Bray

:For other places named Bray, and other meanings of the word bray, see Bray (disambiguation).

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Bray is a busy urban centre and seaside town of nearly 30,000 people situated in County Wicklow on the east coast of Ireland about 20km south of Dublin. The town is the location of some industry, is home for many who commute to Dublin by car or rail DART, is a market town for the surrounding area and still attracts tourists particularly from Dublin and at weekends.

Related Topics:
County Wicklow - Ireland - Dublin - DART

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History and Tourism

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The Dublin & Kingstown Railway, the first in Ireland, opened in 1834 and was extended as far as Bray in 1855. With the railway the town grew to become the largest Irish seaside resort. The outbreak of World War 2 put the industry 'on hold' for its duration. However, during the 1950s tourists from England, Scotland and Northern Ireland returned to Bray in great numbers to escape the austerity of rationing. The town's career as a resort declined from the 1960s onwards when foregn travel, particularly to Spain, first became an option for large numbers of people. However, the town is still popular with visitors particularly from Dublin who come to enjoy the beach, the "amusements", ice creams and fast food. Bray makes an ideal base for walkers, ramblers and strollers of all ages. Walkers can join the many locals who stroll the mile long promenade which stretches from the Harbour with its colony of mute swans to Bray Head (200M)at the southern end of the promenade from which a well worn track leads to the summit. Also very popular with walkers is the 7km Cliff Walk along Bray Head (200M) to Greystones.The town has grown relatively slowly over a long period and retains much of its Georgian and Victorian architecture.

Related Topics:
Dublin & Kingstown Railway - World War 2 - England - Scotland - Northern Ireland - Greystones

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Beyond the town are many 18 hole golf courses and the Wicklow Mountains the largest continuous upland area in Ireland which provide ample scope for scenic drives and hiking.

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See also railway line in Ireland

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