History & Heritage

Bray

Bray has a rich and varied history starting at the River Dargle which runs through it, over 800 years ago, but only the coming of the railway and improved roads in the 19th century brought new visitors to Bray and led to it’s development as a modern town and seaside resort within 25 minutes from Dublin City Centre.

By the middle of the 19th century, tourism developed, and Bray became known as the Brighton of Ireland. The town still retains some reminders of distant medieval past and much of it’s out-standing Georgian and Victorian architecture can be found on the seafront.

In medieval times, Bray was on the borders of the coastal district, governed directly by the English crown from Dublin Castle. Inland, the countryside was under the control of Gaelic Chieftains, such as the O'Toole and O'Byrne clans. During the 17th and 18th centuries, Bray was still a small fishing village, but during the latter part of the 18th century, the Dublin middle classes came to Bray to escape city life.

The Dublin & Kingstown Railway, the first in Ireland, opened in 1834 and was extended as far as Bray in 1855. With the railway the town grew to become the largest Irish seaside resort.

Bray’s town crest is a commemoration to it’s heritage and local history.

In the shield, the central piece dividing the field in two represents the bridge over the Dargle River, which separates Bray from Little Bray. The bell represents the ruined church of Raheenacluig, still found on Bray Head. The lion represents the arms of the O'Toole clan, who feature heavily in Wicklow's history. The martlet/swallow is representative of the Brabazon family (the Earls of Meath) who still retain a large amount of land and a manor house at Killruddery in Bray. The mermaid is representative both of Bray's close connection with the sea, and also of the O'Byrne clan, an Irish family involved in the Cromwellian wars.

The crest motto "Féile agus Fáilte" means "hospitality and welcome".

Throughout its history Bray has attracted a number of famous residents and visitors. Author James Joyce lived in 1 Martello Terrace, the house still here today, during part of his childhood, from 1887 to 1891. The house next door, 2 Martello Terrace, also had its share of well-known residents, including singer Mary Coughlan, and film director Neil Jordan.

In the ‘80s Bono owned the Martello tower that stands near the harbour.

During the heyday of Ardmore Studios, numerous film stars stayed and socialised in the town while filming here.

Some of Bray’s heritage is right under your nose. A trip to Mc Donald’s Restaurant for instance, and you’re in the Town Hall, built 1881-3.

Ennikserry

The village of Enniskerry was redeveloped by the Wingfields of Powerscourt after 1815.

Here the Romantic notions which inspired the taste for Gothic and Tudor styles in the county's mansions, were also quickly adopted in buildings of a more modest nature. In many of the buildings in Enniskerry village, the mixture of elements derived from the Tudor style and the use of purely picturesque decorative elements was used extensively.

The village school house (1818), constabulary barracks (c.1840), inn (c.1711, c.1835), almshouse (c.1840), hall (c.1850) and a large proportion of dwelling houses within and just outside of Enniskerry, exhibit Tudor style elements. The result is a village whose structures complement their well-wooded, Alpine, surroundings.

In Enniskerry the Protestant population of the village attended church in the grounds of Powerscourt demesne until 1859. Mervyn Wingfield, 7th Viscount Powerscourt built a new church in the village which was completed two years later in 1861.

This coincided with an extensive renovation programme that involved the house and new show-piece gardens resulting in the magnificence that is Powerscourt today.