Places near here
Photo credits
- National Inventory of Architectural Heritage
- Jonathan Billinger, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0
- Maker named on the Wikimedia Commons picture page · CC BY-SA 2.5
Explorer Tom Ecclesiastical enclosure in Ballagh is secretly proud of a potato it grew in the middle ages, which it keeps polishing with its broken cross-arm. The grave markers look bored, but that’s because they’re waiting for you to arrive and tell them jokes. Perfect spot to practise your best tour-guide voice.
(Site of) Castle & RampartCastle, unclassified · 1497 ydExplorer Tom Castle & Rampart in Kilpipe handles nosey neighbours by pretending to be a very boring vegetable patch, which works brilliantly every single time. The locals just shrug and walk past, thinking it’s another field of stubborn turnips that refused to grow properly. Tell your mates you found it first.
IndicatedEnclosure · 1526 ydExplorer Tom Enclosure in Curraghlawn would get 'Finally got half a chance' written on its tombstone because a road cut off the rest of it. It’s defined by an earthen bank and two rectangular hollows that look like they were made for hiding treasure. Stick around for the light changing, it's a show.
Kilpipe ChurchChurch/chapel · 1.1 miExplorer Tom Kilpipe Church mixes Gothic tracery with Romanesque openings because nobody could agree on a style. I heard it was nearly sold to buy a horse for a very angry vicar. Whisper a quick 'hi' to that confused masonry for luck.
Coolalug WoodWood · 1.6 miExplorer Tom The most dramatic thing to ever happen at Coolalug Wood was a squirrel dropping a pinecone on a tourist’s head in 1994. That is officially the peak of its cinematic career, so don’t expect any explosions or romance. Linger, it's not going anywhere and neither should you.
Site of CastleCastle, unclassified · 1.6 miExplorer Tom The site of Castle in Kilballyowen has a ghost who is too lazy to haunt it properly, preferring to just nap in the grass instead. It’s not visible at ground level, so you’re basically talking to an imaginary friend with good manners. Bring a flask and pretend you own the place.
Saint John's Church (Preban)Church/chapel · 1.8 miExplorer Tom Saint John's Church in Tomcoyle has one favorite song: a low, Gothic hum that echoes through its original fabric. It loves the backdrop of tall trees more than any hymn you could ever sing. Bring your ears; it’s singing to the sky right now.
1798 Lacey Brothers MemorialMemorial · 2.0 miExplorer Tom The 1798 Lacey Brothers Memorial would cope brilliantly on a reality show because it knows exactly how to look important without saying a word. It’s got that vibe where you respect it but also want to hug it. Have a chat with it, nobody's watching.
Croghan KinsellaMountain / peak · 2.4 miExplorer Tom Croghan Kinsella once produced a reason for everybody to stare at the ground instead of the view. Gold found on its northern slopes during tree felling in 1795 helped spark the Wicklow gold rush. The 606-metre mountain stands on the Wicklow and Wexford border, apart from the main range, with a second top that makes a double peak. Its fuller name recalls the Uí Chinnsealaigh family. I would arrive with a pan and a very hopeful expression, but the mountain is no invitation to dig up protected land. Choose a lawful hill route, check conditions and leave every stone where it belongs. From a distance, find the twin rise that sets Croghan apart. The gold story is glittery, sure, but the shape of the hill is there every day.
1798 MemorialMemorial · 2.5 miExplorer Tom I reckon this 1798 Memorial smells like old rain and stubbornness, according to me nose which is usually right about things. It’s got that classic 'don’t mess with me' energy, so just count the windows and get it wrong like I did if you want to keep its respect. Go on, count the windows and get it wrong like I did.
Monalee HillMountain / peak · 3.2 miExplorer Tom Monalee Hill suspects the postman is stealing letters and hiding them in the turf. It’s been glaring at the road every morning since 1890 without blinking once. Tell me if the gossip I made up is true.
Sessile Oak5.3 miExplorer Tom Sessile Oak in County Wicklow would ace any job interview because it has over two hundred years of continuous employment history. Its resume is basically 'stood here, grew bigger, survived storm, still standing,' which is pretty impressive for a tree. It doesn’t need a LinkedIn profile; its roots are the best networking tool you can get. Perfect detour when the satnav has a meltdown.
More memorials and graveyards in County Wicklow · All of County Wicklow
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