Newtownmountkennedy brings together local history, woodland scenery and culinary experiences. A significant 1798 battle stands alongside church heritage, with woodland trails, hands-on cookery classes and guided wine tastings also on offer. These different highlights can help you shape your trip around history, nature or food and drink.
History in Newtownmountkennedy
The Battle of Newtownmountkennedy took place on 30 May 1798 as an early and significant engagement in the nationwide United Irishmen Rebellion. St. Matthew’s Church of Ireland sits on a hill near the northern entrance to Newtownmountkennedy. The church was consecrated in 1895 and served as a chapel for Newcastle.
St. Matthew’s Church of Ireland preserves a wooden communion table traditionally called “Ridley’s Altar” and believed to date from the 16th century. William Sewells, one of the founders of St. Colomba’s College, brought the altar to Ireland; it was later acquired by a rector of Newtownmountkennedy. It is considered a unique historical artefact of national importance.
Cookery Classes and Guided Tastings
The Firehouse Cookery School offers hands-on cookery classes at its bakery in Newtownmountkennedy. Móinéir by Wicklow Way Wines offers a different experience: guided tastings of Irish strawberry, blackberry and raspberry wines, accompanied by Irish cheese and chocolate. You can choose between cooking for yourself and a tasting with complementary pairings. If you plan to make one of these experiences a definite part of your trip, check dates in advance; booking arrangements for tastings may change.
Woodland Trails and Nature
The Mount Kennedy Wood Loop, managed by Coillte, runs through a narrow valley with more than 17 tree species. The Heritage Walk has a different focus: it connects local history with the natural surroundings and passes through landscaped tree collections and along old boundary walls of the former estate. The routes therefore differ mainly in their emphasis on tree diversity and the valley on the one hand, and history and landscape on the other.
Mount Kennedy Wood is part of an official Coillte and local community partnership to create a wildlife corridor. In the forest stands a sessile oak with a trunk circumference of 6.2 metres, estimated to be more than 200 years old. Carriggower Bog is 4 km from Newtownmountkennedy town centre and is protected as a Special Area of Conservation. Before setting out on the trails, it is worth checking the latest trail conditions.
More Places to Explore in County Wicklow
The wider destination of County Wicklow also has distinctive historical and scenic attractions. St Kevin founded Glendalough as a monastery in the 6th century. The remains of Glendalough’s Monastic City include a round tower, numerous medieval stone churches and decorated crosses. The Wicklow Mountains National Park offers a different scale: it covers 20,000 hectares and is an important recreational area for locals and tourists.
A monastery was established at Kilmacurragh in the 7th century. In 1996, a 21-hectare section of the former demesne became part of the National Botanic Gardens of Ireland. Rhododendron Week is held there each April; check the dates before your trip.
Beyond the Trees Avondale offers another distinct perspective on County Wicklow. The 1.4 km treetop walk ends at a 38 m-high viewing tower with panoramic views over the Wicklow Mountains, the Avonmore River and the Vale of Avoca. The attraction also features a 90 m-long spiral slide from the viewing tower. Avondale was the site of Ireland’s first forestry school in 1904.
Discover more destinations: Wicklow, Ballinalea, Greystones, Baltinglass, Bray, Blessington, Donard, Roundwood.
Go to the broader travel overview: County Wicklow.
