Avoca

Wicklow valley village where two rivers meet, known for Avoca Handweavers and wooded hill scenery.

Avoca sits in one of the prettiest valleys in County Wicklow, where two rivers meet among wooded hills. The village is small — a handful of streets along the Avoca River — but it draws visitors for the scenery and for Avoca Handweavers, Ireland's oldest working mill, producing woollen throws and blankets since 1723.

The Vale of Avoca, immortalised by the poet Thomas Moore as "the meeting of the waters," is the main attraction. The confluence of the Avonmore and Avonbeg rivers is signposted and worth a short walk. Nearby, the Avoca Copper Mines — once the largest in Europe — have left an otherworldly mineral-stained landscape along the river. The surrounding hills offer good walking country, and the village makes a pleasant stop on a drive through the Wicklow Mountains.

Fans of the BBC series Ballykissangel will recognise Avoca as the filming location for the fictional village of Ballykissangel — Fitzgerald's pub is still there, now trading on the connection.

Guide

Getting There

Avoca is in County Wicklow, about 65 kilometres south of Dublin and 10 kilometres west of Arklow. By car, take the N11 from Dublin to Arklow and then follow signs inland toward Avoca on the R754. The drive from Dublin takes about an hour in light traffic.

By public transport, take the Dublin to Rosslare Europort train to Arklow, from where local buses run to Avoca — the journey is infrequent and requires checking current schedules with Bus Éireann. Avoca is also on popular tour routes from Dublin through County Wicklow, and several day-trip operators include it on their Wicklow itineraries.

Guide

Things to Do

Avoca's appeal is simple: a pretty valley, an ancient mill, and good walking country. The village is small enough to cover in a morning, but the surrounding Wicklow hills reward anyone willing to lace up and head out. The Vale of Avoca — Thomas Moore's "meeting of the waters" — is the signature sight, and the handloom mill is the place to understand how this corner of County Wicklow has made its living for three centuries.