| PLACES OF INTEREST |
| Dun Laoghaire |
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Perhaps Ireland's oldest town, Dún Laoghaire is named after its founder, the High King of Ireland who used the area as his sea-fort for raiding into Britain and
France. The harbour is notable for its two granite piers. The East Pier is particularly popular with walkers, while the West Pier is heavily used year-round by windsurfers.
Other features of the town include the National Maritime Museum of Ireland and a Martello Tower in nearby Sandycove, known as the James Joyce Tower.
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| Sandycove |
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Sandycove is a pleasant little harbour where the James Joyce Museum can be found in the Martello Tower built in 1804. This tower was lived in briefly by James Joyce
and became famous as the setting for the opening of Ulysses. The museum was opened in 1962, featuring memorabilia, letters, first editions of Joyce's works and other
Joycean memorabilia. |
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| Dalkey |
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The name originates from the Gaelic "Deilig Inis" or Island of thorns and a sense of history is immediately apparent on entering the town. Once known as the 'Town of Seven Castles'
the castles were built as warehouses to store goods. Two of these: Goat Castle, which houses the Heritage Centre and Archbold's Castle are still standing today. Both can be seen on
the main street of this attractive village whose tight, winding roads and charming villas give it a Mediterranean feel. |
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| Enniskerry |
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| The picturesque village of Enniskerry is located east of The Wicklow Way. The heart of the village retains its elegant Victorian feeling with its most distinctive feature is the clock tower dating from 1843. It was erected as a memorial to the Wingfield family then owners of the nearby Powerscourt Estate. |
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| Powerscourt |
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Powerscourt House and Gardens are probably the finest in Ireland, both for their design and their dramatic setting at the foot of Great Sugar Loaf Mountain. Richard Wingfield,
the first Viscount Powerscourt, commissioned the house and grounds in the 1730's. It now incorporates a range of specialty shops as well as a restaurant, golf course and formal
gardens.
Free Admission to Powerscourt Gardens
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| Bray |
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Bray, known as the Gateway to the Garden of Ireland, is positioned in northeast Wicklow, just south of Dublin. Today, Bray is a vibrant holiday town and boasts fine hotels
and guesthouse accommodation, shops, restaurants and evening entertainment. It has a safe beach of sand and shingle, which attracts huge crowds in summer. Anyone in search
of peace and quiet can escape to nearby Bray head, which rises steeply above the sea, affording views of mountains and sea.
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