Hollywood Sign

County Wicklow


The white letters spelling out 'Hollywood' on the hillside might be smaller than their California counterpart (1.8m as opposed to 13.7m), and newer (2011 versus 1923), but the village is the original. What's now the Hollywood Cafe was the home of Mathew Guirke. After emigrating to America in 1850, Guirke established a hamlet named for his hometown, which became a municipality of Los Angeles in 1903. The sign here is on private land but you can see it from the village.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby County Wicklow attractions

1. Russborough House

3.81 MILES

Magnificent Russborough House is one of Ireland's finest stately homes, a Palladian palace built for Joseph Leeson (1705–83), later the first Earl of…

2. Castleruddery Stone Circle

6.97 MILES

One of Ireland's rarest ceremonial monuments, this Neolithic stone circle is believed to date from 2500 BC. Its 29 upright stones form a circle 30m in…

3. Punchestown Standing Stone

7.26 MILES

Rising 7m high, this 9-ton granite standing stone is Ireland's tallest. Thought to date back to 2000 BC, it's one of a group that makes up a stone circle…

4. Donnelly's Hollow

9.64 MILES

Dan Donnelly (1788–1820) is revered as Ireland's greatest bare-knuckle fighter of the 19th century. This inconspicuous spot, 4km south of Newbridge (8km…

5. Museum of Style Icons

10.32 MILES

Housed inside the Newbridge Silverware showroom, beneath a sparkle of glitter balls, is this unexpected display of star-studded memorabilia. There are…

6. Newbridge Silverware

10.33 MILES

Founded in 1934, Newbridge Silverware produces and sells vast quantities of silver jewellery, silver-plated cutlery, homewares and engravable gift items…

7. Quaker Museum

10.68 MILES

Set in a tiny, restored Meeting House of the Society of Friends (which also houses the local library), this small museum documents the lives of Ballitore…

8. Glenmacnass Waterfall

10.84 MILES

Desolate and utterly deserted, the Glenmacnass Valley, a stretch of wild bogland between the Sally Gap crossroads and Laragh, is one of the most beautiful…