Editing County Wicklow (section)

==Geography==
{{Further|Wicklow Mountains|Wicklow Mountains National Park|Wicklow Way}}

===Location===
[[File:Wicklow Mountains topographic map-fr.svg|thumb|left|Topographic map of County Wicklow]]
Wicklow is part of the [[Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly|Eastern and Midland Region]] of Ireland, within the province of [[Leinster]]. It is bounded by four counties, [[County Dublin|Dublin]] to the north; [[County Kildare|Kildare]] and [[County Carlow|Carlow]] to the west; [[County Wexford|Wexford]] to the south; and the [[Irish Sea]] to the east. Wicklow is the 17th largest of Ireland's 32 traditional counties by land area, and the 16th most populous. It is the fourth largest of Leinster's 12 counties by size and the fifth most populous. The county is named after the town of [[Wicklow]], located approximately {{convert|50|km|mi}} south of [[Dublin]], the capital city of Ireland.

[[File:Croaghanmoira Mountain.jpg|thumb|The [[Wicklow Mountains]] occupy the whole of central Wicklow]]
The [[Wicklow Mountains]] are Ireland's largest continuous upland area and occupy a significant portion of the county, spanning the entire centre of Wicklow and stretching into Dublin and Wexford at their southern and northern fringes. [[Lugnaquilla]], at {{convert|925|m|ft}} above sea level, is the tallest peak in the range, the highest mountain in Ireland outside of [[County Kerry]], and Ireland's 13th-highest mountain overall.<ref name="mountainviews">{{Cite web |url=https://mountainviews.ie/summit/13/ |title=MountainViews: Lugnaquilla |access-date=24 August 2021 |archive-date=24 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210824025232/https://mountainviews.ie/summit/13/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[Wicklow Mountains National Park]], located in the middle of the county, is a dedicated protected area covering {{convert|205|km2|acre|0}}, making it the largest [[List of national parks of the Republic of Ireland|national park]] in Ireland.<ref>{{cite web | location = IE | url = https://www.wicklowmountainsnationalpark.ie/ | title = Wicklow Mountains National Park | publisher = wicklowmountainsnationalpark.ie | access-date = 22 August 2021 | archive-date = 13 August 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210813094758/https://www.wicklowmountainsnationalpark.ie/ | url-status = live }}</ref> The [[Wicklow Way]] was the first [[Lists of long-distance trails in the Republic of Ireland|long-distance trail]] in the State, and crosses the range for {{convert|131|km|mi}}.<ref>{{cite web |location=IE |url=https://www.glendalough.ie/things-to-do/walking/ |title=Glendalough, things to do – Hiking/Walking |work=Glendalough Official Website |date=6 February 2014 |publisher=glendalough.ie |access-date=22 August 2021 |archive-date=22 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210822113243/https://www.glendalough.ie/things-to-do/walking/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Geology===
The Wicklow Mountains are centred on the Leinster [[batholith]] and are primarily composed of [[granite]] surrounded by an envelope of [[mica]]-[[schist]] and much older rocks such as [[quartzite]]. Covering {{convert|1,500|km2|mi2}}, the Leinster batholith is the most expansive mass of [[Intrusive rock|intrusive]] [[igneous rock]] in Ireland or [[Great Britain|Britain]].<ref>{{cite journal | location = UK | url = https://jgs.lyellcollection.org/content/175/2/229 | title = Multiple intrusive phases in the Leinster Batholith, Ireland: geochronology, isotope geochemistry and constraints on the deformation history | journal = Journal of the Geological Society | year = 2018 | publisher = Geological Society of London | doi = 10.1144/jgs2017-034 | access-date = 24 August 2021 | archive-date = 24 August 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210824025241/https://jgs.lyellcollection.org/content/175/2/229 | url-status = live | last1 = Fritschle | first1 = Tobias | last2 = Daly | first2 = J. Stephen | last3 = Whitehouse | first3 = Martin J. | last4 = McConnell | first4 = Brian | last5 = Buhre | first5 = Stephan | volume = 175 | issue = 2 | pages = 229–246 | bibcode = 2018JGSoc.175..229F | s2cid = 134435310 }}</ref> The oldest rocks in the county are the quartzites of the Bray Group that include [[Bray Head]] and the [[Little Sugar Loaf]] and [[Great Sugar Loaf]] mountains.{{sfn|Holland|2003|p=22}} These [[metamorphism|metamorphosed]] from [[sandstone]] deposited in the deep waters of the primeval [[Iapetus Ocean]] during the [[Cambrian]] [[period (geology)|period]] (542-488 million years ago).{{sfn|Jackson|Parkes|Simms|2010|p=142}}

As with much of Ireland, Wicklow's terrain was sculpted by successive periods of glaciation during the [[quaternary]]. Weathering and erosion by ice carved out long valleys known as [[glens]] (from the [[Irish language|Irish]] ''gleann'') such as [[Glenmacnass Waterfall|Glenmacnass]], [[Glen of the Downs]], [[Glenmalure]], [[Glen of Imaal]], [[Glencree]] and [[Glendalough]]. The Irish Sea Ice-Sheet began to retreat shortly after the [[Last Glacial Maximum]] ca. 20,000–23,000 years ago but significant ice masses persisted in the Wicklow Mountains for another 4,000–7,000 years.{{sfn|Tomkins|Dortch|Tonkin|Barr|2017|p=6}}

===Hydrology===
[[File:Powerscourt Waterfall, Wicklow - panoramio (3).jpg|thumb|left|[[Powerscourt Waterfall]], the second highest in Ireland]]
Major rivers include the {{convert|132|km|mi|adj=on|sigfig=3}} [[River Liffey]], Ireland's 8th-longest river, which rises near [[Tonduff]] mountain and flows through the centre of [[Dublin|Dublin City]], reaching the Irish Sea at [[Dublin Bay]].<ref name="RvrsStrmsDubReg">{{cite book| title = The Rivers and Streams of the Dublin Region | date = 2018 | isbn = 9780956636386 | pages = 33–35}}</ref> Its biggest tributary by volume, the [[River Dodder]], rises along the northern slope of [[Kippure]] in the far north of the county, while the Kings River joins at Blessington Lakes. Multiple other Liffey tributaries flow within the county.<ref name="RvrsStrmsDubReg"/>

The {{convert|117.5|km|mi|adj=on|sigfig=3}} [[River Slaney]], which starts at Lugnaquilla, flows west and then south before reaching [[St George's Channel]] at [[Wexford]] town.<ref>[http://www.serbd.com/MultiDownloads/Creport/Chapters/Physical%20Description%20Ch3.pdf South Eastern River Basin District Management System. Page 38] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303222354/http://www.serbd.com/MultiDownloads/Creport/Chapters/Physical%20Description%20Ch3.pdf |date=2016-03-03 }}</ref> The [[Avonmore River|Avonmore]] and [[River Avonbeg|Avonbeg]] rivers join to form the [[River Avoca|Avoca River]] at the ''Meeting of the Waters'' in the Vale of Avoca.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=http://www.serbd.com/MultiDownloads/Creport/Chapters/Physical%20Description%20Ch3.pdf|title=South Eastern River Basin District Management System Initial Characterisation Report: Physical Description|website=South Eastern River Basin District|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303222354/http://www.serbd.com/MultiDownloads/Creport/Chapters/Physical%20Description%20Ch3.pdf|archive-date=2016-03-03|url-status=dead|access-date=2015-03-02}}</ref> The [[River Derreen]] in the south of the county defines a section of the border with Carlow.

[[File:Poulaphouca Reservoir - panoramio.jpg|thumb|The [[Poulaphouca Reservoir]] near [[Blessington]] is Ireland's largest artificial lake]]
Most of the county's lakes (or loughs) are glacially derived [[Ribbon lake|ribbon]] and [[Tarn (lake)|corrie lakes]] found in scenic [[trough valley]]s surrounded by mountains, making them popular with tourists.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://visitwicklow.ie/listing/lough-tay-guinness-lake/ |title=Lough Tay – The Guinness Lake |work=Visit Wicklow |date=25 February 2015 |publisher=visitwicklow.ie |access-date=24 August 2021 |archive-date=24 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210824025228/https://visitwicklow.ie/listing/lough-tay-guinness-lake/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Notable lakes in the county include [[Glendalough Upper Lake]], [[Lough Tay]] ('The [[Guinness Estate|Guinness]] Lake'), [[Tonelagee#Gallery|Lough Ouler]] ('The Heart-shaped Lake'), Lough Bray, [[Lough Dan]] and Lough Nahanagan.

[[Poulaphouca Reservoir]] is the largest of Wicklow's lakes, covering {{convert|2226|ha|acres|sigfig=3}} in the west of the county.<ref>{{cite web |location=IE |url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/ga/debates/debate/dail/1936-11-04/50/ |title=Liffey Reservoir Bill, 1936—Second Stage |work=Government of Ireland |publisher=oireachtas.ie |access-date=22 August 2021 |archive-date=24 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210824025233/https://www.oireachtas.ie/ga/debates/debate/dail/1936-11-04/50/ |url-status=live }}</ref> It is the largest artificial lake in Ireland and was created following the damming of the [[River Liffey]] at [[Poulaphouca]] in 1940. The village of Ballinahown was completed submerged by the reservoir and its 70 families were relocated. Ruins of the old village including buildings, fences and farm machinery can be seen during droughts when water levels in the reservoir diminish.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/wicklowpeople/localnotes/memories-come-flooding-back-35872128.html |title=Memories come flooding back |work=Wicklow People |date=30 June 2017 |publisher=independent.ie |access-date=24 August 2021 |archive-date=24 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210824025227/https://www.independent.ie/regionals/wicklowpeople/localnotes/memories-come-flooding-back-35872128.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The lower [[Vartry Reservoir]], constructed between 1862 and 1868, is the county's second largest lake.

===Coast===
[[File:Brittas Bay (Jul 2013).jpg|thumb|right|Beach at [[Brittas Bay]]. The county is a popular seaside destination]]
Wicklow has a relatively [[List of Irish counties by coastline|short coastline]], at {{convert|64|km|miles}} in length.<ref>{{cite journal |url= https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0272771499905073 |title= The Relative Lengths of Seashore Substrata Around the Coastline of Ireland as Determined by Digital Methods in a Geographical Information System |date= 22 April 1999 |publisher= Environmental Sciences Unit, Trinity College Dublin |doi= 10.1006/ecss.1999.0507 |access-date= 13 July 2021 |archive-date= 13 July 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210713111748/https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0272771499905073 |url-status= live |last1= Neilson |first1= Brigitte |last2= Costello |first2= Mark J. |journal= Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science |volume= 49 |issue= 4 |pages= 501–508 |bibcode= 1999ECSS...49..501N |s2cid= 128982465 }}</ref> Wicklow's coastline is mostly straight, with few sizable bays or inlets and no offshore islands, giving it a shorter coastline than smaller counties like [[County Louth|Louth]] and Dublin. [[Wicklow Head]] is the county's most prominent coastal headland, and is also the most easterly mainland point of the Republic of Ireland.<ref>{{cite book |last=Winn |first=Christopher |year=2015 |title=I Never Knew That about the Irish |publisher=Random House |page=145 |isbn=9780091960254}}</ref> Wicklow's east coast is a popular domestic summer holiday destination, and the county has numerous beaches including [[Brittas Bay]], Clogga Beach, The Cove, Silver Strand Beach, Sallymount Bay Beach, Ennereilly Beach, Newcastle Beach, Arklow's Porter's Rock Beach and South Beach, Greystones North and South Beaches, Bray Strand, and Magheramore Beach.

===Forest===
The county has roughly {{convert|37,500|ha|acres}} of wooded area, the 8th highest total forest cover in Ireland. In terms of forest cover as a proportion of land area, Wicklow ranks second in the country, at 18.5%.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/823b8-irelands-national-forest-inventory/|title=National Forestry Inventory, Fourth Cycle 2012|work=DAFM|date=16 December 2020 |access-date=12 June 2023}}</ref> Known as the "Garden of Ireland", Wicklow was historically the county with the highest percentage of woodlands. The 2017 National Forestry Inventory revealed that [[County Leitrim]] had overtaken it for the first time. Wicklow is in a [[temperate broadleaf and mixed forests]] [[biome]], although the majority of Wicklow's forests are commercial [[conifer]]s. The economic [[tree line]] in the region is around {{convert|400|m|ft}}, above which [[hill farming]] and [[blanket bog]] dominates.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.coford.ie/media/coford/content/publications/projectreports/speciesmanual.pdf|title=A Guide to Forest Tree Species Selection and Silviculture in Ireland|work=Council for Forest Research and Development|access-date=24 August 2021|archive-date=12 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112022515/http://www.coford.ie/media/coford/content/publications/projectreports/speciesmanual.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

{{Geography of County Wicklow|state=collapsed}}

===Urban development===
In terms of urban development, [[Wicklow County Council]] imposes the most stringent planning restrictions in Ireland. In order to build a house outside of the main towns, a person must be "born and bred in the area, or have lived there for a period of 10 years" and must also demonstrate that the house is for their own housing needs, rather than for resale. Further, potential buyers in rural areas must be approved by the council before the homeowner is allowed to sell to them. The primary justification for these restrictions is to avoid [[one-off housing]] or other poorly planned developments which could put a strain on the county's infrastructure and degrade its natural environment.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/homes-and-property/planning-headaches-in-co-wicklow-1.2176655 |title= Planning headaches in Co Wicklow |date= 16 April 2015 |publisher= [[The Irish Times]] |access-date= 23 August 2021 |archive-date= 12 November 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201112012040/https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/homes-and-property/planning-headaches-in-co-wicklow-1.2176655 |url-status= live }}</ref>

===Climate===
{{Weather box
|location = [[Ashford, County Wicklow|Ashford]], County Wicklow (1999–2020), 12 m[[Ordnance datum|AOD]]
|collapsed = Yes
|metric first = Yes
|single line = Yes
|Jan record high C = 17.8
|Feb record high C = 17.4
|Mar record high C = 19.6
|Apr record high C = 20.4
|May record high C = 24.1
|Jun record high C = 27.0
|Jul record high C = 29.2
|Aug record high C = 27.1
|Sep record high C = 25.3
|Oct record high C = 21.6
|Nov record high C = 18.5
|Dec record high C = 16.4
|Jan high C = 9.2
|Feb high C = 9.4
|Mar high C = 11.2
|Apr high C = 12.8
|May high C = 15.7
|Jun high C = 18.7
|Jul high C = 20.4
|Aug high C = 19.8
|Sep high C = 18.1
|Oct high C = 14.9
|Nov high C = 11.6
|Dec high C = 9.6
|year high C = 
|Jan mean C = 6.1
|Feb mean C = 6.1
|Mar mean C = 7.1
|Apr mean C = 8.8
|May mean C = 11.4
|Jun mean C = 14.0
|Jul mean C = 15.6
|Aug mean C = 15.5
|Sep mean C = 13.9
|Oct mean C = 11.3
|Nov mean C = 8.2
|Dec mean C = 6.4
|year mean C = 
|Jan low C = 2.9
|Feb low C = 2.8
|Mar low C = 3.4
|Apr low C = 4.7
|May low C = 6.9
|Jun low C = 9.5
|Jul low C = 11.3
|Aug low C = 11.2
|Sep low C = 10.0
|Oct low C = 7.4
|Nov low C = 4.8
|Dec low C = 3.1
|Jan record low C = -7.1
|Feb record low C = -5.4
|Mar record low C = -6.6
|Apr record low C = -1.8
|May record low C = -0.8
|Jun record low C = 1.8
|Jul record low C = 4.6
|Aug record low C = 4.3
|Sep record low C = 1.9
|Oct record low C = -1.1
|Nov record low C = -6.4
|Dec record low C = -6.8
|year low C = 6.5
|Jan rain mm = 86
|Feb rain mm = 61.8
|Mar rain mm = 63.6
|Apr rain mm = 60.7
|May rain mm = 65.8
|Jun rain mm = 72.1
|Jul rain mm = 67
|Aug rain mm = 69.8
|Sep rain mm = 72.1
|Oct rain mm = 118.9
|Nov rain mm = 110.9
|Dec rain mm = 85.6
|year rain mm = 935
|Jan precipitation days = 14
|Feb precipitation days = 10
|Mar precipitation days = 9
|Apr precipitation days = 10
|May precipitation days = 10
|Jun precipitation days = 10
|Jul precipitation days = 10
|Aug precipitation days = 10
|Sep precipitation days = 9
|Oct precipitation days = 13
|Nov precipitation days = 13
|Dec precipitation days = 11
|year precipitation days =
|unit precipitation days=1&nbsp;mm
|Jan sun = 68.0
|Feb sun = 83.2
|Mar sun = 136.8
|Apr sun = 180.4
|May sun = 204.0
|Jun sun = 197.7
|Jul sun = 171.0
|Aug sun = 158.5
|Sep sun = 135.9
|Oct sun = 103.3
|Nov sun = 77.7
|Dec sun = 65.9
|year sun =
|source 1 = Met Éireann<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.met.ie/climate/available-data/historical-data | title = Historical Data – Ashford (Glanmore Gardens) | access-date = 24 August 2021 | archive-date = 24 June 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210624195529/https://www.met.ie/climate/available-data/historical-data | url-status = live }}</ref>
|source 2 = Ashford Weather Station<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wicklowweather.com/extremes.htm|title=Wicklow Weather|publisher=Ashford Weather Station|access-date=24 August 2021|archive-date=10 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210810145224/http://www.wicklowweather.com/extremes.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>|date=December 2012}}
[[File:Wicklow Mountains National Park Ireland.jpg|thumb|Autumn leaves at [[Glendalough Upper Lake|Upper Lake]]]]
The climate of Wicklow is [[temperate]] [[oceanic climate|oceanic]] ([[Köppen climate classification]] ''Cfb'' in most areas, and ''Cfc'' [[Oceanic climate#Subpolar variety (Cfc, Cwc)|oceanic subpolar]] in some highland areas), with cool, humid summers, and mild, wet winters. The climate of the eastern portion of the county is moderated by the [[Irish Sea]] and averages milder winters and cooler summers, while the western inland portion along the [[County Kildare|Kildare]] border experiences warmer summers and colder winters. The county's upland interior experiences significantly lower temperatures and higher rainfall year-round.<ref name="wicklowmountainsnationalpark.ie">{{Cite web|url=https://www.wicklowmountainsnationalpark.ie/getting-here/weather/|title=Wicklow Mountains National Park – Weather|website=wicklowmountainsnationalpark.ie|access-date=21 July 2021|archive-date=16 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116083127/https://www.wicklowmountainsnationalpark.ie/getting-here/weather/|url-status=live}}</ref> Snow typically falls from December to March, but most low-lying and coastal areas see only a few days of lying snow per year, or may see no snow at all during some winters. The Wicklow Mountains region is the snowiest part of Ireland and can experience 50 or more days of snowfall each year.

[[File:Military Road Laragh-Glenmalure.jpg|thumb|left|On average, Wicklow receives more snowfall than any other county]]
The county experiences a narrow annual temperature range. Typical daytime highs range from {{convert|17-22|C|F}} throughout the county in July and August, with overnight lows in the {{convert|11-14|C|F}} range, although temperatures in the mountains can be {{convert|5-10|C|F}} lower.<ref name="wicklowmountainsnationalpark.ie"/> Mean January temperatures range from {{convert|7|C|F}} on the coast to {{convert|0|C|F}} at high elevations.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.met.ie/climate/what-we-measure/temperature|title=The Current Irish Climatology and the Long Term Average (LTA)|website=met.ie|access-date=21 August 2021|archive-date=24 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210824025228/https://www.met.ie/climate/what-we-measure/temperature|url-status=live}}</ref> Precipitation is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year, although the wettest months (October and November) receive roughly twice as much rain as the driest months (February, March and April). The driest area of Wicklow is the northeast corner of the county, which is protected from the prevailing south-westerly winds by the Wicklow Mountains and receives around {{convert|750|mm|0|abbr=on}} of rainfall per year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.met.ie/climate/what-we-measure/rainfall|title=Climate of Ireland – Rainfall|website=met.ie|access-date=21 July 2021|archive-date=21 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210721150345/https://www.met.ie/climate/what-we-measure/rainfall|url-status=live}}</ref> The coastal region of [[County Dublin]] immediately to the north is the driest location in all of Ireland as a result of the [[rain shadow]] created by the mountains.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=European Climate Assessment & Dataset |title=Climatology details for station DUBLIN (RINGSEND), IRELAND and index RR: Precipitation sum |url=http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/calcdetail.php?seasonid=0&periodid=1981-2010&indexid=RR&stationid=1958 |access-date=21 December 2012 |archive-date=1 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201182200/http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/calcdetail.php?seasonid=0&periodid=1981-2010&indexid=RR&stationid=1958 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Easterly winds can occur between February and May, and are often associated with extreme snowfall events such as the 2018 "[[2018 British Isles cold wave|Beast from the East]]" and the "[[Winter of 1946–47 in the United Kingdom|Big Snow of 1947]]".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.met.ie/climate/what-we-measure/wind#:~:text=Easterly%20winds%20occur%20most%20often,southerly%20direction%20at%20Dublin%20Airport.|title=Climate of Ireland – Wind|website=met.ie|access-date=21 August 2021|archive-date=24 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210824025237/https://www.met.ie/climate/what-we-measure/wind#:~:text=Easterly%20winds%20occur%20most%20often,southerly%20direction%20at%20Dublin%20Airport.|url-status=live}}</ref> Much of Wicklow is very vulnerable to heavy snowfall and the county is typically the hardest hit by such events, with some areas recording over {{convert|2|ft|cm}} of snow.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://wicklownews.net/2019/02/when-the-beast-from-the-east-came-to-wicklow/|title=When the Beast from the East came to Wicklow|website=wicklownews.net|date=28 February 2019|access-date=10 August 2021|archive-date=24 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210824025227/https://wicklownews.net/2019/02/when-the-beast-from-the-east-came-to-wicklow/|url-status=live}}</ref> During the winter of 1947, residents of [[Rathdrum, County Wicklow|Rathdrum]] called upon the [[Irish Red Cross Society|Irish Red Cross]] to drop them food parcels by plane as the village had been inaccessible by road for over a month due to heavy snow.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.irishtimes.com/news/environment/big-snow-1947-death-isolation-and-entire-towns-snowed-in-1.3412613 |title= Big Snow 1947: Death, isolation and entire towns snowed in |date= 2 March 2018 |publisher= [[The Irish Times]] |access-date= 24 July 2021 |archive-date= 24 August 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210824025228/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/environment/big-snow-1947-death-isolation-and-entire-towns-snowed-in-1.3412613 |url-status= live }}</ref>

Wicklow is occasionally affected by [[tropical cyclone|hurricanes]], although they are usually [[extratropical]] storms by the time they reach Ireland. On 24 August 1986, during [[Hurricane Charley (1986)|Hurricane Charley]], {{convert|280|mm|0|abbr=on}} of rain fell over a 24-hour period at [[Kippure]] on the Wicklow-Dublin border, the greatest daily rainfall total ever recorded in Ireland.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/hurricane-charley-storm-that-travelled-from-the-us-to-ireland-1.2910412 |title= Hurricane Charley: storm that travelled from the US to Ireland |date= 31 December 2016 |publisher= [[The Irish Times]] |access-date= 16 August 2021 |archive-date= 8 November 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201108170546/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/hurricane-charley-storm-that-travelled-from-the-us-to-ireland-1.2910412 |url-status= live }}</ref> The hurricane caused severe flooding and up to 1,000 homes had to be evacuated in Bray alone.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.rte.ie/archives/2013/0826/470325-hurricane-charley-hits-bray-1986/ |title= Bray Worst Hit by Hurricane Charley |date= 25 August 1986 |publisher= [[RTÉ]] |access-date= 18 August 2021 |archive-date= 24 August 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210824025227/https://www.rte.ie/archives/2013/0826/470325-hurricane-charley-hits-bray-1986/ |url-status= live }}</ref> Other major floods in Wicklow which resulted in loss of life occurred in 1886–87, 1931, 1965 and 2011.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.irishtimes.com/news/garda-who-died-in-floods-laid-to-rest-1.633814 |title= Garda who died in floods laid to rest |date= 29 October 2011 |publisher= [[The Irish Times]] |access-date= 19 August 2021}}</ref>
[[File:Wicklow Way.jpg|thumb|right|Hiking waymakers, such as this one for [[Saint Kevin's Way]], dot the Wicklow landscape]]

===Subdivisions===
====Baronies====
There are eight historic [[Barony (Ireland)|baronies]] in the county.<ref>[https://www.logainm.ie/ga/ Placenames Database of Ireland] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200401060534/https://www.logainm.ie/ga/ |date=1 April 2020 }} – Baronies.</ref> While baronies continue to be officially defined units, they are no longer used for administrative purposes. Their official status is illustrated by Placenames Orders made since 2003, where official Irish names of baronies are listed under "Administrative units". The largest barony in Wicklow is Lower Talbotstown, at {{convert|88,704|acres|km2|sigfig=3}}, and the smallest barony is Rathdown, at {{convert|33,463|acres|km2|sigfig=3}}.
* [[Arklow (barony)|Arklow]] (''An tInbhear Mór'')
* [[Ballinacor North]] (''Baile na Corra Thuaidh'')
* [[Ballinacor South]] (''Baile na Corra Theas'')
* [[Newcastle (County Wicklow barony)|Newcastle]] (''An Caisleán Nua'')
* [[Rathdown (County Wicklow barony)|Rathdown]] (''Ráth an Dúin'')
* [[Shillelagh (barony)|Shillelagh]] (''Síol Éalaigh'')
* [[Lower Talbotstown]] (''Baile an Talbóidigh Íochtarach'')
* [[Upper Talbotstown]] (''Baile an Talbóidigh Uachtarach'')

====Townlands====
{{Main article|List of townlands of County Wicklow}}

====Towns and villages====
{{Div col|colwidth=15em}}
* [[Aghavannagh]]
* [[Annacurra]]
* [[Annamoe]]
* [[Arklow]]
* [[Ashford, County Wicklow|Ashford]]
* [[Aughrim, County Wicklow|Aughrim]]
* [[Avoca, County Wicklow|Avoca]]
* [[Ballinaclash]]
* [[Ballinakil]]
* [[Baltinglass]]
* [[Blessington]]
* [[Bray, County Wicklow|Bray]]
* [[Brittas Bay]]
* [[Carnew]]
* [[Coolafancy]]
* [[Coolboy]]
* [[Coolkenno]]
* [[Delgany]]
* [[Donard]]
* [[Dunlavin]]
* [[Enniskerry]]
* [[Glencree]]
* [[Glendalough]]
* [[Glenealy, County Wicklow|Glenealy]]
* [[Grangecon]]
* [[Greenan, County Wicklow|Greenan]]
* [[Greystones]]
* [[Hollywood, County Wicklow|Hollywood]]
* [[Kilbride, County Wicklow|Kilbride]]
* [[Kilcoole]]
* [[Killincarrig]]
* [[Kilmacanogue]]
* [[Kilpedder]]
* [[Kiltegan]]
* [[Knockananna]]
* [[Lacken, County Wicklow|Lacken]]
* [[Laragh, County Wicklow|Laragh]]
* [[Manor Kilbride]]
* [[River Avoca|Meeting of the Waters]]
* [[Newcastle, County Wicklow|Newcastle]]
* [[Newtownmountkennedy]]
* [[Poulaphouca]]
* [[Rathnew]]
* [[Rathdrum, County Wicklow|Rathdrum]]
* [[Redcross]]
* [[Roundwood]]
* [[Shillelagh, County Wicklow|Shillelagh]]
* [[Stratford-on-Slaney]]
* [[Tinahely]]
* [[Valleymount]]
* [[Wicklow]]
* [[Woodenbridge]]
{{Div col end}}