12-07-2025
Interest in free tours of Wicklow Town Heritage Trail grows thanks to new residents
Weekly volunteer guides have realised an increase interest among the long-established local population, with many of those who have taken part unaware of the depth of the rich history and heritage of their native town.
There has also been a significant uptake in interest from newcomers to the area who have been fascinated by the history and heritage of their locality, with each week attracting an increased number of overseas tourists from the UK, mainland Europe, America and Australia.
The tour includes the story of local man Robert Halpin who laid the first Trans-Atlantic cable, the history of the Abbey Grounds and the Franciscan Abbey, the story of Billy Byrne and the 1798 rising in Wicklow Town, the massacre of over 300 mainly women and children in Melancholy Lane by Sir Charles Coote in 1641, the story of the Black, the attempted landing by St. Patrick at Travelahawk Beach and the history relating to the Barrow Green.
The free weekly guided walks commence from outside the Failte Ireland Tourist office in Fitzwilliam Square at 11 am each Saturday morning until September 27.
The Wicklow Town Heritage Trail can also be self-guided and you can download the brochure for the trail by visiting where there are videos with various local actors telling the story of each key location.
