Bray
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- For other places named Bray, and other meanings of the word bray, see Bray (disambiguation).
Template:Ie citytown infoboxBray (Bré or Brí Chulainn in Irish) is a former seaside resort in north County Wicklow, Ireland. Located at the southern end of what was the Dublin & Kingstown Railway, the first railway line in Ireland, it was popular for day-trippers from Dublin city. Nowadays the town is the origin of many commuters to the city, with the DART running along mostly the same route.
Bray, known as the Gateway to the Garden of Ireland, is positioned in northeast Wicklow, just south of Dublin. Tourism has always been associated with Bray, which is the longest established seaside town in the country. 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.
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Geography
Bray is the eighth largest town in Ireland with a population of 28,002 inhabitants, as at the 2002 Census.
The river Dargle enters the sea here.
Bray Head is the highest point in the locality. On the coast, Shankill, County Dublin is to the north, and Greystones, County Wicklow is to the south. The picturesque village of Enniskerry lies to the west of the town, at the foot of the Wicklow Mountains.
Inland from Bray and Shankhill can be seen the landmark ruin of a lead-smelter on a hilltop - the defunct Leadmines at Ballycorus.
Tourism
Today, Bray is a vibrant holiday resort and boasts fine hotels and guesthouse accommodation, shops, restaurants and evening entertainment. Available in the immediate locality are fifteen 18-hole golf courses, tennis, fishing, sailing and horse riding. Other features of Bray are the amusement and games centre. There is also a Leisure centre on Quinsboro Road, and a National Sealife Centre on Strand Road. Bray is known as the "Gateway to Wicklow" and is the longest established seaside town in the country. It has a safe beach of sand and shingle to walk on, which is over 1.6km (1 mile) long, fronted by a spacious esplanade. The scene is dominated by Bray Head, which rises steeply (241m/790 ft) above the sea, affording views of mountains and sea. The name of the town means "hill, rising ground".
From a one-street town in 1838, Bray is now a busy urban centre serving south county Dublin and Wicklow. The town retains some of the reminders of the distant medieval past and much of its outstanding Georgian and Victorian architecture. Bray makes an ideal base for walkers, ramblers and strollers of all ages. There is the "Slí na Sláinte - The Healthy Walk" which is 14Km/8.75 miles of signposted coastal and urban walks in and around the town. Recently opened is a? right of way? walk to the top of Bray Head situated on the Bray side of the new Bray Golf course on the Greystones road. Then there is the scenic cliff walk (7Km/4 miles) around the side of Bray Head to Greystones or you can climb right to the top of Bray Head with fine views all the way up the Dublin coast. Don't forget of course to take in the Bray Promenade, which goes from Bray Harbour to Bray Head. The first esplanade was laid out in 1859. Available also in the immediate locality are golf courses, tennis fishing, sailing, horse riding, snooker, cinemas and nightclubs. There are also a number of large festivals that take place in Bray. Contact Wicklow County Tourism for more details.
Other attractions in Bray include the Old Courthouse (1841), Victorian seafront and Bray harbour (1891), St Paul's Church (1609), Bray Town Hall (1881).
Education
The following is a list of Primary Schools in Bray
- St Andrew's National School
- St Fergal's Juinor National School
- St Fergal's Senior National School
- Bray School Project
- St Cronin's National Boys School
- St Patrick's Loretto National School
- St Peter's National School
The following is a list of Secondary Schools in Bray
- Presentation College
- St Killian's Community School
- St Thomas's Community School
- St Brendan's CBS
- Loretto Convent
See also
External links
- bray.ie (http://www.bray.ie)
- Bray People (local newspaper) (http://www.unison.ie/bray_people/)
- Bray railway station (http://www.irishrail.ie/your_journey/your_station.asp?letter=B&action=showdetail&station_id=21)
- Bray Wanderers AFC (http://www.braywanderers.ie/)
- 21st Infantry Battalion (http://www.21infantry.com). (Unofficial Website of Bray's local Army Reserve unit)de:Bray