Aughrim, County Wicklow
Aughrim Eachroim | |
---|---|
Town | |
The Blacksmith's Forge beside Aughrim River | |
Aughrim Location in Ireland | |
Coordinates: 52°51′12″N 6°19′39″W / 52.8533°N 6.3275°WCoordinates: 52°51′12″N 6°19′39″W / 52.8533°N 6.3275°W | |
Country | Ireland |
Province | Leinster |
County | County Wicklow |
Elevation | 100 m (300 ft) |
Population (2011)[1] | |
• Urban | 1,364 |
Irish Grid Reference | T123797 |
Website |
www |
Aughrim (/ˈɔːkrɪm/; Irish: Eachroim, meaning "horse ridge") is a small town in County Wicklow, Ireland. It lies in a scenic valley in the east of Ireland where the Ow and Derry rivers meet to form the Aughrim river. Aughrim is on the R747 regional road which runs between Arklow and Baltinglass.
The Rednagh Bridge south of the village was the site of an engagement during the 1798 rebellion between Crown forces and the rebels.
Aughrim has won the Irish Tidy Towns Award for tidiest village in County Wicklow from 1996–2007, and won the Irish Tidy Towns Competition in 2007.
There are a number of unusual granite terraced houses throughout the village, constructed - along with a forge, and town hall - at the behest of the Earl of Meath. Aughrim was a granite mining village, and this material is widely used, giving the village a distinctive and coherent architecture.
A plaque on the bridge commemorates Anne Devlin, who was employed by and supported Robert Emmet, a revolutionary who was hanged in 1803 for his leadership of an aborted uprising.
Aughrim is an important agricultural, horticultural and timber processing village, and has become a popular venue for walkers. The Sean Linehan Way starts by Tinakilly Bridge on the east side of the village, while just to the west the Ciaran Shannon Way can be accessed via the Rednagh Road or by parking at Annacurragh village. Both walks offer a mix of woodland and riverside, with rich bird and wild-life along well-maintained forestry trails and walkways.
Sport
Aughrim is a sporting centre in Wicklow. The village is home to the county grounds of the Wicklow county Gaelic Athletic Association team. The Angling for All fishing lake and Aughrim river provide rainbow and brown trout fishing. The lake is popular with walkers and the nearby playground with young families. A Paul McGinley-designed golf course is open at nearby Macreddin.
Aughrim Rugby is based at the Community & Sports Complex on the Rednagh Road. They cater for under 6 to under 12 mini rugby as of season 2011/2012.
People
Born in Aughrim:
- Shane Byrne, Irish rugby union international.
- Gavin Byrne, Local golfer, plays off scratch.
Lived in Aughrim:
- Tara Blaise, singer.
See also
References
- ↑ "Aughrim Settlement Results". Central Statistics Office. 2011. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04.
- Illustrated road book of Ireland, Second Edition, Automobile Association, London (1970)