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County Wicklow
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County Wicklow is a county on the east coast of Ireland, immediately south of Dublin. The county is bordered by the Irish Sea and the counties of Carlow, Kildare, Wexford, as well as two parts of what was County Dublin, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County and South Dublin County. Wicklow is known as the Garden of Ireland because of its scenery.
The population of the county at the 2006 census was 126,194. The county seat is Wicklow (pop. 10,070), although the largest urban centre is Bray (pop.
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Encyclopedia
County Wicklow is a county on the east coast of Ireland, immediately south of Dublin. The county is bordered by the Irish Sea and the counties of Carlow, Kildare, Wexford, as well as two parts of what was County Dublin, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County and South Dublin County. Wicklow is known as the Garden of Ireland because of its scenery.
The population of the county at the 2006 census was 126,194. The county seat is Wicklow (pop. 10,070), although the largest urban centre is Bray (pop. 31,901), on the northern border and effectively a Dublin suburb. Other main towns include Greystones (pop. 14,569), and Arklow (pop. 11,749). All of these towns are situated on the east coast.
History
County Wicklow is sometimes known as 'the last county' as it was the last of the original counties to be established, in 1606 from land previously part of County Dublin and County Carlow (which then ran to the sea and included Arklow). Establishment as a distinct county 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 crushing 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.
Geography
The Wicklow Mountains are the largest continuous upland region on the island of Ireland; the highest mountain in the range, Lugnaquilla, rises to 925 m. The Wicklow Way, the oldest waymarked long distance walking trail in Ireland, traverses the range, although tending to avoid major summits; the highest point, White Hill at 630 m, ranks as just the 29th highest peak in the county.
Wicklow rivers include the Avoca and the Liffey; other natural features include Lough Dan and Lough Tay, and the lakes of Glendalough.
Towns and villages
- Aghavannagh, Annamoe, Arklow, Ashford, Aughrim, Avoca.
- Ballinaclash, Ballinakil, Ballycoogue, Baltinglass, Blessington, Bray, Brittas Bay.
- Carnew, Coolafancy, Coolboy.
- Delgany, Donard, Dunlavin.
- Enniskerry.
- Glencree, Glendalough, Glenealy, Grangecon, Greenan, Greystones.
- Hollywood.
- Kilcoole, Killincarrig, Kilmacanogue, Kilpedder, Kiltegan, Knockananna.
- Lacken, Laragh.
- Manor Kilbride, Meeting of the Waters.
- Newcastle, Newtownmountkennedy.
- Poulaphouca.
- Rathnew, Rathdrum, Redcross, Roundwood.
- Shillelagh, Stratford-on-Slaney.
- Tinahely.
- Valleymount.
- Wicklow, Woodenbridge.
Energy
The Turlough Hill pumped-storage scheme, a significant civil engineering project, was carried out in the mountains in the 1960s and 1970s.
Media
Culture
County Wicklow is one of the most popular film-making locations in Ireland. Bray, in the north of the county, 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.
Bray Jazz Festival, the county's premier arts festival event, takes place on the May Bank Holiday weekend each year.
Wicklow is also home to a number of notable figures in literature, film, and music.
See also
External links
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