... |
6 | |
| Fianna Fáil Fianna Fáil Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party , more commonly known as Fianna Fáil is a centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland, founded on 23 March 1926. Fianna Fáil's name is traditionally translated into English as Soldiers of Destiny, although a more accurate rendition would be Warriors of Fál... |
4 | |
| Sinn Féin Sinn Féin Sinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970... |
2 | |
| Others | 3 | |
Culture
Mermaid, County Wicklow Arts Centre is based in Bray. Mermaid is the county's hub of artistic activity and creation, offering an extensive and ambitious programme across the art forms. Mermaid offers a strong visual arts programme, compelling theatre productions, opera, cutting edge dance performances, arthouse cinema, comedy and a diverse music programme. Two of the county's most well respected festivals take place in Arklow, the Arklow music Festival and the Arklow Seabreeze Festival.The county is a very popular film-making location in Ireland. Bray
Bray
Bray is a town in north County Wicklow, Ireland. It is a busy urban centre and seaside resort, with a population of 31,901 making it the fourth largest in Ireland as of the 2006 census...
is home to Ardmore Studios
Ardmore Studios
Ardmore Studios is a film studio in Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland which was founded by Emmet Dalton and opened by the Minister for Industry and Commerce Seán Lemass on May 12, 1958....
, where many of Ireland's best known feature films, including John Boorman
John Boorman
John Boorman is a British filmmaker who is a long time resident of Ireland and is best known for his feature films such as Point Blank, Deliverance, Zardoz, Excalibur, The Emerald Forest, Hope and Glory, The General and The Tailor of Panama.-Early life:Boorman was born in Shepperton, Surrey,...
's Excalibur
Excalibur (film)
Excalibur is a 1981 dramatic fantasy film directed, produced and co-written by John Boorman that retells the legend of King Arthur and the knights of the Round Table. Adapted from the 15th century Arthurian romance, Le Morte d'Arthur by Thomas Malory, Excalibur features the music of Richard Wagner...
, Jim Sheridan's
Jim Sheridan
Jim Sheridan is an Irish film director. A six-time Academy Award nominee, Sheridan is perhaps best known for his films My Left Foot, In the Name of the Father, Get Rich or Die Tryin and In America.-Life and career:...
Oscar winning In the Name of the Father, and several Neil Jordan
Neil Jordan
Neil Patrick Jordan is an Irish filmmaker and novelist. He won an Academy Award for The Crying Game.- Early life :...
films, have been shot. The BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
series Ballykissangel
Ballykissangel
Ballykissangel is a BBC television drama set in Ireland, produced in-house by BBC Northern Ireland. The original story revolved around a young English Roman Catholic priest as he became part of a rural community. It ran for six series, which were first broadcast on BBC One in the UK from 1996 to 2001...
was also filmed in County Wicklow. Scenes from the movie P.S. I Love You
P.S. I Love You (film)
P.S. I Love You is a 2007 American drama film directed by Richard LaGravenese. The screenplay by LaGravenese and Steven Rogers is based on the 2004 novel of the same name by Cecelia Ahern. The film is dedicated to the memory of producer Molly Smith's sister Windland Smith Rice.-Plot:Holly and Gerry...
were shot in the Wicklow Mountains National Park
Wicklow Mountains National Park
Wicklow Mountains National Park is a protected area in County Wicklow, Ireland, one of six national parks in the country. The park is located in the Wicklow Mountains a short distance south of Dublin...
while several scenes from other movies, from Barry Lyndon
Barry Lyndon
Barry Lyndon is a 1975 British-American period romantic war film produced, written, and directed by Stanley Kubrick based on the 1844 novel The Luck of Barry Lyndon by William Makepeace Thackeray which recounts the exploits of an 18th century Irish adventurer...
to Haywire
Haywire (film)
Haywire is an upcoming action film directed by Steven Soderbergh, starring Gina Carano, Antonio Banderas, Michael Douglas, Ewan McGregor, Channing Tatum and Michael Fassbender.-Plot:...
, have been filmed in the county.
Media
- The local radio station in Wicklow is East Coast FMEast Coast FMEast Coast FM is an Irish local radio station broadcasting from Bray, County Wicklow under a sound broadcasting contract from the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland...
. - Local newspapers include Wicklow Times and Wicklow People.
See also
- List of abbeys and priories in County Wicklow.
- Lord Lieutenant of WicklowLord Lieutenant of WicklowThis is a list of people who have served as Lord-Lieutenant of Wicklow. The office was created on 23 August 1831.* William Howard, 4th Earl of Wicklow 7 October 1831 – 22 March 1869* William Brabazon, 11th Earl of Meath 1869 – 26 May 1887...
- High Sheriff of WicklowHigh Sheriff of WicklowThe High Sheriff of Wicklow was the British Crown’s judicial representative in County Wicklow, Ireland from Wicklow's formation in 1606 until 1922, when the office was abolished in the new Free State and replaced by the office of Wicklow County Sheriff. The sheriff had judicial, electoral,...
External links
- Wicklow County Council
- Wicklow County Tourism
- Map of Wicklow
- Wicklow news
- Wicklow information and directory
- Walks in Wicklow Mountains
