Wicklow Town
Wicklow Town is the county town of County Wicklow on the east coast of Ireland; in 2022 it had a population of about 13,000. It forms a semicircle around Wicklow harbour, while just north lies 'The Murrough', a grassy walking area beside the sea, and the eastern coastal strip. The main reason to visits are its historic jail, its nearby gardens and parks, and upscale accommodation that makes a great base for exploring the county.
Understand
edit
The town's English name is simply Wicklow, probably from Wykinglo "Viking meadow", but the same name is also used for the county, so these pages call it "Wicklow Town" wherever ambiguity might arise. The Irish name is unrelated: Cill Mhantáin meaning "church of the toothless one", supposedly because a colleague of St Patrick got his teeth knocked out by hostile locals, but still succeeded in establishing a church here.
This area is lowland but was slow to urbanise. It was connected by railway from 1855 but the roads were poor until the 1950s, when N11 was improved along the coast between Dublin and Wexford. This has now been upgraded to motorway, promoting industry and commuter and leisure transport.
The River Vartry, which is dammed to supply water to Dublin near its source above Roundwood, almost reaches the coast 4 km north of Wicklow. But there it's trapped behind a spit and forms a long lagoon before entering the sea through Wicklow harbour.
Get in
edit1 Wicklow railway station (Stáisiún Chill Mhantáin), Station Road (north end of town by the R999 river bridge). Trains run five times a day from Dublin Connolly via Tara Street, Pearse station, Dún Laoghaire, Bray and Greystones, taking 70 min to Wicklow. They continue south to Rathdrum, Gorey, Arklow, Enniscorthy, Wexford and Rosslare, which has ferries to Fishguard and Pembroke in Wales. 
Bus Éireann 133 runs hourly from Dublin Busáras via the city south side, Kilmacanogue, Newtown Mount Kennedy and Rathnew, taking 90 min to Wicklow.
Wexford Bus 740A runs hourly from Dublin Airport via Dublin Georges Quay, city south side, Kilmacanogue, Rathnew, and Wicklow, continuing to Arklow and Gorey. For Wexford and points south, change at Gorey onto the 740 from Dublin airport and city, which bypasses Wicklow.
Local Link Bus 183 runs 4 or 5 times a day from Naas via Blessington, Glendalough, Laragh, Annamoe, Roundwood, Rathnew and Ashford.
By car from north or south follow N11 / M11.
Get around
edit
Bus 133 runs past Mount Usher Gardens. You need your own wheels to reach Kilmacurragh Gardens.
The local taxi firm is 66100 Cabs, tel +353 404 66100.
See
edit- 1 Wicklow Gaol, 1 Kilmantin Hill A67 Y337, ☏ +353 404 61599. Daily March-Nov 10:30AM-4:30PM, Jan Feb 11AM-3:30PM. Notoriously harsh 18th-century jail, which often held convicts awaiting transportation to the colonies. It was extended from 1822 and remained in use until 1924. As well as the standard tour, there's also an immersive virtual reality tour, plus the inevitable ghost tour. Standard tour adult €12.50, conc €11.50, child €10.
- Black Castle is the scrappy stump of a Norman fortress near the harbour east pier, you just come for the view.
- East Pier (or old pier) has the better view over harbour and town, but North or new pier is more popular for swimmers June-August, when "the Wendy" bathing raft is deployed.
- The Franciscan Friary at the west end of Main Street was also built in Norman times. After the Dissolution it served as an armoury and court house before falling into picturesque ruin.
- 2 Wicklow Head 3 km south of town is the most easterly point on the Republic's mainland: on a clear day you might glimpse Snowdonia. There are two lighthouses: the upper structure built 1781 has a front and rear tower. It was wrecked by lightning in 1831 but left as an unlit day-mark; it's available as a self-catering let. A second lighthouse was built lower down, where it was less likely to be obscured by low cloud. This was automated in 1994 and remains active.
- 3 Mount Usher Gardens, Ashford A67 RT18 (off Jcn 16 of M11), ☏ +353 404 49672. Daily 10AM-5PM. Grand gardens laid out in 1868 along both banks of the river. Open all year, no dogs or picnics. Adult €10, conc €8, child €5.
- 4 Kilmacurragh Botanic Gardens, Kilmacurragh A67 YR12 (6 km southwest of town), ☏ +353 404 48844. Daily 9AM-5PM. Gardens and arboretum laid out by the Acton family from 1712. They're now a branch of the National Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin, Dublin, open all year. The Wicklow soil is acidic and suits species that don't thrive at Glasnevin, such as rhododendron and the monkey puzzle tree. Kilmacurragh House was the Acton's Queen Anne-style mansion, but it's derelict and fenced off. Free.
- 5 Avondale Forest Park (Beyond the Trees), Rathdrum A67 P303, ☏ +353 404 46111. The mansion was the birthplace and home of Charles Stewart Parnell, leader of the 1880s campaign for Irish Home Rule until mired by scandal. The House is open for tours, but most visitors are here for the treetop walkway (fully accessible), spiral viewing tower and parkland.. House €11, walkway €16.
- 6 Devil's Glen is a scenic ravine loud with waterfalls. Reach it by the lane off R763 ten km northwest of town.
Do
edit- What's on? Listen to East Coast FM on 94.9 / 96.2 / 99.9 / 102.9 FM or read Wicklow Times.
- Golf courses nearby are Wicklow Golf Club on Dunbur Rd on the coast south edge of town, and Blainroe 5 km further south.
- Beach: don't bother with those in town. South is rocky, the centre is industrial, and access to the north is cut off by the railway. You need to drive south 15 km to find sand dunes and clean sand, at Silver Strand, Brittas Bay and Maheramore.
- Round Ireland Yacht Race is hosted by Wicklow Sailing Club every two years in June, with several boat classes including multi-hulls. The next will be held 22 June 2024.
- Wicklow Regatta: snooty Cowes it's not, it's a family and fun event and even the sailing is likely to be in piratical drag on wacky craft. It's held over 10 days in July and August.
Buy
edit
- The big store is Tesco northwest along the main road. It's open M-Sa 7AM-10PM, Su 8AM-10PM.
- There's an ATM at the Bank of Ireland.
Eat
edit- Main Street has Le Marché Lebanese, Opera Wicklow, Francesco's Diner, The Bridge (see Sleep) and Tikka Asian Street Food.
- Brass Fox, 14 Leitrim Place A67 Y420 (east riverbank), ☏ +353 404 64432. Su-Th 9AM-11:30PM, F Sa 9AM-12:30AM. Mostly traditional fare, gets good reviews for quality and service.
- Brunel Restaurant at Tinakilly Country House is the standout, see Sleep.
Drink
edit- Main Street pubs include O'Shea's Corner, The Growlerman (O'Connors), Fitzpatrick's, Phil Healey's, Black Castle, Ernie's and Tà Sè's.
- Glendalough Distillery produces whiskey, gin and poitín. Their website extols the scenery and mystery of Glendalough that infuses their craft, but they find themselves on an industrial estate in Newtown 10 km north of Wicklow town. No tours.
Sleep
edit- Bridge Tavern, Bridge St A67 C792, ☏ +353 404 64760. Pub restaurant with decent rooms. Meals served M-Sa 9AM-9PM, Su noon-8PM. B&B double €180.
- Silver Strand Caravan Park is 3 km southeast of town, on the coast near Wicklow Head.
- Glen na Smole is a B&B on Ashdown Lane, southwest edge of town.
- 1 Tinakilly Country House, Tinakilly, Rathnew A67 EE09 (5 km west of town), ☏ +353 404 69274. Upscale hotel in Italianate country villa, with rooms decked out in period style, and extensive gardens. Excellent restaurant is open daily to 9PM. B&B double €200.
- Knockrobin Glamping is in Rathnew 100 m north of Tinakilly House, open March-Dec.
- 2 Hunter's Hotel, Newrath Bridge, Rathnew A67 TN30, ☏ +353 404 40106. Charming tasteful hotel in old coaching inn with gardens. B&B double €200.
- 3 Chester Beatty Inn, Main St, Ashford A67 VK09 (200 m north of Mount Usher Gardens), ☏ +353 404 40206. Coaching inn since 1854, now a classy restaurant with rooms. It's named for Sir Alfred Chester Beatty the mining tycoon, who had a country retreat nearby: his fabulous art collection is in Dublin Castle. B&B double €200.
Connect
editAs of May 2024, Wicklow town has 5G from all Irish carriers.
Go next
edit- Glendalough is an extensive medieval monastic complex in a scenic valley in the Wicklow mountains.
- Arklow has a maritime museum and a pyramid.
- Lively Dublin is little more than an hour away.