Avondale House and Forest Park - 4 Things to Know Before Visiting

Avondale House,is the birthplace and home of Charles Stewart Parnell. It is set in the Avondale Forest Park, approximately 1.5 km from the nearby town of Rathdrum. The House is now a museum open to visitors, who are introduced to the house by an audio visual presentation. Other facilities include a restaurant, book shop, picnic areas, children's play area, two orienteering courses. In the surrounding parkland are tree trails and walks ranging in duration from one to five hours.

Avondale Forest is a wooded estate in County Wicklow, Ireland, on the west bank of the River Avonmore. It contains the home of Charles Stewart Parnell which was built in 1777 by Samuel Hayes and is now the Parnell Museum. The park is rich in wildlife and notable features include the exotic tree trail and a well-developed arboretum. It lies mainly on the west bank of the Avonmore River covering 214 hectares of land. The ruins of Parnell's old sawmill and Parnell's well are located in the park.

This is a botanic garden outside Wicklow Town, County Wicklow, Ireland. It is a satellite of the main National Botanic Gardens located in Glasnevin, County Dublin. The 52 acre gardens are situated 5km from exit 18 on the M11 motorway. It is now part of the National Botanic Gardens, providing a complementary collection of plants to its parent garden at Glasnevin. Arrive in spring to witness the transformation of the walks, as fallen rhododendron blossoms form a stunning magenta carpet.

Shekina is situated in the centre of Co. Wicklow, in the townland of Kirikee which is locally considered as the gateway to the wild Glenmalure Valley. It is set within a one acre garden, which includes an undulating stream running through it feeding two ponds. There is a gazebo and various seating areas for visitors to sit back and relax in this peaceful area.

A beautiful darkly wooded valley that begins where the Rivers Avonbeg and Avonmore come together to form the River Avoca. The Avoca area has been associated with its copper mines for many years and the valley has been celebrated by Thomas Moore in the song "The Meeting of the Waters". Avoca has been used as a filming location for several films and television series.

Trooperstown Hill is a summit in County Wicklow and has an elevation of 432 metres. Trooperstown Hill is situated east of Ballard, southeast of Paddock Hill. Its trail features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as moderate. The trail is primarily used for hiking and walking.