Main Tourist Attractions Include :
Glenroe Farm
Located at Kilcoole, as
both a real and fictional rural community Glenroe
Open Farm appeals to young and old alike. In addition
to being one of the principal filming locations
of popular TV series 'Glenroe', the Farm offers
close and easy access to a terrific selection of
farm animals and pets.
Powerscourt Gardens
Located at Enniskerry, one of the worlds great gardens, Powerscourt
Estate is situated twelve miles south of Dublin
in the foothills of the Wicklow Mountains. The
garden was begun in the 1740s and stretches out
over 45 acres. It is a sublime blend of formal
gardens, sweeping terraces, statuary and ornamental
lakes together with secret hollows, rambling walks,
walled gardens and over 200 variations of trees
and shrubs.
Avondale House and Forest Park
Built in 1779 by Samuel
Hayes, based on a design by James Wyatt, Avondale
House is set in the spectacular surroundings of
Avondale Forest Park at Rathdrum. Now a museum
to the memory of one of the greatest political
leaders of modern Irish history, Charles Stewart
Parnell, who was born in Avondale on 27th June,
1846. Parnell spent much
of his time at Avondale until his death on 6 October
1891. The House has been refurbished to the decor
of 1850 and a specially commissioned video has
been produced to introduce visitors to Parnell
and Avondale.
Russborough House
Located at Blessington, Russborough House was built for Joseph
Leeson, later Earl of Milltown, between 1740 and
1750. The architect was the German Richard Castle.
Sir Alfred Beit bought Russborough in 1952 as a
home for the Beit Collection of paintings. The
collection is dominated by Dutch, Flemish and Spanish
masterpieces, and includes English, Scottish, Italian
and French paintings. The house, which is beautifully
maintained, also contains fine furnitures, tapestries,
carpets, porcelain, sliver and bronzes. The Maize
is open every Sunday in July and August.
Wicklow's
Historic Goal
Located at Kilmantin Hill, Wicklow, this is
a major new visitor attraction located in Wicklow
town. There has been
a Gaol on this site since 1702 and it remained
active until 1924. During this time thousands of
prisoners, young and old, men, women and children,
guilty and innocent passed through its doors. The
story of Wicklows Historic Gaol is their story.
The exhibition covers such episodes as the 1798
rebellion, the
famine, life in the gaol during the eighteenth
and nineteenth centuries and transportation to
the penal colonies of Australia.
Mount Usher Gardens
Located at Ashford, Mount Usher Gardens are
amongst the loveliest in the country. They combine
a long time famous
collection of plants, gathered from all corners
of the world, with a romantic garden planted in
the tradition of William Robinson. Informal paths
wander along the river Vartry, across grassy expanses
patterned with bulbs, and on through light woodland
and groves of eucalyptus and magnolias. There
are 20 acres of flowers, trees, shrubs and lawns
laid out along the river Vartry, comprising of
over 5000 different types of shrubs and plants.
Avoca Hand Weavers
Located in Avoca Village, Avoca Hand Weavers is the oldest
working mill in Ireland today and dates from 1723.
Visitors are welcome to watch the whole weaving
process and to examine the yarns. The adjacent
mill shop houses the complete Avoca range of clothing
and a wide variety of the fine Irish crafts.
National Sea Life Centre
Located in Bray, the National Sea Life Centre hosts over twenty
fascinating displays, housing more than one hundred
different marine species. Exciting close encounters
with marvels of marine life, from shrimps and sharks
to octopus and eels are guaranteed.
Heritage Sites
Glendalough Visitor Centre
Glendalough Visitor Centre, close to Bray, stands at the entrance
to Glendalough Valley, just beside the main part
of the monastic settlement. The monastery was founded
in the sixth century by Saint Kevin and survived
up until the sixteenth century. The buildings which
survive date from between the eighth and the twelfth
centuries and include a well preserved round tower,
a number of fine stone churches and various crosses.
Dwyer McAllister Cottage - Derrynamuck
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.
Interesting
Shops
|
The
Vikings established Wicklow and comes from
the word "Vikinglow". The Black Castle just
outside of town was built by Maurice Fitzgerald
(Normans) on land given to him by Strongbow.
In 1599 the English planned to eliminate
the Irish. The two groups met at Deputy's
Pass and the English retreated to the castle,
followed by the Irish. The battle took place
on the castle grounds and ended with a heavy
English defeat.
