Bray
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2008-07-13T18:24:34Z
Thijs!bot
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robot Adding: [[id:Bray]]
{{for|other places named Bray, and other meanings of the word bray|Bray (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox Irish Place|
name = Bray |
gaeilge = Bré |
crest image = Bray-crest.png |
motto = Féile agus Fáilte <br> Hospitality and Welcome |
map image = Ireland map County Wicklow Magnified.png |
pin coords = left: 85px; top: 23px |
north coord = 53.2028 |
west coord = 6.1083 |
irish grid = O264185 |
area = |
elevation = 18 m |
province = [[Leinster]] |
county = [[County Wicklow]] |
town pop = 27,041 |
rural pop = 4,860 |
census yr = 2006 |
web = www.braytowncouncil.ie |
|}}
'''Bray''' ({{lang-ga|Bré}}, formerly ''Brí Chulainn'') is a town in northern [[County Wicklow]], [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]]. It is a busy urban centre and seaside town of approximately 32,000 people, making it the fourth largest town in Ireland (excluding the five cities). It is situated about {{km to mi | 20 | abbr=yes | precision=0 }} south of [[Dublin]] on the eastern coast.
The town is the location of some industry, is home for many who commute to Dublin by car or [[Dublin Area Rapid Transit|rail]], is a market town for the surrounding area and still attracts tourists particularly from Dublin at weekends. The town straddles the Dublin-Wicklow border, with a portion of the northern suburbs situated in [[County Dublin]]. Bray is home to Ireland's only dedicated film studios, [[Ardmore Studios]] where films such as ''[[Excalibur (film)|Excalibur]]'', [[Braveheart]], and [[Breakfast on Pluto (film)|Breakfast on Pluto]] have been shot.
[[Image:BrayHeadSummit040207.jpg|thumb|380px|left|Bray Head summit.]]
==History==
In medieval times, Bray was on the borders of the coastal district, governed directly by the English crown from [[Dublin Castle]], known as [[the Pale]]. Inland, the countryside was under the control of Gaelic Chieftains, such as the O'Toole and O'Byrne clans. In August or September 1649 [[Oliver Cromwell]] is believed to have stayed in Bray on his way to [[Wexford]] from Dublin. During the 17th and 18th centuries, Bray was still a small fishing village, but during the latter part of the 18th century, the Dublin middle classes began to move to Bray to escape city life, while still being relatively close to the city.
The [[Dublin & Kingstown Railway]], the first in Ireland, opened in 1834 and was extended as far as Bray in 1854. With the railway, the town grew to become the largest Irish seaside resort. The outbreak of [[World War II]] 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 post-war rationing. The town's career as a resort declined from the 1960s onwards when foreign travel became an option for large numbers of people. However, the town is still popular with visitors particularly from Dublin who come to enjoy the beach, the amusements, ice creams and fast food.
==Geography==
[[Image:Bray from Bray Head.jpg|thumb|500px|left|The town as seen from Bray Head.]]
Bray is the ninth [[List of towns in the Republic of Ireland by population|largest town in Ireland]] with a population of 31,901 inhabitants, as of the 2006 Census.
The [[River Dargle]] enters the sea here, from a source near [[Kippure]], in the [[Wicklow Mountains]]. [[Bray Head]] is the situated at the southern end of the promenade and a well-worn track leads to the summit. The rocks of Bray Head are a mixture of [[greywackes]] and [[quartzite]]. The coastal railway line continues south from Bray along the seaward slopes of Bray Head. At the summit of Bray Head is a large concrete cross, visible from the famous Victorian promenade, which is regularly walked by locals and visitors.
The town is situated on the [[Irish Sea|coast]]; [[Shankill, Dublin|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.
==Local government==
Bray is governed by a [[Town Councils in the Republic of Ireland|town council]], but before the [[Local Government Act 2001]] it was an urban district. Part of the northern Bray area lies within the county of [[Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown]], despite its seamless integration with the rest of the town. The border between [[County Wicklow]] and [[County Dublin]] lies along Old Conna / Corke Abbey, thereby making all areas north of that point ''Bray, County Dublin''.
Bray and [[Dundalk]] are the only town councils to have twelve members in recognition of their size. Like Dundalk, [[Sligo]] and [[Drogheda]], Bray also uses a ward system.
The area around the Southern Cross Road to the south of Bray is not included in the area governed by [[Bray Town Council]], but by [[Wicklow County Council]].
==Transport==
[[Image:IMG BrayDalyStation5405.jpg|thumb|380px|right|[[Bray Daly Station|Bray Daly Railway Station]].]]
A substantial public transport network, both north into Dublin and south into County Wicklow and County Wexford serve the town. Bray is on the [[Dublin Area Rapid Transit|DART]] Rail Network which stretches north to [[Malahide]] and [[Howth]] and south to [[Greystones]]. The town is also on the mainline [[Iarnród Éireann]] Rail Network which connects north to [[Dublin Connolly railway station|Connolly Station]] in [[Dublin]] city centre and further to [[Drogheda]] and [[Dundalk]]. To the south, the rail line goes through [[Arklow]], [[Gorey]] and [[Rosslare Europort]]. Bray's train station is named after [[Edward Daly (Irish revolutionary)|Edward Daly]], an executed leader of the [[1916 Easter Rising]]. [[Bray Daly Station]] was opened on [[10 July]] [[1854]].<ref>{{cite web | title= Bray station| work=Railscot - Irish Railways | url=http://www.railscot.co.uk/Ireland/Irish_railways.pdf | accessdate=2007-09-08}}</ref>
Four bus companies pass through Bray; [[Dublin Bus]], Bus Éireann, Finnegan's Bray and St. Kevin's Bus Service to [[Glendalough]]. Dublin Bus is by far the biggest operator with frequent services to and from Dublin City centre and many services within the greater Bray area. Dublin Bus also provides services to [[Dún Laoghaire]], [[Enniskerry]], [[Greystones]], [[Kilmacanogue]], [[Kilcoole]] and [[Newtownmountkennedy]].
There are also plans to extend the [[Luas]] green line to Fasseroe, an area of development on the town's western periphery. However, the exact connection between the Luas and the town centre railway station has yet to be decided. The old [[Harcourt Street railway line]] ran from Harcourt Street in Dublin to Bray, along much of the route of the new Luas.
Bray lies along the [[N11 road|M11]] motorway corridor; an interchange at its northern side links with the [[M50 motorway (Ireland)|M50]] Dublin bypass.
==Tourist facilities==
[[Image:Brayheadhillwalk.jpg|thumb|225px|right|Hillwalkers at the cross on the summit of Bray Head.]]
Bray is a long-established holiday resort with numerous hotels and guesthouses, shops, restaurants and evening entertainment. The town also plays host to a number of high profile festival events.
Available in the vicinity are fifteen 18-hole golf courses, tennis, fishing, sailing and horse riding. Other features of Bray are the amusement arcades 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 1.6 km (1 mi) long, fronted by a spacious esplanade. Bray Head, which rises steeply (241 m, 790 ft) above the sea, dominates the scene, affording views of mountains and sea. The concrete cross at the top of the head was erected in 1950 for the holy year. The name of the town means ''hill'' or ''rising ground'', possibly referring to the gradual incline of the town from the Dargle bridge to Vevay Hill.
Bray is a popular base for walkers, ramblers and strollers. It is notable for its mile-long promenade which stretches from the harbour, with its colony of [[mute swans]], to Bray Head at the southern end of the promenade - from where a well worn track leads to the summit. Also very popular with walkers is the {{km to mi | 7 | abbr=yes | precision=0 }} [[Cliff Walk (Wicklow)|Cliff Walk]] along Bray Head out to Greystones.
The annual Bray Summerfest is an established tourist event, taking place over six weeks in July and August each year. The Summerfest features over 100 free entertainment events, including live music, markets, sporting entertainment, carnivals, and family fun. Performers who have headlined include [[Mundy]], [[Brian Kennedy]], [[The Undertones]], [[The Hothouse Flowers]], and [[Mary Black]]. In 2006, over 60,000 visitors attended the main festival weekend in mid-July.
Bray also hosts one of the largest carnival and festival events to celebrate the annual St Patrick's holiday. The Bray St Patrick's Carnival & Parade is presented by Bray & District Chamber and is a five-day festival of carnival fun, parades, and live entertainment.
Bray hosts an annual international [[Bray Jazz Festival|jazz festival]] on the May bank holiday weekend each year. Described by [[The Irish Times]] as 'the connoisseur's jazz festival', Bray Jazz has established itself as one of the main events taking place each year on the Irish jazz calendar. Established in 2000, the festival includes performances by leading-name jazz and world music artists from Ireland and abroad.
== Famous residents ==
[[Image:IMGDargleSwans 3476.JPG|thumb|right|330px|Swans where the Dargle flows into the harbour.]]
Throughout its history, Bray has attracted a number of noted residents and visitors:
*[[Isaac Weld]], famous explorer and author lived in Ravenswell, Bray from 1813 to 1856.
* Chief Justice of Ireland [[Thomas Langlois Lefroy]] spent the last three years of his life (from 1866 to 1869) in Newcourt, Bray.<ref>Lefroy, T. 1871, Memoir of Chief Justice Lefroy, Hodges, Foster & Co., Dublin.</ref>
*[[James Joyce]] lived in One Martello Terrace, Bray (a house that is now the home of [[Labour Party (Ireland)|Labour Party]] deputy leader, [[Liz McManus]]) for part of his childhood, from 1887 to 1891. The house next door, Two Martello Terrace, also had its share of well-known residents, including singer [[Mary Coughlan (singer)|Mary Coughlan]], composer [[Roger Doyle]] and film director and author [[Neil Jordan]] and his then partner [[Beverly D'Angelo]].
*During the 1980s [[U2]] star [[Bono]] owned the [[Martello Tower]] after which the terrace is named.
*Comedian [[Dara Ó Briain]] is from Bray.
*The late comedy star [[Dave Allen]] lived in the town for a time, as did the [[RTÉ News]] journalist [[Charlie Bird]].
*[[Ed Joyce]], [[Middlesex]] and [[England cricket]] star grew up in Bray and began his cricket career on the pitches at Aravon school.
*[[Mercury Prize]]-nominated folk singer [[Fionn Regan]] was brought up in the area, which frequently gets a mention in his lyrics.{{Fact|date=February 2007}}
*Former [[Ireland national rugby union team|Ireland]] and [[Leinster Rugby|Leinster]] player [[Reggie Corrigan]], hails from Bray and attended [[Presentation College, Bray|Presentation College]].
*[[Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh]], the former [[Attorney General of Ireland|Attorney General]], [[Chief Justice of Ireland|Chief Justice]], and [[President of Ireland]] (1974-1976), and [[Darren Randolph]], a professional soccer player currently playing for [[Charlton Athletic F.C.|Charlton Athletic]], were both born in Bray, and both attended [[Saint Cronan's Boys' National School|Saint Cronan's]] school.
*Other well-known residents of the town include singer [[Sinéad O'Connor]], wildlife filmmaker [[Éamon de Buitléar]],<ref>{{cite web | author = Éamonn de Buitléar | title = The wild charm of Dargle | publisher = Irish Independent | date = 2006-03-31 | url = http://www.unison.ie/irish_independent/stories.php3?ca=303&si=1590462&issue_id=13866 | format = | doi = | accessdate = 2006-08-21 }}</ref> broadcaster [[Brian Farrell]], music writer and singer [[Phil Coulter]], opera star [[Colm Wilkinson]], novelist [[Anne Enright]] (winner of the 2007 [[Man Booker Prize|Booker prize]]), and poet [[David Wheatley]].
During the heyday of [[Ardmore Studios]], numerous international film stars stayed and socialised in the town while filming there.
==Education==
===Primary schools===
*Scoil Chualann.
*Saint Andrew's National School.
*Saint Fergal's Junior National School.
*Saint Fergal's Senior National School.
*Bray School Project National School.
*[[Saint Cronan's Boys National School]].
*Saint Patrick's Loreto National School.
*Saint Lee's National School.
*[[Gaelscoil Uí Chéadaigh]].
*Saint Peter's Boys National School.
*[[Saint Philomena's National School, Ravenswell]].
===Post primary schools===
*[[Presentation College, Bray|Presentation College]].
*Saint Kilian's Community School.
*Saint Thomas' Community School.
*Saint Brendan's College.
*Loreto Convent.
*Saint Gerard's School.
*[[Coláiste Ráithín]].
*Language College Ireland.
==Sports==
*[[Bray Wanderers A.F.C.|Bray Wanderers AFC]].
*County Wicklow Lawn Tennis Club.
*Bray Emmetts [[Gaelic Athletic Association|GAA]] club.
*Ardmore Rovers FC.
*Wolfe Tone Youth Club.
*Saint Fergal's AFC.
*Bray Runners AC.
*Bray Wheelers Cycling Club
== Charitable organisations ==
*[[Bray Lions Club]].
*[[Saint Vincent de Paul Society]].
*Five Loaves.
== Churches ==
*[[Holy Redeemer Church|Church of the Most Holy Redeemer]].
*[[Queen of Peace, Bray|Queen of Peace]].
*Saint Fergal's Church.
*Saint Peter's Church.
*Christ Church.
*Crinken Church.<ref>http://www.crinken.ie</ref>
== Twinning ==
Bray is [[town twinning|twinned]] with three towns:
* {{flagicon|France}} [[Bègles]], [[France]].
* {{flagicon|Germany}} [[Würzburg]], [[Germany]].
* {{flagicon|California}} [[Dublin, California|Dublin]], [[California]].
==See also==
* [[List of towns in the Republic of Ireland|List of towns in Ireland]]
* [[Market Houses in the Republic of Ireland|Market Houses in Ireland]]
* [[History of rail transport in Ireland]]
==Gallery==
<gallery>
Image:Braydart.JPG |[[Bray Daly Station]]
Image:Stpatricksdatbray.JPG |[[St. Patrick's Day]] [[2008]]
Image:Braybeach.jpg |Bray Beach
Image:Presbray.jpg |[[Pres Bray]]
Image:Brayview.JPG |[[Bray]] from [[Bray Head]]
</gallery>
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
{{Commonscat|Bray}}
*[http://www.braytowncouncil.ie Bray Town Council]
*[http://www.braytourism.ie/ Bray Tourism]
*[http://www.visitwicklow.ie/towns/bray_kilmacanogue/index.htm Bray at Wicklow County Tourism]
*[http://www.unison.ie/bray_people/ Bray People newspaper]
*[http://www.brayjazz.com/ Bray Jazz Festival]
*[http://www.braysummerfest.com Bray Summerfest]
*[http://www.libraryireland.com/topog/b4.php Bray in ''Lewis Topographical Dictionary of Ireland'' 1837]
*[http://www.brayweather.com Current weather and forecasts for Bray]
{{County Wicklow}}
[[Category:Bray]]
[[Category:Towns and villages in County Wicklow]]
[[Category:Beaches of the Republic of Ireland]]
[[Category:Towers in the Republic of Ireland]]
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