The meeting of the waters

At first sight we could think that the little village of Avoca (564 persons in 2002), County Wiklow, harbours nothing particular and that the elevated rate of commutative workers among its inhabitants makes it a dormitory town.
But as the famous Irish poet Thomas Moore said about Avoca and its valley:
"There is not in the wide world a valley so sweet
As that valley in whose bosom the bright waters meet".
Centuries before Moore wrote these words, some communities had already understood it and lived in this area. But the few traces of them suggest that they were also interested in the place because of its mining deposits. Besides, broad copper mining began in 1720 and finished only in 1982. Numerous rock waste spoil heaps surrounding Avoca testify of its industrial past. The copper coloured stones on the Avoca River are other signs of it. At the same time of the rapid development of the mines, since the creation of Avoca Handweavers in 1723, clothing manufacturing became one of the main activities of the town.

Nowadays the company is present in several Irish cities but its headquarters are still located in Avoca. It is possible to visit the factory and the place has become a well-known tourist attraction.

Recently, a BBC's TV serie called Ballykissangel was shot in the village, making it famous in Britain.