History of Hollywood
The story of our village – from St Kevin to the Hollywood sign.
Origins & St Kevin
Hollywood (Irish: Cillín Chaoimhín – Kevin's small church) is a small village in west County Wicklow, about 15 km south of Naas on the Wicklow Gap road. For centuries it was a stopping point for pilgrims on the way to St Kevin's monastic settlement at Glendalough. St Kevin's Way, a 30 km pilgrim path, still connects Hollywood to Glendalough today.
The Hollywood name
Hollywood is widely believed to have given its name to Hollywood, California. Matthew Guirke, who left Wicklow in the 1850s, named his Los Angeles homestead after his home village. A Hollywood sign on a hill above the village echoes the famous landmark in California.
Heritage & film
The village has a 17th-century Church of Ireland with a vaulted roof. The area has been used for major films including Dancing at Lughnasa, Michael Collins, and King Arthur. County Wicklow is often called "The Hollywood of Europe" for its film industry.
Places to see
Nearby you'll find the Piper Stones (a Bronze Age stone circle about 3.5 km south), Church Mountain (Slieve Gad) for walking, and Poulaphouca waterfall and reservoir. The Hollywood Inn, established in 1790, is a popular stop. Each August the village holds a pre-1950s themed fair.