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Rathdrum, Co. Wicklow

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.

Gardens

Mount Usher Gardens

Ashford, Co. Wicklow

Mount Usher is particularly blessed in a number of ways. Originally created by the Walpole family, the garden owes its character to one of those happy confluences of history: The garden took shape over a period when the enthusiasm for new plant i ...

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Golf

Blainroe Golf Club

Wicklow, Co. Wicklow
Course Type: Parkland

Blainroe Golf Club is a par 72 parkland course that measures 6,800 yards from the tips, just south of Wicklow Town it is blessed by it’s location on the Irish Sea along a stretch of coastline renowned for having some of the best beaches in ...

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Self Catering

Wicklow Lighthouse

Wicklow, Co. Wicklow

Wicklow Head Lighthouse has safeguarded and decorated the scenic Wicklow coastline since 1781. It is a peace seeker’s haven with inspiring and refreshing views of the Irish Sea. The landscape and scenery surrounding the lighthouse provide a ...

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What's On

BrookLodge Farmers Market - County Wicklow

Brooklodge Farmers Market

BrookLodge Hotel, Macreddin village, County Wicklow

Organic food markets, held on the first Sunday of the month, noon-5pm (April - October).

M ...

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Tourist Attractions

Avondale House & Forest Park

Rathdrum, Co. Wicklow

Avondale House was built in 1777 for Samuel Hayes and when he died in 1795 the house passed to the Parnell Family. It was at Avondale that Charles Stewart Parnell, one of the greatest political leaders of modern Irish history, was born in 1846. ...

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Wedding Venues

Sha Roe Bistro

Clonegal, Co. Carlow

Henry Stone - well known for his years as head chef at nearby Marlfield House - and his partner, Stephanie Barrillier, hit the ground running when they opened this restaurant on the ground floor of a 1690 house on the main street of Clonegal, in ...

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