County Wicklow is a county on the east
coast of Ireland, situated immediately south of Dublin, and located
within the province of Leinster. The county is bordered by the Irish
Sea to the east and by the counties of Carlow and Kildare to the
west. County Wexford forms the southern boundary, and the northern
border is now made up of two parts of what was County Dublin (Dún
Laoghaire-Rathdown County and South Dublin County). Wicklow is known
as the Garden of Ireland, more because of its fine scenery rather
than its agricultural produce. It was also the last of the
conventional 32 counties to be formed, its lands having previously
been divided between Carlow and Dublin.
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The population of the county at the 2006 census was 126,194 making
Wicklow the seventh most densely populated county in Ireland. This
statistic is greatly influenced by the number of Dublin workers who
choose to commute from homes in this appealing county. The county
seat is Wicklow town with a population of 10,000 although the
largest urban centre is Bray (pop. 31,901), on the northern limits
of the county and effectively a Dublin suburb. The Wicklow Mountains
which cover much of the county are the largest range of uplands in
Ireland. Lugnaquilla is the highest peak of the range and the
highest mountain in Leinster at just over 3,000 feet (the minimum
height for high ground to qualify as a mountain), but at just 13th
in the list of Irish mountains one gets the impression that the
Wicklow Mountains are ideal for ramblers rather than all-out
mountaineers. This expansive hilly terrain is sparsely populated
meaning that the larger Wicklow towns scattered down the East coast
make up a consistently dense but desirable residential region on the
edge of one of Ireland’s National Parks.
Wicklow Mountains National Park
The National Park, which covers much of upland Wicklow, contains an
area of approximately 20,000 hectares (49,421 acres). This includes
large areas of mountain blanket bogs, including the Lugnaquilla and
Liffey Head Bog complexes and Glendalough Wood Nature Reserve. The
National Park provides protection for the landscape and wildlife,
from rare orchids to the wild and beautiful Pergrine Falcon. The
information Point and Education Centre for the park are located
nearby in Glendalough Valley. The Education Centre provides a range
of courses and tours for schoolchildren, students and other groups.
These are related to nature conservation and the ecology of the
National Park.
Dwyer McAllister Cottage
The cottage nestles in the shade of Kaedeen mountain at the top of a
grassy lane off the Donard to Rathdangan road in Co. Wicklow. It is
a fine example of a traditional thatched cottage built with local
stone and whitewashed inside and out. It was from this cottage, in
the Winter of 1799, that the famed rebel, Michael Dwyer, fought the
encircling British groups and finally made good his escape over the
snow covered mountains. The cottage was later destroyed by fire and
lay in ruins for almost 150 years. It was restored to its original
form as a monument in the late 1940's and again extensively repaired
and re-roofed in 1992.
Holiday Homes in Wicklow Ireland
National Garden Exhibition Centre
The National Garden Exhibition Centre is situated near the N11 route
about 3 km south of the Glen of the Downs. The centre features 16
gardens laid out by some of the best designers and contractors and
aims to create the maximum amount of diversity and contrast between
gardens large and small. There are 100's of garden plan ideas, and a
large number of specifically chosen trees and shrubs. There is also
an Irish designed Le Batre water clock. Some of the permanent
displays include a Harlequin Walk, a Herb Knot, an Acid Garden, a
Water and Woodland Garden, Man made woodland stream and ponds, and a
neo Georgian wall. Refreshments are available in the patio garden
and plants can be purchased in the adjoining nursery.
National Sealife Centre
The National Sea Life Centre Bray invites visitors to enjoy a
journey through the magical world of underwater wildlife…without
getting wet! Featuring over 24 spectacular displays, National Sea
Life Centre Bray offers an unforgettable insight into the marvels of
Ireland’s freshwater and marine world, as well as the opportunity to
view, at close quarters, creatures from all over the world! Amazing
creatures await you at every turn: from armour-plated, to ferocious
red-bellied piranhas; from cuckoo wrasse who change sex, to
seahorses whose males give birth. With over 70 different species on
view, the visit culminates at our breath-taking ocean feature:
Tropical Shark Lagoon (Home to Black Tip Reef Sharks and Leopard
Sharks)
Russborough House
Russborough, which has often been described as the most beautiful
house in Ireland,was built between 1740 & 1750 in the Palladian
Style by Richard Castle with fine stucco ceilings by the Lafranchini
brothers. The house which is beautifully maintained and lavishly
furnished contains paintings from the Beit Collection, fine
furniture, tapestries, carpets, porcelain and silver. There is a
very substantial Beech Hedge Maze which provides fun for all the
family’
Wicklow Cottages
Avondale House and Forest Park
Birthplace and home of Charles Stewart Parnell (1846-1891) set in a
magnificent Forest Park of over 500 acres. Georgian House built in
1777, containing fine original plasterwork, original furniture.
Video presentation, expert guides, restaurant (Wine Licence), picnic
and children’s play area and 2 Orienteering Courses. Avondale is
also synonymous with the birth of Irish Forestry. The State
purchased Avondale in 1904 and it was here that the first
silvicultural experimental plots were laid. The 500 acre park today
has a number of marked walks, - River Walk, Exotic Walk, Pine Walk,
Sli na Slainte walk, Cairn Walk ,and this year the new Centenary
Walk. All worth a visit
Baltinglass Abbey
The Abbey was founded in 1148 by Dermot Mc Murrough, King of
Leinster for the Cistercian of monks. In 1228 it is recorded that
there were thirty six monks and fifty lay brothers living there. The
Abbey ceased to function in the mid sixteenth century but fragments
of the church and traces of the cloister survive. The nave aisle has
alternate squares and cylindrical piers, the bases and capitals of
which are decorated with a range of designs. The bases of two
Romanesque doorways and the well preserved sedilla in the presbytery
are also of interest. Adjoining the abbey is a great pyramid style
granite mausoleum, built in 1832 as a tomb for the Stratford family.
Avoca Handweavers Bray
Our main offices and some of Avoca's clothes manufacturing are based
in these grounds at Kilmacanogue also. So we get to enjoy the
gardens and great food at first hand. Set in the grounds of the old
Jameson (of whiskey fame) estate, surrounded by ancient trees and
rolling gardens, the Avoca store at Kilmacanogue is one of Ireland's
most rewarding shopping experiences. Just 30 minutes south from
Dublin's city centre, there's something here for everyone: a shop
which assails the senses, rich in colour, smell and texture, a
veritable treasure trove. Wonderful gardens and the acclaimed Avoca
Nursery. A popular Terrace Cafe and gourmet foodhall. And that's
only a start.
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Mount Usher Gardens
These privately owned gardens are laid out along the banks of the
Vartry River. They measure 20 acres and contain appox. 5,000
different species of plants and trees including many rhododendrons,
magnolias, camellias, eucryphia and shrubs. Water forms an essential
part of the scenery with cascades and suspension bridge visible from
many sections. Mount Usher is a wild i.e. Robinsonian garden dating
from approx. 1860. There is a spacious tearoom and a shopping
courtyard.
Towns and Villages in County Wicklow
Two other large towns on the coast are Greystones (which as its name
suggests has a rocky shoreline as well as good beaches) and Arklow
situated on the River Avoca. Other towns of interest include
Ashford, Aughrim, Avoca, Baltinglass, Blessington (with its
spectacular lake drive) , Carnew, Donard, Dunlavin, Enniskerry,
Glenealy, Kilcoole, Kilmacanoge, Kilpedder, Laragh, Newcastle,
Newtown Mount Kennedy, Rathdrum, Rathnew, Roundwood, Shillelagh,
Stratford and Tinahely.
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