These are the top three places in the annual tidy towns competition in Ireland’s county Wicklow
- 1st: Greystones – A stylish seaside town with a charming harbour, a popular coastal cliff walk to Bray, and a thriving culinary scene centred around its marina. It blends a relaxed atmosphere with excellent dining and access to the sea.
- 2nd: Arklow – The “Bridge between the Wicklow Mountains and the Sea,” famous for its long beach, significant maritime history at the Arklow Maritime Museum, and as a watersports hub on the east coast.
- 3rd: Wicklow Town – The historic county town, known as the “Garden of Ireland.” Its attractions include the dramatic Black Castle ruins on the coast, the serene Murrough wetlands, and its position as a gateway to the beautiful Wicklow Mountains National Park.
The 2025 Irish Restaurant Award winners for county Wicklow
- Overall: Chakra By Jaipur, Greystones
- Café: Scéal
- Casual Dining: Grangecon Kitchen
- Chef: Sophie Woodroofe, The Roundwood Stores
- Contemporary Irish Cuisine: Chester Beatty Inn
- Customer Service: Daata Greystones
- Employee Excellence Award: Susan O’Brien, Pink Salt Indian Restaurant
- Gastro Pub: The Wicklow Arms
- Hotel and Guesthouse Restaurant: Chester Beatty Inn
- Innovator: First Batch Bakery
- Local Food Hero: Patrick Ryan of Firehouse Bakery
- Newcomer: Caladh
- Pub: Frank Duffs
- Restaurant Manager: Christoper White, The Pigeon House Restaurant
- Sustainable Practices: Tinahely Farm Shop
- Use of Social Media: Little Acorn Café
- Wine Experience: Conlon’s Wine Bar
- World Cuisine: Pink Salt Indian Restaurant
Awards
Antrim – Armagh – Carlow – Cavan – Clare – Cork – Derry – Donegal – Down – Dublin – Fermanagh – Galway – Kerry – Kildare – Kilkenny – Laois – Leitrim – Limerick – Longford – Louth – Mayo – Meath – Monaghan – Offaly – Roscommon – Sligo – Tipperary – Tyrone – Waterford – Westmeath – Wexford – Wicklow
Awards
Antrim – Armagh – Carlow – Cavan – Clare – Cork – Derry – Donegal – Down – Dublin – Fermanagh – Galway – Kerry – Kildare – Kilkenny – Laois – Leitrim – Limerick – Longford – Louth – Mayo – Meath – Monaghan – Offaly – Roscommon – Sligo – Tipperary – Tyrone – Waterford – Westmeath – Wexford – Wicklow
Restaurant awards
Antrim – Armagh – Carlow – Cavan – Clare – Cork – Derry – Donegal – Down – Dublin – Fermanagh – Galway – Kerry – Kildare – Kilkenny – Laois – Leitrim – Limerick – Longford – Louth – Mayo – Meath – Monaghan – Offaly – Roscommon – Sligo – Tipperary – Tyrone – Waterford – Westmeath – Wexford – Wicklow
Wicklow:
Introduction – Adventure – Anthem – Archaeology – Attractions – Awards – Birdwatching – Camping – Castles – Churches – Contact list – Cycling – Dining – Equestrian – Festivals – Fishing – Folklore – Gardens – Golf – Graveyards – Happening – Haunted – Highest – Hiking – History – Holy Wells – Hotels – Hotels8 – Instagrammable – Itineraries – Largest town – Luxury – MICE – Movies – Musicians – Name – New – Novelists – Off the beaten track – Poets – Pubs – Quotes – Random Facts – Restaurant Awards – Sacred Places – Saints – Spas – Sports – Sunsets– Sustainable – Things to do – Towns – Video – Villages – Walking – Wanderlist – Weddings – Wild swimming – Writers – 1837 – 1846– 1852 – 1909 – 1955 – 1980 –
Wicklow is known as the Garden of Ireland for its lush landscapes, with Glendalough’s monastic ruins and round tower set amidst serene lakes and valleys. The Wicklow Mountains National Park offers hiking trails with stunning views, while Powerscourt Estate’s manicured gardens and waterfall add natural elegance. Other attractions include the coastal paths of Bray. Wicklow is Ireland’s 17th largest county by size (,025 sq km) and 16th largest by population (155,851). Population peaked at 126,143 in 1841 and reached its lowest point, 57,591 in 1926. In terms of hospitality, Wicklow is Ireland’s twelfth most visited tourist county with around 204,000 international visitors per year.
