placenames.ie
County

Wicklow

Cill Mhantáin

Wicklow’s history moves between the mountain valleys and the coastal towns. Glendalough’s traditions and the Parnell family’s Avondale home offer distinct ways into that landscape.

Watercolour and fine ink illustration of Glendalough Round Tower, County Wicklow in County Wicklow.
Illustration, Glendalough Round Tower, County Wicklow
Recorded locationWicklow52.95162° N · 6.36030° WInteractive map supplied by OpenStreetMap.
Recorded place location · Logainm.ie

The name

cillchurch

These Irish name elements are associated with this record in the Logainm glossary.

An element’s translation is a clue, rather than a complete explanation of the name. Its form and meaning depend on local history and the full Irish name.

Recorded forms

  • Cill Mhantáin · Irish · main form · validated name
  • Wicklow · English · main form

Place & story

A county of different settings

Lewis’s nineteenth-century county survey treats mountain districts, coastal approaches and river valleys within the same broad area. Its inland religious sites and its coastal settlements followed different paths of development. [2]

Folklore & tradition

Kevin and the blackbird

The Office of Public Works’ educational account of Glendalough records the legend of St Kevin remaining still while a blackbird nested in his outstretched hand and reared its young. The devotional story celebrates patience and the saint's relationship with nature. The association belongs to Glendalough and its landscape of lakes and monastic remains. [3]

Avondale’s house and trees

Avondale’s eighteenth-century house was built for Samuel Hayes and later became Charles Stewart Parnell’s home. Hayes planted experimental collections of trees across the estate. [4] [5]

People & connections

The Parnells of Avondale

Charles Stewart Parnell grew up at Avondale. His sister Anna was born there in 1852; she and Fanny shared political interests encouraged by their mother. [5] [6]

Geographic information

Place type
County
County
Wicklow
Coordinates
52.95162, -6.36030
Mapped area
2,023.72 km²
Logainm ID
100008 ↗

Population over time

County Wicklow, including its cities

County population, 1841–2022

155,851people · 2022

050K100K150K200K 1841: 126,143 people18411851: 98,979 people1861: 86,479 people1871: 78,697 people1881: 70,386 people1891: 62,136 people1901: 60,824 people19011911: 60,711 people1926: 57,591 people1936: 58,569 people1946: 60,451 people1951: 62,590 people19511956: 59,906 people1961: 58,473 people1966: 60,428 people1971: 66,295 people1979: 83,950 people1981: 87,449 people1986: 94,542 people1991: 97,265 people1996: 102,683 people2002: 114,676 people2006: 126,194 people2011: 136,640 people2016: 142,425 people2022: 155,851 people2022

Figures cover the whole county including its cities. CSO recommends this series for long-term comparison, although minor boundary changes have occurred.

View population figures
County Wicklow, including its cities — census population
Census yearPopulation
1841126,143
185198,979
186186,479
187178,697
188170,386
189162,136
190160,824
191160,711
192657,591
193658,569
194660,451
195162,590
195659,906
196158,473
196660,428
197166,295
197983,950
198187,449
198694,542
199197,265
1996102,683
2002114,676
2006126,194
2011136,640
2016142,425
2022155,851

Source: CSO F1001 — Population at Each Census. CC BY 4.0. Retrieved 2026-10-25.

People & family history

Census figures refer to the matched historical census area for each year. Boundaries and spellings can change over time.

Explore this county

Up to 50 places per page, ordered by name.

Sources & further reading

  1. Logainm.ie — Wicklow. Place names and geographic record, licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  2. County Wicklow — A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland (1837) · Samuel Lewis · 1837
  3. Myths and legends about Saint Kevin — Glendalough Visitor Centre, OPW
  4. Avondale House — NIAH record, Ask About Ireland
  5. Avondale House and Forest Park — Wicklow heritage
  6. Anna Parnell — Wicklow heritage
  7. Boundary geometry retains its source attribution and licence in the downloadable geographic record. Map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors.
  8. Glendalough Round Tower, County Wicklow illustration: based on a The Round Tower, Glendalough by Marathon. AI-assisted watercolour and ink adaptation; cream paper margins added, incidental clutter omitted and fine details simplified. Licence: CC BY-SA 2.0.

Name record retrieved 2026-10-25 · Source record modified 2025-01-10. How this page was prepared.