Avoca is a town in east Wicklow with a fascinating history and heritage. Marked on Ptolemy’s map of Ireland, it has long been considered an important location for visitors far beyond Ireland. From the Mottee Stone, stunning views extend outwards across the Irish Sea to Wales and inland towards Glenmalure. Evidence of the importance of mining to this area is everywhere.
Copper and the other minerals mined here were originally formed underneath the earth’s ocean crust and were gradually brought to the surface by the movements of the earth’s plates. During the last ice age, large glaciers removed soil and rock as they carved their way through the valley, revealing these minerals at the surface. Large-scale mining in the 1800s and 1900s have shaped the landscape in the form of ruined mine workings and even an artificial mountain, Mount Platt.
The valley is home to a proud weaving tradition. Avoca Handweavers Mill founded in 1723 is Ireland’s oldest continuously operating weaving mill. The area is also home to a rich and varied biodiversity, including the red kite which was reintroduced to Ireland here from Wales in 2007. The valley is famed for Thomas Moore’s poem ‘The Meeting of the Waters’ about the meeting of the Avonmore and Avonbeg rivers. More recently, the town has been the backdrop for a number of television programmes and films including ‘Ballykissangel’ and ‘Jules Verne’s Rocket to the Moon.’