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Bray, County Wicklow

Bray (Irish: Bré [bʲɾʲeː])[2] is a coastal town in north County Wicklow, Ireland. It is situated about 20 km (12 mi) south of Dublin city centre on the east coast. It has a population of 33,512 making it the tenth largest urban area within Ireland (at the 2022 census).[1] Bray is home to Ardmore Studios, and some light industry is located in the town, with some business and retail parks on its southern periphery. Commuter links between Bray and Dublin are provided by rail, Dublin Bus and the M11 and M50 motorways. Parts of the town's northern outskirts are in County Dublin.[3]

Bray
Bré
Town
Clockwise from top: the Tudor Revival style Bray Town Hall; businesses on Goldsmith Terrace; period terraced homes on Quinsborough Road; boats in Bray Harbour
Motto(s): 
Irish: Féile agus Fáilte
"Hospitality and Welcome"
Bray
Location in Ireland
Bray
Bray (Europe)
Coordinates: 53°12′05″N 06°06′39″W / 53.20139°N 6.11083°W / 53.20139; -6.11083
CountryIreland
ProvinceLeinster
CountyCounty Wicklow
Government
 • Dáil constituencyWicklow
 • EP constituencySouth
Area
 • Total9.9 km2 (3.8 sq mi)
Elevation
18 m (59 ft)
Population
 (2022)
 • Total33,512[1]
 • Rank10th
 • Density3,398/km2 (8,800/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+0 (WET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+1 (IST (WEST))
Eircode (Routing Key)
A98
Area code01 (+3531)
Irish Grid ReferenceO264185
Websitewww.bray.ie

Originally developed as a planned resort town in the 19th century, Bray's popularity as a seaside resort was serviced by the Dublin and Kingstown Railway, which was extended to Bray in 1854. During the late 20th century, the town's use as a resort declined when foreign travel became an option for holiday-makers. However, day-trippers continued to come to Bray during the summer months.

Etymology edit

The name Bray is an anglicisation of the Irish Bré, whose meaning is unclear.[2] Liam Price suggested it may be an old name for the River Dargle or a tributary.[2] In 1875 P. W. Joyce mistakenly ascribed the Irish name Brí, an old word meaning "hill", referring in this case to Bray Head.[2][4] In a 1905 Gaelic League publication advocating use of Irish-language postal addresses, Seosamh Laoide coined the name Brí Cualann "Brí in Cualu", as part of his policy that "If the name of the town [in Irish] be one word, the [ancient Gaelic] territory should be added to it in the genitive case".[2][5] Brí and Brí C[h]ualann remained in use in the mid 20th century despite having been refuted by Liam Price and Osborn Bergin.[2] Bré was adopted by statute in 1975.[6]

History edit

 
Tourists along the Bray esplanade, c. 1900

During the medieval period of Irish history, Bray was situated on the southern border of the Pale, and the coastal district was governed directly by the English crown from Dublin Castle. Inland, the countryside was largely under the control of Gaelic Chieftains, such as the O'Toole and O'Byrne clans. Bray features on the 1598 map "A Modern Depiction of Ireland, One of the British Isles"[7] by Abraham Ortelius as "Brey". William Brabazon, 1st Earl of Meath purchased the Killruddery Estate in Bray in 1627 with the establishment of the Earl title.

The Dublin and Kingstown Railway, the first in Ireland, opened in 1834 and was extended as far as Bray in 1854. With the coming of the railway in the mid-19th century, the town grew to become a seaside resort.[8] It was developed primarily by local entrepreneurs as a planned resort town, modelled on the seaside resorts of the English south-coast, specifically Brighton.[8] Hotels and residential terraces were built in the vicinity of the seafront. Railway entrepreneur William Dargan developed the Turkish baths, designed in a Moorish style at a cost of £10,000; built in 1859, these were demolished in 1980.[9]

Bray was a popular destination from the 1860s onwards. While small amenities such as regattas, firework displays and band performances were plentiful in the town, Bray failed to secure the necessary capital to develop major attractions and sustain tourism, leading to its decline in the early 1900s. Pleasure piers such as the Palace Pier were a mainstay of resorts at that time. Despite repeated efforts, Bray never acquired such a pier and abandoned plans to build one in 1906. Additional planned amenities which were never built included a concert hall, a theatre, an exhibition centre, a marine aquarium, winter gardens and an electrified tramway along the seafront.[8] It experienced a brief revival from British tourists in the years immediately after World War II. However, Bray's popularity as a seaside resort declined significantly when foreign travel became an option for holiday-makers. Its proximity to Dublin still makes it a popular destination for day-trippers from the capital.[8]

Location edit

 
Map of Bray

The town is situated on the east coast to the south of County Dublin. Shankill, County Dublin lies to the north, and Greystones, County Wicklow to the south. The village of Enniskerry lies to the west of the town, at the foot of the Wicklow Mountains. People participate in such sports as sailing, rowing, and swimming. The beach and seafront promenade are used by residents and visitors. While Bray's promenade and south beach is to a Blue Flag standard,[10] the north beach has been impacted by erosion and leaching pollution since the closure and sale of a municipal landfill in the late 20th century.[11][12][13]

The River Dargle which enters the sea at the north end of Bray rises from a source near Djouce, in the Wicklow Mountains. Bray Head is situated at the southern end of the Victorian Promenade with paths leading to the summit and along the sea cliffs. The rocks of Bray Head are a mixture of greywackes and quartzite. There is a large cross at the summit.[14]

Climate edit

Bray has a temperate oceanic climate (Köppen: Cfb), similar to most other towns in Ireland, with few extremes of temperature and abundant precipitation year round. However, Bray is relatively sheltered from the prevailing south-westerly winds by the Wicklow Mountains and receives around 750 mm (30 in) of rainfall per year.[15] The sunniest months on average are May and June, while October is by far the wettest.

Average sea temperature in Bray, County Wicklow[16]
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Average Max (°C) 11 °C (52 °F) 10 °C (50 °F) 10 °C (50 °F) 11 °C (52 °F) 13 °C (55 °F) 15 °C (59 °F) 18 °C (64 °F) 17 °C (63 °F) 17 °C (63 °F) 16 °C (61 °F) 14 °C (57 °F) 13 °C (55 °F)
Average Min (°C) 8 °C (46 °F) 7 °C (45 °F) 7 °C (45 °F) 7 °C (45 °F) 8 °C (46 °F) 11 °C (52 °F) 12 °C (54 °F) 14 °C (57 °F) 13 °C (55 °F) 13 °C (55 °F) 11 °C (52 °F) 10 °C (50 °F)
 
Seafront and Bray Head

Access edit

Rail edit

A public transport network, both north into Dublin and south into County Wicklow and County Wexford, serves the town. Bray is on the Irish Rail DART Rail Network which stretches north to Malahide and Howth and south to Greystones. The town is also on the mainline InterCity and Commuter rail network which connects north to Connolly Station in Dublin city centre and further to Drogheda and Dundalk. To the south, the rail line goes through Arklow and Gorey before reaching Rosslare Europort. Bray's railway station is named after Edward Daly, an executed leader of the 1916 Easter Rising. Bray Station was opened on 10 July 1854.[17] The Dublin and South Eastern Railway had two lines out from Bray into Dublin, the coastal line (formerly known as the Kingstown and Bray branch line) and the Harcourt Street line. The latter was closed in 1958 but most of it has been reopened as part of the Luas Green Line, which is proposed for an extension to Bray.[citation needed]

Road edit

Bray lies along the M11 motorway corridor; an interchange at its northern side links with the M50 Dublin bypass.

 
Bray Daly railway station.

Several bus companies pass through Bray: Dublin Bus, Go-Ahead Ireland, Bus Éireann, Finnegan Bray, Aircoach, and St. Kevin's Bus Service to Glendalough. Dublin Bus and Go-Ahead Ireland are the two primary bus operators in the town operating service on behalf of the NTA. Bus services serving the town include the 145 which is routed from Ballywaltrim, just south of Bray, to Heuston Station via UCD and Dublin city centre. Other routes include the 45A/B, 84/A, 84X, 84N, 155, 184 and 185.[18][19]

Aircoach operates a service to and from Dublin Airport. Wexford Bus also offer services to the village of Kilmacanogue, just to the south of Bray, with routes 740 and 740A. Finnegan Bray formerly offered a night bus service from Dublin[20] (route 984N), however, this was suspended in March 2020 due to Covid restrictions. It was discontinued in late 2022, with the company blaming "unfair competition from state subsidised services" in a Facebook post.[21]

Air edit

Dublin Airport is reachable via the M50 which passes to the west of Dublin City. The Aircoach has two stops in Bray (Wilton Hotel and Castle Street) to and from Dublin Airport.[22] Newcastle Aerodrome is the closest private airfield a short distance south of Bray.[23]

Demography edit

 
An aerial view of Bray

Bray has a growing population of permanent residents.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
199126,953—    
199627,923+3.6%
200230,951+10.8%
200631,901+3.1%
201131,872−0.1%
201632,600+2.3%
202233,512+2.8%

Local government edit

 
Bray Town Hall

Bray is represented on Wicklow County Council by two local electoral areas. Bray East is approximately two-thirds of the town, while Bray West is the other third and includes the neighbouring villages of Enniskerry and Kilmacanogue. The electoral divisions of Bray East are Bray No. 1 Urban, Bray No. 2 Urban, Bray No. 3 Urban and Rathmichael (Bray). The electoral divisions of Bray West are Enniskerry, Kilmacanoge and Powerscourt.[24] Bray Municipal District consists of both of these local electoral areas.[25][26]

The following are the eight councillors representing Bray at Bray Municipal District and Wicklow County Council. The local elections took place in 2019.

Bray East[27] Bray West[28]
Green Erika Doyle* Independent Joe Behan
Sinn Féin Grace McManus Fine Gael Melanie Corrigan
Fine Gael Aoife Flynn Kennedy Sinn Féin Dermot O'Brien
Labour Anne Ferris Independent Rory O'Connor
* Steven Matthews was a councillor for Bray East from June 2019 until February 2020. After his election to Dáil Éireann in the 2020 general election, Erika Doyle was co-opted to the seat for the Green Party.[29]

The Bray Town Commissioners were established by a local act in 1866. The Earl of Meath was named in the act as the first chairman of the commissioners.[30] In 1899, this body became an urban district council under the Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898. At the same time, a portion of the town which had been in County Dublin was transferred to County Wicklow and the jurisdiction of the urban district.[31] The boundary of the town was further extended in 1952 (taking in the area around Killruddery),[32] in 1958 (taking in the area in Rathmichael which had been transferred the previous year from County Dublin to County Wicklow),[33][34] and in 1978 (extending the town to the west).[35]

The urban district council became a town council in 2002.[36][37] It was abolished by the Local Government Reform Act 2014, with the powers and functions of the town council given to the county council, but its functions could be administered by the new municipal district council created by the act.[38][39]

Part of the northern Bray area lies within the local authority area of Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown, and forms part of the ShankillKilliney local electoral area. The border between County Wicklow and County Dublin (Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown) lies along Old Connaught Avenue and runs down along and across the Dublin Road to Ravenswell, making all areas north of that line Bray, County Dublin.[40]

Tourism edit

 
 
The International Hotel (top) and the Turkish Baths (bottom) from Bray's heyday as a seaside resort. Both were demolished in the late 20th century.

Bray is a long-established holiday resort dating back to the early 19th century. The Parliamentary gazetteer of 1846 described it thusly:

The town has for many years been a favourite summer resort of the wealthier of the Dublin citizens and of the gentry from a large part of Ireland; and it possesses, in a state of high facility and polish, the various appliances required for their accommodation and comfort, whether as lodgers or as tourists. Handsome cottages ornees, boarding houses on different scales of economy, and furnished houses from the small abode to the luxurious mansion, abound both in the town and in its environs, for the special use of visitors.[8]

Bray has numerous hotels and guesthouses, shops, restaurants and evening entertainment. The town also hosts a number of festival events. In the town's vicinity are an 18-hole golf courses, a tennis club, fishing, a sailing club and horse riding. Other features of Bray are the amusement arcades and the National Sealife Centre. It has a beach of sand and shingle which is over 1.6 km (1 mi) long, fronted by an esplanade and Bray Head, which rises 241 m (791 ft) from the coast, has views of mountains and sea. The concrete cross at the top of Bray head was erected in 1950 for the holy year.

 
Killruddery House, an Elizabethan-Revival mansion built in the 1820s.
 
Bray's Esplanade Hotel was built in 1900.[41]

Bray is used as a base for walkers, and has a 1.5 km-long (1 mi) promenade which stretches from the harbour, with its colony of mute swans, to the base of Bray Head at the southern end. A track leads to the summit. Also used by walkers is the seven km (4+12 mi) Cliff Walk along Bray Head out to Greystones.

In January 2010, Bray was named the "cleanest town in Ireland" in the 2009 Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL) survey of 60 towns and cities.[42]

Tourist sites edit

Tourist sites in the area include the Elizabethan-revival mansion Killruddery House (which is open to the public in the summer months),[43] and the hill and headland at Bray Head (which has a number of walking trails).[44] Raheen-a-Cluig, a medieval church which is catalogued as national monument, is located on the north face of Bray Head. Other religious sites and churches in the area include the Fassaroe Cross (12th century),[45] the Holy Redeemer Church, Bray (1792), and the Gothic Revival churches of Christ Church (1863) and Bray Methodist Church (1864).

Festivals and events edit

 
Bray Air Show 2016

The Bray St. Patrick's Carnival and Parade is presented by Bray and District Chamber to celebrate Saint Patrick's Day.

Bray also hosts a yearly silent film festival, the Killruddery Film Festival in Killruddery Gardens.[46] Bray Jazz Festival takes place annually on the May bank holiday weekend and includes performances by jazz and world music artists.

The annual Bray Summerfest takes place over six weeks in July and August and includes free entertainment, live music, markets, sporting events, and carnivals. Performers who have headlined include Mundy, Brian Kennedy, the Undertones, the Hothouse Flowers and Mary Black. An air display, the Bray Air Display, is held annually in late July.

Hell & Back is an adventure race that takes place in Kilruddery Estates.[47] The 10 km Cliff Run from Bray to Greystones is an annual run on the coast around Bray Head Mountain.[48] In 2023, Bray was named by Time Out magazine as one of the fourteen most underrated travel destinations in the world.[49]

Pubs and restaurants edit

Bray's pubs and restaurants include the first Porterhouse bar, who brew their own ales, stouts and beers.[50] In 2010, the Lonely Planet Guide ranked the Harbour Bar in Bray the Best Bar in the World and the Best off the Beaten Track Bar in the world.[51] The O'Toole family owned the bar for three generations, but it was bought by the Duggan family in 2013.[52] The Duggans also operate two seafront premises, Katie Gallagher's and the Martello, both include restaurants on site.

There are twelve fully licensed restaurants, several unlicensed restaurants and cafes, and fast food outlets in Bray. In 2015, The Irish Times published a study which analysed the presence of fast food outlets in Ireland. Bray was found to have the lowest per capita concentration of the ten towns and cities included, with just 0.09 stores per 1,000 people.[53]

Culture edit

 
National Sealife Centre, Bray

Film edit

Bray is home to Ireland's oldest film studios, Ardmore Studios, established in 1958, where films such as Excalibur, Braveheart and Breakfast on Pluto have been shot. Custer's Last Stand-up was filmed in Bray[54] and the town was also used to film Neil Jordan's 2012 film Byzantium, part of which was shot in the Bray Head Inn.[55] Neil Jordan's 1991 film The Miracle is set in Bray.[56]

Theatre and literature edit

Bray hosts a number of theatre groups including the Bray Arts and Square One Theatre Group.[57]

Authors who have lived in Bray have included James Joyce, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Molly Keane and Neil Jordan. Situated on Eglinton Road is a Carnegie Library dating from 1910.[58] There is also another library serving the Ballywaltrim district on Boghall Road, at the southern end of the town

Media edit

The Bray People newspaper is focused on the news in the local areas and neighbourhoods, as does the freesheet Wicklow Times (North Edition).[59] East Coast FM Radio Station also operates locally.[60]

Music edit

Musicians associated with Bray include Mary Coughlan,[61] Maria Doyle Kennedy,[62] Fionn Regan,[63] and Hozier.[64] The singer Sinéad O'Connor was also a resident of Bray for a number of years, living in a house overlooking the sea on Strand Road. While O'Connor died in London, her funeral procession took place on Bray seafront in August 2023.[65]

Sports edit

 
Bray Wanderers vs Bohemians at the Carlisle Grounds

Bray is home to League of Ireland football club Bray Wanderers who play at the Carlisle Grounds. It also hosts schoolboy football club Ardmore Rovers and Wolfe Tone F.C. The local Gaelic Athletic Association club's are Fergal Og's and Bray Emmets.[66] Bray Emmets Established in 1885, the club hosts the annual All-Ireland Kick Fada Championship.[67]

There are a number of golf clubs and pitch & putt courses in the area, including Bray Golf Club, Dun Laoghaire Golf Club, and Old Conna Golf Club.[68][69] Bray is also host to Bray Bowling Club, which trains in Fáilte Park,[70] and there is 10 Pin Bowling at the Bray Bowling Alley.[71]

There is fishing in both the River Dargle and on the sea coastline, and a number of clubs locally, including Bray Head Fishing Club and Dargle Anglers Club.[72] Other clubs and facilities in the area include Bray Wheelers Cycling Club,[73] Brennanstown Riding School,[74] Bray Sailing Club,[75] Wicklow Lawn Tennis Club, founded in 1894 and located on Vevay Road,[76] Bray Hockey Club,[77] and Wicklow County Cricket Club.[78]

A short-lived greyhound racing track existed in the town from 1949 until 1955, run by the Bray Greyhound Racing Association Ltd.[79] In December 1947, notice was given that a track would be constructed at Sunnybank but the Wicklow County Manager refused the application. However, the greyhound company continued to build the facilities and in 1949 the track opened. It was not until 1950 that the High Court ruled against the company for building without planning permission and levied a fine of £470. The dispute continued until, in 1955, the track was bought by Bray Urban Council under a compulsory purchase order. The site, consisting of almost five acres, was bought at £440 per acre, and 36 houses were built on the land.[80]

Thousands of people turned out on the seafront to see Olympic boxing champion Katie Taylor, return home from London in August 2012.[81]

Education edit

 
Presentation College, Bray

There are approximately 13 primary schools in the Bray area, including national schools (like Saint Cronan's Boys' National School),[82] gaelscoileanna (like Gaelscoil Uí Chéadaigh), a co-educational day school (St. Gerard's School),[83] and schools for special needs. Secondary schools in the area include Saint Brendan's College, Loreto Secondary School and St. Kilian's Community School and Presentation College, Bray. A number of "English as a foreign language" and third-level schools also operate locally, including Bray Institute of Further Education.[84]

People edit

 
Swans where the River Dargle flows into the harbour
 
Christ Church, Bray

Former or current residents of the town have included (in alphabetical order):

Twin towns edit

Bray has town twinning agreements with:[104][105]

References edit

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External links edit

  • Bray on-line
  • (Wayback Machine archive)
  • Bray on Wicklow Tourism
  • Bray in Lewis Topographical Dictionary of Ireland 1837

bray, county, wicklow, other, uses, bray, bray, irish, bré, bʲɾʲeː, coastal, town, north, county, wicklow, ireland, situated, about, south, dublin, city, centre, east, coast, population, making, tenth, largest, urban, area, within, ireland, 2022, census, bray,. For other uses see Bray Bray Irish Bre bʲɾʲeː 2 is a coastal town in north County Wicklow Ireland It is situated about 20 km 12 mi south of Dublin city centre on the east coast It has a population of 33 512 making it the tenth largest urban area within Ireland at the 2022 census 1 Bray is home to Ardmore Studios and some light industry is located in the town with some business and retail parks on its southern periphery Commuter links between Bray and Dublin are provided by rail Dublin Bus and the M11 and M50 motorways Parts of the town s northern outskirts are in County Dublin 3 Bray BreTownClockwise from top the Tudor Revival style Bray Town Hall businesses on Goldsmith Terrace period terraced homes on Quinsborough Road boats in Bray HarbourCoat of armsMotto s Irish Feile agus Failte Hospitality and Welcome BrayLocation in IrelandShow map of IrelandBrayBray Europe Show map of EuropeCoordinates 53 12 05 N 06 06 39 W 53 20139 N 6 11083 W 53 20139 6 11083CountryIrelandProvinceLeinsterCountyCounty WicklowGovernment Dail constituencyWicklow EP constituencySouthArea Total9 9 km2 3 8 sq mi Elevation18 m 59 ft Population 2022 Total33 512 1 Rank10th Density3 398 km2 8 800 sq mi Time zoneUTC 0 WET Summer DST UTC 1 IST WEST Eircode Routing Key A98Area code01 3531 Irish Grid ReferenceO264185Websitewww wbr bray wbr ieOriginally developed as a planned resort town in the 19th century Bray s popularity as a seaside resort was serviced by the Dublin and Kingstown Railway which was extended to Bray in 1854 During the late 20th century the town s use as a resort declined when foreign travel became an option for holiday makers However day trippers continued to come to Bray during the summer months Contents 1 Etymology 2 History 3 Location 3 1 Climate 4 Access 4 1 Rail 4 2 Road 4 3 Air 5 Demography 6 Local government 7 Tourism 7 1 Tourist sites 7 2 Festivals and events 7 3 Pubs and restaurants 8 Culture 8 1 Film 8 2 Theatre and literature 8 3 Media 8 4 Music 9 Sports 10 Education 11 People 12 Twin towns 13 References 14 External linksEtymology editThe name Bray is an anglicisation of the Irish Bre whose meaning is unclear 2 Liam Price suggested it may be an old name for the River Dargle or a tributary 2 In 1875 P W Joyce mistakenly ascribed the Irish name Bri an old word meaning hill referring in this case to Bray Head 2 4 In a 1905 Gaelic League publication advocating use of Irish language postal addresses Seosamh Laoide coined the name Bri Cualann Bri in Cualu as part of his policy that If the name of the town in Irish be one word the ancient Gaelic territory should be added to it in the genitive case 2 5 Bri and Bri C h ualann remained in use in the mid 20th century despite having been refuted by Liam Price and Osborn Bergin 2 Bre was adopted by statute in 1975 6 History edit nbsp Tourists along the Bray esplanade c 1900During the medieval period of Irish history Bray was situated on the southern border of the Pale and the coastal district was governed directly by the English crown from Dublin Castle Inland the countryside was largely under the control of Gaelic Chieftains such as the O Toole and O Byrne clans Bray features on the 1598 map A Modern Depiction of Ireland One of the British Isles 7 by Abraham Ortelius as Brey William Brabazon 1st Earl of Meath purchased the Killruddery Estate in Bray in 1627 with the establishment of the Earl title The Dublin and Kingstown Railway the first in Ireland opened in 1834 and was extended as far as Bray in 1854 With the coming of the railway in the mid 19th century the town grew to become a seaside resort 8 It was developed primarily by local entrepreneurs as a planned resort town modelled on the seaside resorts of the English south coast specifically Brighton 8 Hotels and residential terraces were built in the vicinity of the seafront Railway entrepreneur William Dargan developed the Turkish baths designed in a Moorish style at a cost of 10 000 built in 1859 these were demolished in 1980 9 Bray was a popular destination from the 1860s onwards While small amenities such as regattas firework displays and band performances were plentiful in the town Bray failed to secure the necessary capital to develop major attractions and sustain tourism leading to its decline in the early 1900s Pleasure piers such as the Palace Pier were a mainstay of resorts at that time Despite repeated efforts Bray never acquired such a pier and abandoned plans to build one in 1906 Additional planned amenities which were never built included a concert hall a theatre an exhibition centre a marine aquarium winter gardens and an electrified tramway along the seafront 8 It experienced a brief revival from British tourists in the years immediately after World War II However Bray s popularity as a seaside resort declined significantly when foreign travel became an option for holiday makers Its proximity to Dublin still makes it a popular destination for day trippers from the capital 8 Location edit nbsp Map of BrayThe town is situated on the east coast to the south of County Dublin Shankill County Dublin lies to the north and Greystones County Wicklow to the south The village of Enniskerry lies to the west of the town at the foot of the Wicklow Mountains People participate in such sports as sailing rowing and swimming The beach and seafront promenade are used by residents and visitors While Bray s promenade and south beach is to a Blue Flag standard 10 the north beach has been impacted by erosion and leaching pollution since the closure and sale of a municipal landfill in the late 20th century 11 12 13 The River Dargle which enters the sea at the north end of Bray rises from a source near Djouce in the Wicklow Mountains Bray Head is situated at the southern end of the Victorian Promenade with paths leading to the summit and along the sea cliffs The rocks of Bray Head are a mixture of greywackes and quartzite There is a large cross at the summit 14 Climate edit Bray has a temperate oceanic climate Koppen Cfb similar to most other towns in Ireland with few extremes of temperature and abundant precipitation year round However Bray is relatively sheltered from the prevailing south westerly winds by the Wicklow Mountains and receives around 750 mm 30 in of rainfall per year 15 The sunniest months on average are May and June while October is by far the wettest Average sea temperature in Bray County Wicklow 16 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov DecAverage Max C 11 C 52 F 10 C 50 F 10 C 50 F 11 C 52 F 13 C 55 F 15 C 59 F 18 C 64 F 17 C 63 F 17 C 63 F 16 C 61 F 14 C 57 F 13 C 55 F Average Min C 8 C 46 F 7 C 45 F 7 C 45 F 7 C 45 F 8 C 46 F 11 C 52 F 12 C 54 F 14 C 57 F 13 C 55 F 13 C 55 F 11 C 52 F 10 C 50 F nbsp Seafront and Bray HeadAccess editRail edit A public transport network both north into Dublin and south into County Wicklow and County Wexford serves the town Bray is on the Irish Rail DART Rail Network which stretches north to Malahide and Howth and south to Greystones The town is also on the mainline InterCity and Commuter rail network which connects north to Connolly Station in Dublin city centre and further to Drogheda and Dundalk To the south the rail line goes through Arklow and Gorey before reaching Rosslare Europort Bray s railway station is named after Edward Daly an executed leader of the 1916 Easter Rising Bray Station was opened on 10 July 1854 17 The Dublin and South Eastern Railway had two lines out from Bray into Dublin the coastal line formerly known as the Kingstown and Bray branch line and the Harcourt Street line The latter was closed in 1958 but most of it has been reopened as part of the Luas Green Line which is proposed for an extension to Bray citation needed Road edit Bray lies along the M11 motorway corridor an interchange at its northern side links with the M50 Dublin bypass nbsp Bray Daly railway station Several bus companies pass through Bray Dublin Bus Go Ahead Ireland Bus Eireann Finnegan Bray Aircoach and St Kevin s Bus Service to Glendalough Dublin Bus and Go Ahead Ireland are the two primary bus operators in the town operating service on behalf of the NTA Bus services serving the town include the 145 which is routed from Ballywaltrim just south of Bray to Heuston Station via UCD and Dublin city centre Other routes include the 45A B 84 A 84X 84N 155 184 and 185 18 19 Aircoach operates a service to and from Dublin Airport Wexford Bus also offer services to the village of Kilmacanogue just to the south of Bray with routes 740 and 740A Finnegan Bray formerly offered a night bus service from Dublin 20 route 984N however this was suspended in March 2020 due to Covid restrictions It was discontinued in late 2022 with the company blaming unfair competition from state subsidised services in a Facebook post 21 Air edit Dublin Airport is reachable via the M50 which passes to the west of Dublin City The Aircoach has two stops in Bray Wilton Hotel and Castle Street to and from Dublin Airport 22 Newcastle Aerodrome is the closest private airfield a short distance south of Bray 23 Demography edit nbsp An aerial view of BrayBray has a growing population of permanent residents Historical populationYearPop 199126 953 199627 923 3 6 200230 951 10 8 200631 901 3 1 201131 872 0 1 201632 600 2 3 202233 512 2 8 Local government edit nbsp Bray Town HallBray is represented on Wicklow County Council by two local electoral areas Bray East is approximately two thirds of the town while Bray West is the other third and includes the neighbouring villages of Enniskerry and Kilmacanogue The electoral divisions of Bray East are Bray No 1 Urban Bray No 2 Urban Bray No 3 Urban and Rathmichael Bray The electoral divisions of Bray West are Enniskerry Kilmacanoge and Powerscourt 24 Bray Municipal District consists of both of these local electoral areas 25 26 The following are the eight councillors representing Bray at Bray Municipal District and Wicklow County Council The local elections took place in 2019 Bray East 27 Bray West 28 Green Erika Doyle Independent Joe BehanSinn Fein Grace McManus Fine Gael Melanie CorriganFine Gael Aoife Flynn Kennedy Sinn Fein Dermot O BrienLabour Anne Ferris Independent Rory O Connor Steven Matthews was a councillor for Bray East from June 2019 until February 2020 After his election to Dail Eireann in the 2020 general election Erika Doyle was co opted to the seat for the Green Party 29 The Bray Town Commissioners were established by a local act in 1866 The Earl of Meath was named in the act as the first chairman of the commissioners 30 In 1899 this body became an urban district council under the Local Government Ireland Act 1898 At the same time a portion of the town which had been in County Dublin was transferred to County Wicklow and the jurisdiction of the urban district 31 The boundary of the town was further extended in 1952 taking in the area around Killruddery 32 in 1958 taking in the area in Rathmichael which had been transferred the previous year from County Dublin to County Wicklow 33 34 and in 1978 extending the town to the west 35 The urban district council became a town council in 2002 36 37 It was abolished by the Local Government Reform Act 2014 with the powers and functions of the town council given to the county council but its functions could be administered by the new municipal district council created by the act 38 39 Part of the northern Bray area lies within the local authority area of Dun Laoghaire Rathdown and forms part of the Shankill Killiney local electoral area The border between County Wicklow and County Dublin Dun Laoghaire Rathdown lies along Old Connaught Avenue and runs down along and across the Dublin Road to Ravenswell making all areas north of that line Bray County Dublin 40 Tourism edit nbsp nbsp The International Hotel top and the Turkish Baths bottom from Bray s heyday as a seaside resort Both were demolished in the late 20th century Bray is a long established holiday resort dating back to the early 19th century The Parliamentary gazetteer of 1846 described it thusly The town has for many years been a favourite summer resort of the wealthier of the Dublin citizens and of the gentry from a large part of Ireland and it possesses in a state of high facility and polish the various appliances required for their accommodation and comfort whether as lodgers or as tourists Handsome cottages ornees boarding houses on different scales of economy and furnished houses from the small abode to the luxurious mansion abound both in the town and in its environs for the special use of visitors 8 Bray has numerous hotels and guesthouses shops restaurants and evening entertainment The town also hosts a number of festival events In the town s vicinity are an 18 hole golf courses a tennis club fishing a sailing club and horse riding Other features of Bray are the amusement arcades and the National Sealife Centre It has a beach of sand and shingle which is over 1 6 km 1 mi long fronted by an esplanade and Bray Head which rises 241 m 791 ft from the coast has views of mountains and sea The concrete cross at the top of Bray head was erected in 1950 for the holy year nbsp Killruddery House an Elizabethan Revival mansion built in the 1820s nbsp Bray s Esplanade Hotel was built in 1900 41 Bray is used as a base for walkers and has a 1 5 km long 1 mi promenade which stretches from the harbour with its colony of mute swans to the base of Bray Head at the southern end A track leads to the summit Also used by walkers is the seven km 4 1 2 mi Cliff Walk along Bray Head out to Greystones In January 2010 Bray was named the cleanest town in Ireland in the 2009 Irish Business Against Litter IBAL survey of 60 towns and cities 42 Tourist sites edit Tourist sites in the area include the Elizabethan revival mansion Killruddery House which is open to the public in the summer months 43 and the hill and headland at Bray Head which has a number of walking trails 44 Raheen a Cluig a medieval church which is catalogued as national monument is located on the north face of Bray Head Other religious sites and churches in the area include the Fassaroe Cross 12th century 45 the Holy Redeemer Church Bray 1792 and the Gothic Revival churches of Christ Church 1863 and Bray Methodist Church 1864 Festivals and events edit nbsp Bray Air Show 2016The Bray St Patrick s Carnival and Parade is presented by Bray and District Chamber to celebrate Saint Patrick s Day Bray also hosts a yearly silent film festival the Killruddery Film Festival in Killruddery Gardens 46 Bray Jazz Festival takes place annually on the May bank holiday weekend and includes performances by jazz and world music artists The annual Bray Summerfest takes place over six weeks in July and August and includes free entertainment live music markets sporting events and carnivals Performers who have headlined include Mundy Brian Kennedy the Undertones the Hothouse Flowers and Mary Black An air display the Bray Air Display is held annually in late July Hell amp Back is an adventure race that takes place in Kilruddery Estates 47 The 10 km Cliff Run from Bray to Greystones is an annual run on the coast around Bray Head Mountain 48 In 2023 Bray was named by Time Out magazine as one of the fourteen most underrated travel destinations in the world 49 Pubs and restaurants edit Bray s pubs and restaurants include the first Porterhouse bar who brew their own ales stouts and beers 50 In 2010 the Lonely Planet Guide ranked the Harbour Bar in Bray the Best Bar in the World and the Best off the Beaten Track Bar in the world 51 The O Toole family owned the bar for three generations but it was bought by the Duggan family in 2013 52 The Duggans also operate two seafront premises Katie Gallagher s and the Martello both include restaurants on site There are twelve fully licensed restaurants several unlicensed restaurants and cafes and fast food outlets in Bray In 2015 The Irish Times published a study which analysed the presence of fast food outlets in Ireland Bray was found to have the lowest per capita concentration of the ten towns and cities included with just 0 09 stores per 1 000 people 53 Culture edit nbsp National Sealife Centre BrayFilm edit Bray is home to Ireland s oldest film studios Ardmore Studios established in 1958 where films such as Excalibur Braveheart and Breakfast on Pluto have been shot Custer s Last Stand up was filmed in Bray 54 and the town was also used to film Neil Jordan s 2012 film Byzantium part of which was shot in the Bray Head Inn 55 Neil Jordan s 1991 film The Miracle is set in Bray 56 Theatre and literature edit Bray hosts a number of theatre groups including the Bray Arts and Square One Theatre Group 57 Authors who have lived in Bray have included James Joyce Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Molly Keane and Neil Jordan Situated on Eglinton Road is a Carnegie Library dating from 1910 58 There is also another library serving the Ballywaltrim district on Boghall Road at the southern end of the town Media edit The Bray People newspaper is focused on the news in the local areas and neighbourhoods as does the freesheet Wicklow Times North Edition 59 East Coast FM Radio Station also operates locally 60 Music edit Musicians associated with Bray include Mary Coughlan 61 Maria Doyle Kennedy 62 Fionn Regan 63 and Hozier 64 The singer Sinead O Connor was also a resident of Bray for a number of years living in a house overlooking the sea on Strand Road While O Connor died in London her funeral procession took place on Bray seafront in August 2023 65 Sports edit nbsp Bray Wanderers vs Bohemians at the Carlisle GroundsBray is home to League of Ireland football club Bray Wanderers who play at the Carlisle Grounds It also hosts schoolboy football club Ardmore Rovers and Wolfe Tone F C The local Gaelic Athletic Association club s are Fergal Og s and Bray Emmets 66 Bray Emmets Established in 1885 the club hosts the annual All Ireland Kick Fada Championship 67 There are a number of golf clubs and pitch amp putt courses in the area including Bray Golf Club Dun Laoghaire Golf Club and Old Conna Golf Club 68 69 Bray is also host to Bray Bowling Club which trains in Failte Park 70 and there is 10 Pin Bowling at the Bray Bowling Alley 71 There is fishing in both the River Dargle and on the sea coastline and a number of clubs locally including Bray Head Fishing Club and Dargle Anglers Club 72 Other clubs and facilities in the area include Bray Wheelers Cycling Club 73 Brennanstown Riding School 74 Bray Sailing Club 75 Wicklow Lawn Tennis Club founded in 1894 and located on Vevay Road 76 Bray Hockey Club 77 and Wicklow County Cricket Club 78 A short lived greyhound racing track existed in the town from 1949 until 1955 run by the Bray Greyhound Racing Association Ltd 79 In December 1947 notice was given that a track would be constructed at Sunnybank but the Wicklow County Manager refused the application However the greyhound company continued to build the facilities and in 1949 the track opened It was not until 1950 that the High Court ruled against the company for building without planning permission and levied a fine of 470 The dispute continued until in 1955 the track was bought by Bray Urban Council under a compulsory purchase order The site consisting of almost five acres was bought at 440 per acre and 36 houses were built on the land 80 Thousands of people turned out on the seafront to see Olympic boxing champion Katie Taylor return home from London in August 2012 81 Education edit nbsp Presentation College BrayThere are approximately 13 primary schools in the Bray area including national schools like Saint Cronan s Boys National School 82 gaelscoileanna like Gaelscoil Ui Cheadaigh a co educational day school St Gerard s School 83 and schools for special needs Secondary schools in the area include Saint Brendan s College Loreto Secondary School and St Kilian s Community School and Presentation College Bray A number of English as a foreign language and third level schools also operate locally including Bray Institute of Further Education 84 People edit nbsp Swans where the River Dargle flows into the harbour nbsp Christ Church BraySee also Category People from Bray County Wicklow Former or current residents of the town have included in alphabetical order Eamon de Buitlear writer filmmaker and traditional Irish musician 85 Conrad Burke physicist and entrepreneur 86 Seamus Costello founding member of the Irish National Liberation Army 87 Suzanne Crowe President of the Medical Council of Ireland 88 Mary Coughlan singer who resides in the town 61 S M Cyril India based Irish nun educationist educational innovator and 2007 winner of the Padma Shri Award 89 Fergal Devitt professional wrestler in WWE who wrestles under the name Finn Balor 61 Jordan Devlin professional wrestler in WWE 90 Hozier singer and songwriter 64 Eddie Jordan former racing driver and Jordan Grand Prix founder 61 Ed Joyce professional cricketer 91 James Joyce writer 61 Maria Doyle Kennedy singer and actress who resided in the town as a child 62 Denzil Lacey former RTE 2fm and current Spin South West presenter 92 Sheridan Le Fanu writer of gothic horror and mystery novels 61 Thomas Langlois Lefroy politician and judge who lived in his family estate in Newcourt 93 Keith Nolan professional golfer former GB amp Ireland Walker Cup player and PGA Tour player 94 Dara o Briain comedian and television host 61 Sinead O Connor singer who resided in the town 95 Cearbhall o Dalaigh fifth President of Ireland 96 Fran O Toole former lead singer in The Miami Showband murdered in the Miami Showband massacre of July 1975 97 98 99 Gary O Toole former Irish Olympic swimmer from Bray 100 Darren Randolph goalkeeper for the Republic of Ireland national football team 101 Fionn Regan musician 63 Lennox Robinson dramatist and poet 61 Katie Taylor world European and Olympic boxing gold medalist 102 Laura Whitmore TV personality and presenter 61 William Wilde and Jane Wilde the parents of Oscar Wilde built properties on Esplanade Terrace in 1863 one of which is now the Strand Hotel 103 Twin towns editSee also List of twin towns and sister cities in the Republic of Ireland Bray has town twinning agreements with 104 105 Begles France Dublin California United States Wurzburg GermanyReferences edit a b Census 2022 Profile 1 Population Distribution and Movement Central Statistics Office 2022 Retrieved 30 June 2023 a b c d e f Bre Bray logainm ie Irish Placenames Commission Archived from the original on 13 June 2018 Retrieved 24 August 2018 Bray Gateway to Wicklow Wicklow ie www wicklow ie Archived from the original on 22 October 2021 Retrieved 24 October 2021 Joyce P W Patrick Weston 1875 The origin and history of Irish names of places Vol 1 4th ed Dublin McGlashan amp Gill p 390 Archived from the original on 3 July 2020 Retrieved 10 June 2019 Laoide Lloyd Seosamh Joseph Henry 1905 Post Sheanchas i n a bhfuil cuigi duithchi conntaethe agus bailte puist na hEireann in Irish and English Dublin Gaelic League p 16 Retrieved 10 June 2019 Ryan Richie 25 May 1975 I R Uimh 133 1975 An tOrdu Logainmneacha Foirmeacha Gaeilge Uimh 1 Postbhailte 1975 electronic Irish Statute Book eISB in Irish Archived from the original on 18 June 2019 Retrieved 10 June 2019 A Modern Depiction of Ireland One of the British Isles Archived from the original on 7 October 2011 Retrieved 4 August 2016 a b c d e Irish Historic Towns Atlas IHTA no 9 Bray PDF Archived PDF from the original on 10 August 2021 Retrieved 10 August 2021 Bray s Turkish Baths History Ireland 15 6 16 November 2007 Archived from the original on 15 March 2011 Bray s South Promenade has regained the Blue Flag status for 2018 bray ie 21 May 2018 Archived from the original on 27 November 2018 Retrieved 24 November 2018 Progress being made to stop coastal erosion at Bray North Beach 27 March 2018 Archived from the original on 24 August 2018 Retrieved 24 November 2018 Coastal erosion unearths toxic waste at Bray beach 27 February 2017 Archived from the original on 24 August 2018 Retrieved 24 November 2018 Cost to clean up former dump at Bray could be 12m Archived from the original on 12 July 2017 Retrieved 24 November 2018 Bray Head Walk Archived from the original on 20 November 2018 Retrieved 24 November 2018 Climate of Ireland Rainfall met ie Archived from the original on 21 July 2021 Retrieved 21 July 2021 Sea Temperature Bray seatemperature net Archived from the original on 27 June 2022 Retrieved 27 June 2022 Bray station PDF Railscot Irish Railways Archived PDF from the original on 2 March 2011 Retrieved 8 September 2007 Home Dublin Bus www dublinbus ie Retrieved 6 April 2023 Go Ahead Ireland www goaheadireland ie Retrieved 6 April 2023 Night bus to Bray Greystones Kilcoole Archived from the original on 19 January 2012 Finnegan Bray www facebook com Comment by Finnegan Bray on 13 Nov 22 13 November 2022 Archived from the original on 14 March 2023 Retrieved 1 January 2023 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint location link AirCoach Archived from the original on 11 September 2016 Retrieved 28 August 2016 Newcastle Aerodrome Archived from the original on 14 September 2016 Retrieved 5 February 2017 County of Wicklow Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts Order 2018 Irish Statute Book 19 December 2018 Retrieved 1 June 2023 County of Wicklow Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts Order 2018 S I No 638 of 2018 Signed on 19 December 2018 Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland Archived from the original on 31 May 2019 Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 31 May 2019 County Of Wicklow Local Electoral Areas And Municipal Districts Amendment Order 2019 S I No 7 of 2019 Signed on 22 January 2019 Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland Archived from the original on 16 April 2019 Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 31 May 2019 Declaration of Result Bray East LEA Wicklow County Council Local Election 24 May 2019 PDF Wicklow County Council 28 May 2019 Archived PDF from the original on 27 July 2020 Retrieved 15 June 2019 Declaration of Result Bray West LEA Wicklow County Council Local Election 24 May 2019 PDF Wicklow County Council 26 May 2019 Archived PDF from the original on 27 July 2020 Retrieved 15 June 2019 Buchanan Myles 7 March 2020 Neary and Doyle take their seats in the county council chamber Bray People Archived from the original on 13 June 2020 Retrieved 13 June 2020 Bray Township Act 1866 29 amp 30 Vict c cclxi legislation gov uk The National Archives Archived from the original on 6 November 2022 Retrieved 6 November 2022 Clancy John Joseph 1899 A handbook of local government in Ireland containing an explanatory introduction to the Local Government Ireland Act 1898 together with the text of the act the orders in Council and the rules made thereunder relating to county council rural district council and guardian s elections with an index Dublin Sealy Bryers and Walker pp 432 433 Bray Urban District Alteration of Boundary Order 1952 S I No 42 of 1952 Signed on 19 February 1952 by Patrick Smith Minister for Local Government Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 6 November 2022 Urban District of Bray Alteration of Boundary Order 1958 S I No 48 of 1958 Signed on 19 February 1958 by Neil Blaney Minister for Local Government Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 6 November 2022 Wicklow County District Electoral Divisions Order 1957 S I No 216 of 1957 Signed on 25 October 1957 by Patrick Smith Minister for Local Government Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 6 November 2022 Urban District of Bray Alteration of Boundary Order 1978 S I No 370 of 1978 Signed on 21 December 1978 by Sylvester Barrett Minister for the Environment Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 6 November 2022 Local Government Act 2001 6th Sch Local Government Areas Towns No 37 of 2001 6th Sch Enacted on 21 July 2001 Act of the Oireachtas Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 3 August 2022 Local Government Act 2001 Establishment Day Order 2001 S I No 591 of 2001 Signed on 18 December 2001 by Noel Dempsey Minister for the Environment and Local Government Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 6 November 2022 Local Government Reform Act 2014 s 24 Dissolution of town councils and transfer date No 1 of 2014 s 24 Enacted on 27 January 2014 Act of the Oireachtas Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 21 May 2022 Local Government Reform Act 2014 Commencement of Certain Provisions No 3 Order 2014 S I No 214 of 2014 Signed on 22 May 2014 by Phil Hogan Minister for the Environment Community and Local Government Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 3 November 2022 Interactive Maps for Local Electoral Areas www wicklow ie Archived from the original on 13 July 2019 Retrieved 31 May 2019 Esplanade Hotel Strand Road Bray Bray Wicklow Buildings of Ireland National Inventory of Architectural Heritage Archived from the original on 24 October 2021 Retrieved 24 October 2021 Bray named as cleanest town Irish Times 4 January 2010 Retrieved 4 January 2010 Killruddery House and Gardens Opening Hours killruddery com Killruddery Estate Enterprises Ltd Archived from the original on 26 September 2019 Retrieved 26 September 2019 Bray Head Walk bray ie Bray Tourism Archived from the original on 26 September 2019 Retrieved 26 September 2019 Record of the Fassaroe Cross at the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage of Ireland Archived from the original on 29 July 2020 Retrieved 1 October 2019 Killruddery Film Festival Archived from the original on 15 April 2012 Retrieved 6 February 2012 Hell amp Back Archived from the original on 3 September 2016 Retrieved 5 February 2017 Bray Cliff Run Archived from the original on 20 August 2016 Retrieved 5 February 2017 Time Out names Bray as one of world s 14 most underrated spots 2 March 2023 The Porterhouse Brewery Archived from the original on 4 February 2012 Greatest little pub in the world Irish Independent 25 November 2010 Archived from the original on 28 November 2010 Retrieved 25 November 2010 Harbour Bar Archived from the original on 13 December 2013 Retrieved 13 December 2013 Burke Kennedy Eoin Swords named as fast food capital of Ireland The Irish Times Archived from the original on 5 May 2021 Retrieved 27 August 2021 Brendan Grehan 6 December 2001 Bray based TV series wins top BAFTA award braypeople ie Bray People Archived from the original on 29 February 2012 Retrieved 8 January 2012 Neil Jordan film will stop traffic Bray People Archived from the original on 14 March 2023 Retrieved 6 February 2012 The Miracle Neil Jordan Irish Film Institute Archived from the original on 30 November 2017 Retrieved 2 October 2017 Square One Theatre Group Archived from the original on 11 September 2016 Retrieved 28 August 2016 Bray Library Wicklow ie www wicklow ie Archived from the original on 27 August 2021 Retrieved 27 August 2021 Bray News Latest Bray News Headlines from the Bray People Independent ie www independent ie Archived from the original on 27 August 2021 Retrieved 27 August 2021 East Coast FM East Coast FM Archived from the original on 27 August 2021 Retrieved 27 August 2021 a b c d e f g h i Famous Residents of Bray bray ie Bray Tourism Archived from the original on 30 November 2018 Retrieved 29 November 2018 a b Maria Doyle Kennedy Biography Hollywood com Archived from the original on 19 October 2015 a b Fionn Regan The Bray Wanderer returns independent ie Independent News amp Media 12 August 2011 Archived from the original on 31 August 2018 Retrieved 29 November 2018 a b Meet the Bray singer cracking America Irish Independent 13 March 2014 Archived from the original on 27 March 2019 Retrieved 19 April 2021 Sinead O Connor funeral procession in pictures The Irish Times Retrieved 13 September 2023 Bray Emmets GAA Club Archived from the original on 6 April 2017 Retrieved 7 April 2017 All Ireland Kick Fada bray ie Archived from the original on 21 November 2018 Retrieved 24 November 2018 Bray Golf Club Archived from the original on 30 August 2016 Retrieved 5 February 2017 Old Conna Golf Club Archived from the original on 10 September 2016 Retrieved 5 February 2017 Bray Bowling Club Archived from the original on 21 September 2016 Retrieved 5 February 2017 Bray Bowling Alley Archived from the original on 2 October 2016 Retrieved 5 February 2017 Dargle Anglers Club Archived from the original on 13 September 2016 Retrieved 28 August 2016 Bray Wheelers Cycling Club Archived from the original on 29 June 2004 Retrieved 5 February 2017 Brennanstown Riding School Archived from the original on 28 August 2016 Retrieved 5 February 2017 Bray Sailing Club Archived from the original on 18 September 2016 Retrieved 5 February 2017 County Wicklow Lawn Tennis Club Archived from the original on 29 July 2016 Retrieved 5 February 2017 Bray Hockey Club Archived from the original on 27 July 2020 Retrieved 29 April 2020 Wicklow County Cricket Club Archived from the original on 6 May 2020 Retrieved 29 April 2020 Barnes Julia 1988 Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File page 410 Ringpress Books ISBN 0 948955 15 5 Decided on at a Special Meeting 17 July 1948 Wicklow People Wicklow 1948 Triumphant Bray homecoming for Olympic hero Katie Taylor Irish Independent Independent News amp Media 13 August 2012 Archived from the original on 15 August 2012 Retrieved 13 August 2012 St Cronan s Boys National School Archived from the original on 10 February 2012 Retrieved 6 February 2012 Saint Gerard s School Bray stgerards ie Archived from the original on 20 July 2012 Retrieved 3 August 2012 Bray Institute of Further Education Welcome to BIFE Campus Archived from the original on 2 April 2001 Retrieved 5 February 2017 Obituaries Eamon de Buitlear Film maker and environmentalist The Independent 25 April 2013 Archived from the original on 2 July 2020 Retrieved 29 November 2018 Bray born entrepreneur joins hi tech venture fund backed by Bill Gates independent Retrieved 6 September 2022 Home Seamus Costello Retrieved 17 August 2023 Appointments to the Medical Council www gov ie Archived from the original on 27 August 2021 Retrieved 27 August 2021 Pollio Fenton Francesca 28 June 2023 Irish nun who changed education for India s poorest children dies News Catholic News Agency Retrieved 13 September 2023 Jordan Devlin wwe com WWE Archived from the original on 19 May 2018 Retrieved 29 November 2018 Ed Joyce announces retirement to take up Cricket Ireland coaching role irishtimes com Irish Times 24 May 2018 Archived from the original on 30 November 2018 Retrieved 29 November 2018 Denzil makes airwaves on RTE Bray People Independent News amp Media 14 July 2010 Archived from the original on 30 November 2018 Retrieved 20 November 2018 Webb Alfred Thomas Langlois Lefroy A Compendium of Irish Biography 1878 Library Ireland Archived from the original on 30 November 2018 Retrieved 29 November 2018 Bray s Keith Nolan guides Jason Allred to top three at Riviera irishgolfdesk com Brian Keogh 17 February 2014 Archived from the original on 29 November 2018 Retrieved 29 November 2018 Staines Michael 27 July 2023 The kind of person we all should have been Sinead O Connor remembered News Bray People Retrieved 28 July 2023 Keane Ronan o Dalaigh Cearbhall Dictionary of Irish Biography Royal Irish Academy Archived from the original on 30 November 2018 Retrieved 29 November 2018 https cain ulster ac uk othelem chron ch75 htm 31775 Archived 11 February 2021 at the Wayback Machine Cain A Chronology of the Conflict 1975 Thursday 31 July 1975 Miami Showband Killings Miami Massacre Hedges John Singer Fran O Toole honoured in his native Bray 40 years after www anphoblacht com Archived from the original on 28 January 2021 Retrieved 22 January 2021 Miami Showband Massacre You Don t Have to Die to Lose Your Life The Irish Independent 22 July 2015 Retrieved 30 June 2023 Fogarty Mary 24 August 2019 Anniversary of hero Gary s silver medal Wicklow Irish Independent Retrieved 13 September 2023 Ireland goalkeeper Darren Randolph on why rugby GAA and basketball s loss was soccer s gain the42 ie The 42 26 December 2015 Archived from the original on 30 November 2018 Retrieved 29 November 2018 The best images from Katie Taylor s homecoming to Bray joe ie Joe 13 August 2012 Archived from the original on 29 November 2018 Retrieved 29 November 2018 Oscar Wilde s former Bray home on sale for 2 2m irishtimes com Irish Times 15 March 2015 Archived from the original on 29 November 2018 Retrieved 29 November 2018 Twinned with Dublin bray ie 2017 Archived from the original on 25 December 2018 Retrieved 19 May 2017 Town Twinning wicklow ie Wicklow County Council Archived from the original on 21 October 2020 Retrieved 8 November 2020 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bray County Wicklow nbsp Wikisource has the text of the 1911 Encyclopaedia Britannica article Bray Ireland nbsp Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Bray Bray on line Bray Town Council Wayback Machine archive Bray on Wicklow Tourism Bray in Lewis Topographical Dictionary of Ireland 1837 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bray County Wicklow amp oldid 1188431708, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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