Filmed in the rural village of
Avoca, 40 miles outside
Dublin in County Wicklow,
Ballykissangel stars Stephen
Tompkinson and Dervla Kirwan
(above). Visitors to the village
will recognize familiar
landmarks such as Fitzgerald's
public house (in real life, the
Fountain Bar),the Avoca
Foodmarket and Lett's butcher's
shop, which all feature
prominently in the series.
Avoca is set in a valley
dwarfed by steep wooded
hillsides, and the surrounding
countryside offers some fine
forest walks and picnic spots.
The valley is at its best in late
spring, with drifts of white
wild-cherry blossom.
Other local attractions
include the "Meeting of the
Waters" site, where the
Avonberg and Avonmore rivers
unite to form the Avoca.
Croneblane, formerly called
Castle Howrd, stands above
the "Meeting", and its Lion
Bridge (formerly the castle
entrance) affords the best view.
Avoca itslef is a good place to
shop for handicrafts, particularly
woven woollen goods. The
village boasts the oldest
handweaving mill in Ireland,
still operational and with a
good crafts shop attached.
* For more information on Avoca and
for pamphlet guides on walks in the
area, contact the Irish Tourist Board
(0171) 518 0800
* Ballykissangel Sundays BBC1
