Aughrim (/ˈɔːkrɪm/; Irish: Eachroim, meaning "horse ridge"[2]) is a small town in County Wicklow, Ireland. It lies in a scenic valley in the Wicklow Mountains in the east of Ireland where the Ow and Derry rivers meet to form the Aughrim River. Aughrim is on the R747 road between Arklow and Baltinglass, and the R753 regional road.
Aughrim
Eachroim | |
|---|---|
Village | |
 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°W | |
| Country | Ireland |
| Province | Leinster |
| County | Wicklow |
| Elevation | 100 m (300 ft) |
| Population | |
| • Urban | 1,442 |
| Irish Grid Reference | T123797 |
| Website | www |
Architecture edit
The Rednagh Bridge south of the village was the site of an engagement during the 1798 rebellion between Crown forces and the rebels.
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.
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.[citation needed]
Aughrim has won the Irish Tidy Towns Award for the tidiest village in County Wicklow from 1996 to 2007 and won the Irish Tidy Towns Competition in 2007.
Wind farm dispute edit
Since 2014, German-owned company ABO Wind has applied to build a wind farm surrounding Aughrim. It would include eleven turbines (150 m tall) with access roads, covering the hills between Aughrim and Arklow, in the townlands of Ballymanus, Roddenagh, Killaduff, Askekeagh, Ballinglen, Preban, Tomcoyle, Kilballyowen, Killacloran, Clone, Coolahullin, Ballycoog Upper and Lower, Ballykillageer Upper and Lower, Ballintemple, Coolgarow, Kilcarra East and West, Glenart, Shelton Abbey, Kilbride and Killinskyduff. Local residents have opposed the plan and formed the South Wicklow Wind Action Group (SWWAG) to campaign against it. Wicklow County Council voted to reject the wind farm. In 2017, ABO Wind applied to build the wind farm again, with minor adjustments.[3] This was also opposed, but in 2019 An Bord Pleanála approved the wind farm, against the recommendation of their own inspector. This controversial decision has been awaiting judicial review.[4]
Sports edit
Aughrim has a number of walking trails, with the Sean Linehan Way starting 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.[citation needed]
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. A Paul McGinley-designed golf course is open at nearby Macreddin.[citation needed]
People edit
- Tara Blaise, singer, grew up in the village
- Shane Byrne, Irish rugby union international was born in Aughrim
- Anne Devlin (1780–1851), accomplice of Robert Emmet
Gallery edit
-
River Aughrim -
1798 Rebellion commemoration plaque -
Hills overlooking Aughrim
See also edit
References edit
- ^ "Census 2016 Sapmap Area: Settlements Aughrim". Central Statistics Office. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
- ^ Field, John (1980). Place-names of Great Britain and Ireland. Newton Abbot, Devon: David & Charles. p. 27. ISBN 0389201545. OCLC 6964610.
- ^ "New application for 11-turbine wind farm in south Wicklow". Irish Independent. 15 July 2017.
- ^ "Row over planned wind farm at Cork beauty spot Gougane Barra". The Irish Times. 26 April 2022.
- Illustrated road book of Ireland, Second Edition, Automobile Association, London (1970)