Arklow, County Wicklow

Arklow, from Old Norse Arnkell-lág ‘meadow of Arnkell’, or in Irish, An tInbhear Mór, meaning ‘the great estuary’ is situated on county Wicklow’s southeastern coast.  It was founded by the Vikings in the ninth century and the town was, in its day, one of the busiest ports in Ireland and a renowned center for boat building and sea fishing as well as having a fine tradition in the pottery industry. 

Arklow is located at the mouth of the River Avoca and the town is divided by the river, which is crossed by the Nineteen Arches Bridge, a stone arch bridge linking the southern or main part of the town with the northern part, called Ferrybank. The Nineteen Arches Bridge is the longest handmade stone bridge in Ireland, and a plaque on the south end of the bridge acknowledges this.