Rathdrum, Co. Wicklow

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Rathdrum is an attractive village that is pitched high on the western side of the beautiful Avonmore valley in County Wicklow. Rathdrum is served by mainline train and bus from Dublin and Rosslare.

It offers the tourist majestic views of the River Avonmore, which flows through the Vale of Clara. The town has fine shops, crafts, restaurants and evening entertainment and is the film location of films like “Michael Collins”, “A Love Divided” and “Durango” shot here. Rathdrum is an ideal base for exploring Wicklow by car, bike, horse or best of all, on foot. Right in the heart of Wicklow’s mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers and lakes, the whole area is an activity paradise. 

Rathdrum was the birthplace of Charles Stewart Parnell, one of the greatest political leaders of modern Irish history. Visitors are introduced to Avondale House by way of a video presentation of the life of Parnell, which is followed by a stroll around this historic house. The house is set amongst the Avondale Forest, which is excellent for both picnics and walking. In the town there is the Parnell National Memorial Park.

Rathdrum is an ideal location for hill walkling, cycling, canoeing and touring.

West of Rathdrum lies the scenic valley of Glenmalure, the longest glacier valley in either Ireland or Britain. Shadowed by the mighty Lugnaquilla (927m) its inhospitable terrain provided safe haven for rebels like Fiach McHugh O’Byrne who in 1580 defeated 800 English soldiers in the Battle of Glenmalure. Now a walkers paradise it is situated on the famous Wicklow Way Walk.