Vale of Avoca and “Ballykissangel”

This celebrated valley is the place where “bright waters meet”. The joining of the Avonmore and Avonbeg rivers in the beautiful vale inspired Thomas Moore’s poem “The Meeting of the Waters”. Near the confluence is Thomas Moore’s tree, where the poet is reputed to have spent many hours composing songs and poems.

The red earth in the valley is testament to the deposits of copper, which have been mined here for two centuries. The village of Avoca itself lies in the middle of the valley and has in recent times risen to fame as the location of BBC’s “Ballykissangel”.