4 days ago
Wicklow stately home and grounds has been reimagined and now attracts visitors from all over Ireland
Avondale has been reimagined and now attracts visitors from around the world, as reporter David Medcalf discovered
Wicklow People
Today at 02:00
Coillte, the State forestry company, is responsible for a million acres and for hundreds of sites around Ireland, with a presence in practically every one of the 26 counties. Their open door policy means that they have at least 250 'recreational' forests. None of the other sites, however, is quite like Avondale in County Wicklow, which has become a light-hearted showcase for Irish forestry and Irish timber.
Not so long ago, the place was a handy venue for anyone in the Rathdrum area with a dog that needed walking, more a hidden gem than a national attraction. The big house, once the home of Charles Stewart Parnell, was off limits to the public while the forestry college was long since closed. This still left visitors with an enticing choice of routes to ramble around the splendidly wooded property. However, it was a low key operation as the 500 acre estate was run with a skeleton staff and it was far short of being a must-see item on any tourist agenda. Then the decision was taken to put Avondale on the visitor map in a big way.
