{{Short description|Bay in Count Wicklow, Ireland}} {{Use Hiberno-English|date=December 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
thumb|Cornagower East, Brittas Bay
'''Brittas Bay''' ({{langx|ga|Cuan an Bhriotáis}}) in County Wicklow, Ireland is a {{convert|4|km}} stretch of beach on the Irish Sea coast, about {{convert|12|km}} south of Wicklow. The beach and associated dunes are very popular with Dubliners and are one of the most frequented beaches by residents of the capital during the summer.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_-bjGweC0zEC&q=brittas+bay+very+popular+dublin+residents|title=Dublin, Wicklow & the Boyne Valley |author=Paul Cullen |author2=Ken Boyle|publisher=McGraw-Hill|year=1995|page=157|isbn=978-0-8442-9710-1}}</ref>
==Geography== thumb|Looking north over Brittas Bay The {{convert|4|km}} long beach is accessed from the R750 regional road which runs parallel to the beach, separated from it by extensive areas of sand dunes. It is {{convert|12|km}} by road south of Wicklow and about {{convert|65|km}} south of the city centre of Dublin.<ref name="GM">[https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/Dublin,+Ireland/Brittas,+Brittas+Bay,+Co.+Wicklow,+Ireland/@53.1168996,-6.5055666,76161m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m13!4m12!1m5!1m1!1s0x48670e80ea27ac2f:0xa00c7a9973171a0!2m2!1d-6.2603097!2d53.3498053!1m5!1m1!1s0x4867c7ee826d3131:0xa00c7a99731ac30!2m2!1d-6.06203!2d52.88536 Brittas Bay], Google Maps, Retrieved 28 March 2020.</ref> Brittas Bay is in the civil parish of Dunganstown in the barony of Arklow on the southern coast of County Wicklow.<ref>{{cite web |title=Cuan an Bhriotáis |publisher=Irish Placenames Database |date=2016 |url=http://www.logainm.ie/128813.aspx |access-date=25 September 2016 }}</ref>
==History== There was a Christian settlement in nearby Three-Mile-Water prior to St Patrick's arrival in Ireland. This settlement was presided over by a Roman prelate Palladius, who was sent by Cellestine to Ireland in 431 AD. He was assisted by two monks named Sylvester and Solinus.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.libraryireland.com/HistoryIreland/Mission-St-Palladius.php|title=Mission of St Palladius|publisher=Libraryireland.com|access-date=28 March 2020}}</ref> Later St Baoithin ruled over a monastery in the area and one of his pupils was St Kevin who founded the Christian settlement in Glendalough.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.countywicklowheritage.org/page/three_mile_water_pure_mile?path=0p2p41p|title=Three Mile Water, Brittas Bay: PURE Mile|publisher=County Wicklow Heritage|access-date=28 March 2020}}</ref>
A 17th-century smuggler and pirate named Captain Jack White operated from Jack's Hole, a secluded cove where he intercepted goods from British merchant ships and imported goods from France to the annoyance of Crown authorities who were thus deprived of customs revenue.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://jackwhites.com/about/|title=Jack White's Pub History|website=Jack White's Inn|access-date=28 March 2020}}</ref>
Until the end of September 2012 Bus Éireann route 2 used to stop at Jack White's Cross numerous times each day. There was considerable public dissatisfaction with the decision to terminate the route.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.ie/regionals/wicklowpeople/news/non-stop-28847379.html|title=Non Stop|newspaper=Wicklow People|date=9 October 2012|access-date=28 March 2020}}</ref> The stop at Jack White's Cross was subsequently reinstated in the route 2 timetable from 25 August 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.buseireann.ie/bus_eireann_news.php?id=1350&month=Aug|title=Bus Ãeireann Enhances Wexford to Dublin Airport Expressway Route 2 with Additional Stops|website=Buseireann.iedate=19 August 2013|access-date=28 March 2020}}</ref>
==Landmarks== Several caravan parks are in the vicinity including Staunton's Caravan Site, O'Drischoll's Caravan Park and Brittas Bay Park. The European Club golf club is to the south near the hamlet of Ardanary on Mizen Head. Dunganstown Castle lies to the northeast of Brittas Bay.<ref name="GM"/>
==Popular culture==
Some of the beach scenes in John Boorman's 1974 science-fiction film ''Zardoz'', when the 'Exterminators' are attacking the 'Brutals', were filmed at Brittas Bay.
Brittas Bay has been used as a filming location for the 2002 film adaptation of ''The Count of Monte Cristo'' as well as History Channel's ''Vikings''.
== References == {{reflist}}
{{Geography of County Wicklow}}
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Category:Beaches of County Wicklow Category:Tourist attractions in County Wicklow Category:Bays of the Republic of Ireland