County Wicklow
Dublin's recreational hinterland and film location (Vikings, Braveheart)—Wicklow Mountains National Park and Glendalough create amenity value while Ardmore Studios anchors creative industry.
County Wicklow—the "Garden of Ireland"—provides Dublin's recreational hinterland: Glendalough's monastic ruins, Powerscourt's gardens, and Wicklow Mountains National Park draw weekend visitors from the capital. This amenity value creates tourism and hospitality employment.
Film production increasingly utilizes Wicklow locations: Braveheart, Saving Private Ryan, and Vikings filmed here; Ardmore Studios provides production infrastructure. This creative industry creates specialized employment beyond traditional sectors.
Commuter development affects coastal and accessible areas; Bray and Greystones function as Dublin suburbs. Inland areas maintain more rural character, with agriculture (sheep farming on uplands) and forestry providing employment.
Wicklow demonstrates Dublin's influence gradients: proximity creates opportunity but also development pressure. Scenic preservation competes with housing demand; National Park protection limits development while maintaining tourism assets. The county's prosperity depends on maintaining environmental quality that creates amenity value while accommodating population growth.