Wicklow (grevskap) i Leinster provins i Irland

Arkiv: County Wicklow, Ireland Genealogy
Länk: County Wicklow
Alias:

Under 1800-talet var Wicklow ett centrum för irländska uppror, och en militärväg anlades rakt igenom grevskapet så att de brittiska styrkorna lätt kunde röra sig i området.

A number of early Irish saints founded churches, monasteries and convents in Wicklow. Among them were St. Kevin, St. Dagan, St. Ernan, St. Credan, St. Palladius, Cainnear, Ceoltigherna and Croine. The ancient monastery of Glendalough is located in the county.

County Wicklow was the last of the traditional counties of Ireland to be shired in 1606 from land previously part of counties Dublin and Carlow. Established as a distinct county, it was aimed at controlling local groups such as the O'Byrnes. The Military Road, stretching from Rathfarnham to Aghavannagh crosses the mountains, north to south, was built by government forces to assist them in defeating the rebels still active in the Wicklow Mountains following the failed Irish Rebellion of 1798. It provided them with access to an area that had been a hotbed of Irish rebellion for centuries. Several barracks to house the soldiers were built along the route and the Glencree Centre for Peace and Reconciliation was built alongside the remains of barracks there. Battalions of the Irish Army use firing ranges in County Wicklow for tactical exercises, especially the largest one in the Glen of Imaal which was previously used by the British Army prior to independence.

During the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland, local authorities immediately surrendered without a fight. During the Irish Rebellion of 1798, some of United Irishmen insurgents took refuge in the Wicklow Mountains, resulting in clashes between British forces and rebels commanded by Joseph Holt near Aughrim and later at Arklow.

Wicklow is named after its county town of Wicklow, which derives from the name Víkingaló (Old Norse for ”Vikings' Meadow”)