{{short description|Village/town in County Wicklow, Ireland}} {{About|the town in County Wicklow|other uses|Avoca (disambiguation)|the mountain glen in Ireland|River Avoca}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}} {{Use Hiberno-English|date=December 2020}} {{Infobox settlement |settlement_type = Town |name = Avoca |native_name = {{lang|ga|Abhóca}} |native_name_lang = ga |image_skyline = Avoca Mainstreet.jpg |image_caption = Main Street |pushpin_map = Ireland |pushpin_label_position = right |pushpin_map_caption = Location in Ireland |coordinates = {{coord|52.857|-6.215|type:city_region:IE|display=inline,title}} |blank_name_sec1 = Irish Grid Reference |blank_info_sec1 = {{iem4ibx|T201801}} |unit_pref = Metric |elevation_m = 35 |subdivision_type = Country |subdivision_name = Ireland |subdivision_type1 = Province |subdivision_name1 = Leinster |subdivision_type2 = County |subdivision_name2 = County Wicklow |population_total = 757 |population_as_of = 2022 |population_footnotes = <ref>{{cite web | title = Census Interactive Map – Towns: Avoca | url = https://visual.cso.ie/?body=entity/ima/cop/2022&boundary=C04160V04929&guid=3e989403-ca93-421b-b8a1-7dc5d26690e5 | work = Census 2022 | publisher = Central Statistics Office | access-date = 26 August 2025}}</ref> }} '''Avoca''' ({{Irish place name|Abhóca, formerly Abhainn Mhór|the great river}})<ref name=logainm>{{cite web | url = https://www.logainm.ie/en/55230 | title = Abhóca/Avoca | website = Placenames Database of Ireland (logainm.ie) | access-date = 19 October 2021}}</ref> is a small town near Arklow, in County Wicklow, Ireland. It is situated on 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". The name of the song derives from the meeting of the Avonmore and Avonbeg rivers, about 3 kilometres from the village of Avoca. The song is said to have been written under a tree, the stump of which remains by the Meetings. Avoca is also famous for its handweaving, with Avoca Handweavers based there.

Avoca has been used as a filming location for several films and television series. The BBC series ''Ballykissangel'' was filmed there.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wicklowfilmcommission.com/ballykissangel.htm|title=Ballykissangel|publisher=Wicklow Film Commission|access-date=2010-12-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718044414/http://www.wicklowfilmcommission.com/ballykissangel.htm|archive-date=2011-07-18|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 1967, Avoca was one of the locations used in the film ''Jules Verne's Rocket to the Moon'', and it was the setting for the comedy film ''Zonad'' which had a general Irish release in 2010.

The red kite, recently reintroduced to Ireland, is now commonly seen in and around Avoca.

==Toponymy== Avoca was once known as Newbridge. It subsequently became known as Ovoca, and then in Victorian times as Avoca. Ptolemy mentions the river Oboka on his early map of Ireland. The official name of the village is now Avoca in English and {{lang|ga|Abhóca}} in Irish. None of the other names are used today.<ref name=logainm/>

==Mining== Copper mining is reported to have begun in the Avoca River valley around 1720 and it continued, with interruptions, until 1982. Earlier mining, perhaps dating back to the Bronze Age, may have occurred. The East Avoca site, today, is composed mainly of a number of rock waste spoil heaps, abandoned quarries (Cronebane and East Avoca open pits) and disused roads. The largest spoil heap, Mount Platt, was built up from waste rock excavated from Cronebane open pit. There was a mineral tramway built from the West Avoca mines, through the village (on the opposite side of the river) and on to Arklow Harbour. The route of most of this was subsumed into the Dublin-Rosslare railway line, but an arch and a tunnel under the road from Rathdrum to Avoca remains.{{citation needed|date=December 2020}} thumb|River Avoca at Avoca, note copper-coloured stones on the river bed

==Transport== Avoca lies on the R752 regional road linking Rathnew with Woodenbridge. Bus service to Avoca is provided by Local Link route 183 from Arklow to Sallins.<ref>{{cite web |title=TFI Local Link Carlow Kilkenny Wicklow |url=https://www.locallinkckw.ie/wicklow-timetables |publisher=TFI Local Link |access-date=26 August 2025}}</ref>

There has been some local political pressure<ref>{{cite web | title=Dick urges Council to "Get together with CIE to reopen Avoca Station" | url=http://www.dickroche.com/article.php?sid=1020 | access-date=2007-11-01}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> to reopen Avoca railway station, from which passenger services were withdrawn on 3 March 1964, almost 101 years after its opening, on the Dublin-Rosslare railway line, on 18 July 1863.<ref>{{cite web | title=Avoca station | work=Railscot - Irish Railways | url=http://www.railscot.co.uk/Ireland/Irish_railways.pdf | access-date=2007-09-09| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070926042407/http://www.railscot.co.uk/Ireland/Irish_railways.pdf| archive-date= 26 September 2007 | url-status= live}}</ref>

==International relations== {{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in the Republic of Ireland}} Avoca has a town twinning agreement with Bromham, Wiltshire in England.<ref name="bromhamwiltshire.org">{{cite web |url=http://www.bromhamwiltshire.org/twinning/4584923349 |title= WELCOME TO BROMHAM |access-date=7 October 2020 |work=Bromham Wiltshire}}</ref>

==Filming location== The following films and television shows have been filmed in part at the village or the ruined Avoca mines: * ''Vikings'' (2013–2020)<ref name = TG/> * ''Cocaine Bear'' (2023)<ref name = TG>{{Cite news |title=Europe's Hollywood: Explore the iconic filming locations of Wicklow |url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/wicklow/bray-news/europes-hollywood-explore-the-iconic-filming-locations-of-wicklow/a1812473126.html |last=Galvin |first=Tom |date=2025-03-07 |access-date=2026-01-06 |work= Bray People }}</ref>

==Notable people== * Noel Andrews (1932–2011), Irish radio and television commentator ran The Avoca Inn from 1970 to 1990<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.ie/regionals/wicklowpeople/news/boxing-commentator-noel-andrews-is-laid-to-rest-27859023.html |title=Boxing commentator Noel Andrews is laid to rest |publisher=Independent.ie |date=2012-12-04 |accessdate=2022-04-27}}</ref> * George Barret Sr. (c. 1730–1784), Irish landscape artist painted at Avoca<ref>There is a landscape view of Avoca in the National Gallery of Ireland, Bodkin p. 76</ref> * Aaron Bolger (born 2000), Irish professional footballer who plays for Galway United<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/wicklow/sport/soccer/wicklows-aaron-bolger-is-loving-life-with-cork-city-fc/41808450.html|title=Wicklow's Aaron Bolger is loving life with Cork City FC|date=July 2, 2022|website=Independent.ie}}</ref> * Oliver Byrne (1810–1880), civil engineer and author of scientific works was born in the Vale of Avoca<ref name = MAA>{{Cite web|url=https://www.maa.org/press/periodicals/convergence/oliver-byrne-the-matisse-of-mathematics-biography-1810-1829|title = Oliver Byrne: The Matisse of Mathematics - Biography 1810-1829 &#124; Mathematical Association of America|access-date=12 March 2023}}</ref> * Harry Harrison (1925–2012), American science fiction author, lived in the area in the 1970s<ref>{{cite book |last=Harrison |first=Harry |author-link=Harry Harrison (writer) |title=Harry Harrison! Harry Harrison!: A Memoir |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=k32BAwAAQBAJ&pg=PT152 |page=152 |year=2024 |publisher=Macmillan Publishers |access-date=26 August 2025}}</ref> * Lawrence Kavenagh (c. 1810–1846), Irish-Australian convict bushranger was born in either Newbridge (now called Avoca) or nearby Rathdrum<ref>Two sources from 1842 show either option as Kavenagh's "native place": (1) Register (Van Diemen's Land), Description lists of convicts convicted locally or arriving on non-convict ships (1842), page 111; Lawrence Kavanagh; age 33; "New Bridge, County Wicklow" (Ancestry.com); (2) Indents of Convicts Locally convicted or Transported from Other Colonies (Van Diemen's Land), [https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON16-1-1$init=CON16-1-1P212 ''Marian Watson'' indent] 1842; Lawrence Kavenagh (Police No. 860); age 30; native place: "Redrum, Wicklow".</ref> * Pauline Mellon, Irish mathematician was born in the town<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cardcolm.org/Atlas.html#MellonPauline |title=Atlas of Irish Mathematicians|publisher=cardcolm |accessdate=2022-04-27}}</ref> * Abraham Mills (c. 1750–1828), English mining company manager and geologist, one of the earliest advocates of investment in Irish gold mining, spent time mining for copper in Avoca<ref>Alborn, p. 375.</ref> * John O'Hagan (1873–1930), Irish priest who served as Rector of the Pontifical Irish College in Rome from 1919 to 1930 was born in Ballykillageer near the town<ref>[http://www.irishcollege.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Hagan-Introduction.pdf Hagan Introduction] Irish College Rome Archive.</ref> * Akihiko Okamura (1929–1985), Japanese photographer notable for his work in Northern Ireland during the Troubles<ref>{{cite news|last= O'Sullivan Vallig | first= Marc| url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/artsandculture/arid-41374249.html|title=Japanese war photographer who documented Ireland's Troubles |date=2024-04-15 |work=The Irish Examiner|accessdate=2025-04-02}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Durden|first1=Mark |date=2024-05-09 |title=Derry via Tokyo: How an outsider captured the Troubles in colour |url=https://www.1854.photography/2024/05/derry-via-tokyo-how-an-outsider-captured-the-troubles-in-colour/ |access-date=2025-04-02|website=1854.photography|language=en}}</ref> * Chris Pontius (born 1974), American stunt performer and cast member of reality stunt show ''Jackass'' lived in the town from 2004 to 2008<ref>{{cite web|last1=Coyle|first1=Colin|date=October 13, 2013|title=Wicklow wife in Jackass divorce|url=https://www.thetimes.com/travel/destinations/north-america-travel/us-travel/california/wicklow-wife-in-jackass-divorce-hc2j3hl6qfz|access-date=April 26, 2022|website=The Times|language=en}}</ref> * Donald Pratt (born 1935), Irish businessman and former first-class cricketer purchased Avoca Handweavers in 1974<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.ie/business/donald-pratt-26417691.html|title=Donald Pratt|date=2006-10-22|work=Irish Independent|accessdate=2022-04-27}}</ref> * Günther Schütz (1912–1991), German citizen who worked for German Intelligence (Abwehr) during World War II retired in Avoca<ref>[https://www.greystonesahs.org/gahs2/index.php/journals?id=194] Greystones Archaeological & Historical Society.</ref> * Emily Wynne (1872–1958), Irish author and textile artist worked at Avoca Woollen Mills<ref>{{cite book|last1=Gillespie|first1=Sarah M.|editor1-last=McGuire|editor1-first=James|editor2-last=Quinn|editor2-first=James|title=Dictionary of Irish Biography|date=2017|publisher=Cambridge University Press|location=Cambridge|chapter=Wynne, Emily Adelaide}}</ref>

==See also== * List of towns and villages in Ireland * Avoca, Victoria, Australia which was named after the Avoca in Wicklow * The Avoca School, Blackrock, County Dublin

==References== '''Notes''' {{Reflist}} *Timothy Alborn, ''An Irish El Dorado: Recovering Gold in County Wicklow'', Journal of British Studies, Vol. 50, No. 2 (April 2011), pp.&nbsp;359–380. Published by: The University of Chicago Press on behalf of The North American Conference on British Studies. Stable URL: https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1086/658187. [http://www.lehman.edu/academics/arts-humanities/documents/AlbornWicklow.pdf PDF.] *Bodkin T. (1920) ''Four Irish Landscape Painters: George Barret R.A.'', Irish Academic Press, 2nd ed. 1987. {{ISBN|0-7165-2405-8}} [https://archive.org/stream/fouririshlandsca00bodkiala/fouririshlandsca00bodkiala_djvu.txt]

==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20110312070639/http://www.igp-web.com/igparchives/ire/wicklow/photos/tombstones/avoca/index.html Avoca Cemetery Headstones] *[http://www.mineral-exploration.de/mepub/irlandexplorationbergbau.pdf Mining, Metal Resources and Exploration in the Republic of Ireland] in German, English summary

{{County Wicklow}} {{Authority control}}

Category:Towns and villages in County Wicklow