Guided walks of the new Wicklow Town Heritage Trail are to commence, it has been announced.
The heritage trail was opened last year and allows natives and visitors the chance to learn the history of the town, with ‘storyboards’ illustrating key moments from the past along the walk.
The trailrail was officially opened last August by the Minister for Rural and Community Development and Social Protection, Heather Humphries.
The inaugural guided walk will take place on Sunday, 19 March and will be led by local historian John Finlay, whose knowledge of Wicklow Town played a key part in the creation of the trail.
Plans are currently being put in place to have a weekly guided walk of the Wicklow Town Heritage Trail with effect from Saturday 16 April.
The recommended time to complete the trail is approximately two hours, which is said to allow walkers the chance to visit and read each storyboard.
The seven storyboards along the trail are:
- The construction of St. Patrick’s church, which commenced in 1839.
- The story of the Franciscan Abbey, which dates back to the 12th Century.
- Robert Halpin’s achievement in laying the first Trans-Atlantic cable.
- The story of Billy Byrne and the 1798 rising in Wicklow Town.
- The history of the Black Castle.
- The attempted landing by St. Patrick at the Travelahawk Beach.
- The history relating to the Barrow Green, including stories of the secret burials that took place there.
