At the Meeting of the Waters, the rivers Aughrim and Avoca meet near Woodenbridge. This riverside landscape also shapes Woodenbridge Golf Course: both rivers come into play on at least ten of its holes. The village thus combines a clearly defined golf offering with stories from the stagecoach era and a memorial site by the water. For trip planning, this combination of golf, history and landscape offers a concrete point of reference.
Golf by the water
Woodenbridge Golf Course is an 18-hole parkland course with a par of 71. Woodenbridge Golf Club lies in a natural amphitheatre, divided by the meandering Avoca River and framed by wooded hillsides. The rivers Avoca and Aughrim come into play on at least ten holes. Visitors and members can book a round or a place in open competitions online. Availability may change; check it before making specific plans.
The stagecoach era and remembrance
Woodenbridge’s history dates back to the stagecoach era. Woodenbridge was first licensed as an inn for stagecoaches and was one of the first inland stopping points for people travelling from the coast on foot or on horseback. Woodenbridge Hotel is considered Ireland’s oldest hotel and dates back to 1608.
On the bank of the River Aughrim in Woodenbridge lies Woodenbridge World War 1 Memorial Park. It commemorates the 1,192 men from County Wicklow who died in the First World War. The stagecoach history places the village in the context of earlier travel; the memorial park commemorates a specific event in the county’s history. Those who include historical connections in their trip plans will encounter both transport and commemorative history here.
Riverside scenery and surroundings
Glenart Forest, with its woodland trails, is close to Woodenbridge. Croghan Kinsella, a mountain on the upper reaches of the Gold Mines River, lies southwest of the village. The discovery of a gold nugget there in 1796 sparked a gold rush. These two places give the area distinct character: woodland trails in Glenart Forest and the story of the gold rush at Croghan Kinsella.
County Wicklow: culture and nature in a wider context
County Wicklow also offers distinctive cultural and natural attractions beyond Woodenbridge. In Glendalough, County Wicklow, 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. Wicklow Mountains National Park covers 20,000 hectares and is a place for recreation for locals and tourists. County Wicklow has more than 50 walking trails, which can be selected by length, location, type, theme and difficulty. The Wicklow Way was Ireland’s first waymarked long-distance trail.
Another historic landmark in County Wicklow is Kilmacurragh, where a monastery stood in the 7th century. A 21-hectare section of the former Kilmacurragh estate became part of the National Botanic Gardens of Ireland in 1996. Rhododendron Week in Kilmacurragh takes place annually in April; check the dates before travelling.
Discover more destinations: Aughrim, Bray, Rathdrum, Rathnew, Greystones, Kiltegan, Oldbridge, Redcross
For the overview of the wider area: County Wicklow.
