Discover Avoca: film history, art and river scenery

Avoca brings together a television story, art, a riverside walk and things to do in Avoca Village. You can see the filming locations of “Ballykissangel”, stop at the self-service café or explore painting and artistic processes at Avoca Studio Gallery. When planning, it is worth distinguishing between these different reasons to visit: some are in the Village, while others are in the surrounding area or part of the wider destination of County Wicklow.

Avoca Village: filming locations and café

Avoca Village was a filming location for the BBC series “Ballykissangel”. As you walk through the Village, you can see locations from the series, such as Fitzgerald’s Pub, the church and local shops. This is one way to combine the show’s filming history with a walk around the village, without assuming that the different filming locations are open for visits inside.

The self-service café in Avoca Village serves homemade quiches, freshly prepared sandwiches, hearty soups and freshly baked sweet treats. It also offers an opportunity to take a break during your walk. The menu can change; if you are coming for a particular dish, it is best to check what is on offer beforehand.

Art and a glimpse into the creative process

Avoca Studio Gallery in Knockanode, Avoca, is an exhibition space and artists’ studio, as well as the home of Avoca Painting School. Visitors can meet the artist there and see work in progress or unfinished pieces. This draws attention not only to finished paintings but also to how art is made. If you would like to take advantage of this part of the gallery’s offering, it is best to check current visiting arrangements beforehand.

Avoca Valley Walk: path and roadside

The Avoca Valley Walk follows a footpath along the Avoca and runs beside the road. There is an opportunity to stop for a break along the way in Avoca Village. Both the path and the road are therefore useful for orienting yourself on this route. As the path runs alongside a busy public road, children should be supervised especially closely there. Road and path conditions can change; check them before your visit.

Literature and scenery in the surrounding area

At “The Meetings”, the Irish poet Thomas Moore wrote the melody “The Meeting of the Waters”. The landscape also adds to the area’s appeal: the Avonmore and Avonbeg rivers meet about two miles from the village of Avoca.

The Mottee Stone attracts visitors for its views. The erratic boulder was dislodged from its granite bed by a glacier during an ice age more than 10,000 years ago and carried to this area of County Wicklow, which consists mostly of shale. Iron rungs serve as a ladder, allowing visitors to climb 2.4 metres to the summit. If you are considering the climb, check conditions on site.

County Wicklow as a distinct regional setting

Beyond the attractions in Avoca, County Wicklow offers other cultural and scenic points of interest. In Glendalough, Saint Kevin founded a monastery in the 6th century. The remains of the Monastic City include a round tower, numerous medieval stone churches and decorated crosses. These sites offer insight into the region’s monastic history.

Wicklow Mountains National Park covers 20,000 hectares and is an important recreational area for locals and tourists. So, alongside Avoca and its filming locations, gallery and Valley Walk, there are distinct regional attractions to choose from. When planning your trip, you can decide whether to focus on experiences in Avoca or on other destinations in County Wicklow.

Discover more destinations: Greystones, Oldbridge, Bray, Boystown, Arklow, Newtownmountkennedy, Rathdrum, Tulfarris Holiday Village.

For the broader travel overview: County Wicklow.