pop (2000e) 98 000; area 2025 km²/782 sq mi. County in Leinster province, E Ireland; bounded E by Irish Sea; watered by Slaney, Liffey, and Avoca Rivers; Wicklow Mts (W); capital, Wicklow (pop (2000e) 5300); agriculture; resort towns (eg Bray).
Wicklow (Cill Mhantáin in Irish) is the county town of County Wicklow in Ireland. The town lies along the N11 route between Dublin and Wexford. Wicklow is also connected to the rail network with Dublin commuter services now extending to the town.
Town History
Local history contends that the town of Wicklow was founded by the Vikings, probably around 870 AD. However, given the town's natural harbour and rich agricultural surrounds, it is not surprising that the area was an established settlement prior to the 9th century.
The Irish name Cill Mhantáin has an interesting history of its own. Manntach (toothless one), as he became known was undeterred and returned to the town, eventually founding a church.
The English-language 'Wicklow' placename bears no relation to the original Irish Cill Mhantáin ('Church of Mantáin'). The Norman influence can still be seen today in some of the town's place and family names.
After the Norman invasion Wicklow was granted to Maurice FitzGerald who set about building the 'Black Castle', a land-facing fortification that lies ruined on the coast immediately south of the harbour.
The surrounding County of Wicklow is rich in bronze age monuments. The oldest existing settlement in the town is the Franciscan Abbey, located at the west end of Main Street, within the gardens of the local Roman Catholic parish grounds.
Other notable buildings include the Town Hall and the Gaol, built in 1702 and recently renovated as a heritage centre and tourist attraction. The East Pier, arguably the most important building in the town, was built in the early 1880s by Wicklow Harbour Commissioners. He is commemorated by a statue in the town square. At Fitzwilliam Square in the centre of Wicklow town is an obelisk commemorating the career of Captain Robert Halpin, commander of the telegraph cable ship Great Eastern who was born in Wicklow in 1836, and arguably the most important mariner in global 19th century maritime history.
Geography
Wicklow town occupies a rough circle around Wicklow harbour.
To the south is a string of sandy beaches extending almost as far as Arklow.
A changing town
Since 1995, the town has undergone significant change and expansion reflecting the simultaneous growth in the Irish economy. Considerable residential development has taken place to the southwest of the town along Marlton Road. More recently, housing developments have been concentrated to the northwest of the town towards the neighbouring village of Rathnew. These factors have lead to a steady growth in population of Wicklow and its surrounding townslands while its importance as a commuter town to Dublin increases.
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