Arcadia Festival - Celebrating Bray Past and Present

Ice-creams in the warm sun-shine, fish and chips on the pier, periwinkles and cockles, fresh air and being beside the seaside - even when it was raining, amusements, showbands, dancing, arcades, the long stretch of the summer holidays between June and September. Few places in Ireland evoke such sweet memories of childhood summers as Bray. Bray is a place that has had many lives, small fishing village, an idyllic retreat for Victorian Dublin's middle classes, a one-time major holiday resort, home to James joyce, busy town and a cultural hotspot.

Arcadia Festival

How can I get involved?

Mermaid Arts Centre is organising several key events during the week both in the arts centre and around the town, for example a public picnic with free family entertainment on the grass area at the base of Bray Head, theatre shows, film screenings,

We are asking hotels, cafes, restaurants, hair salons, retail outlets, groups and all members of the Bray community to get involved by perhaps organising nostalgic window displays, special offers and menus, events big and small for this special celebration that will add to the nostalgic flair and highlight the beauty and versatility of Bray and help the town to return to its former glory as a gem on Ireland’s East Coast.

As an Arcadia Festival partner you will be acknowledged in our promotional materials. However, if you wish to bring more people in to your business, we suggest you host a free event or activity that we can promote for you in the programme of events. Any other ideas are welcome.

Want Further Information? Please contact Fionnuala Ryan at Mermaid Arts Centre.

E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  Tel: 01 2724306

Welcome to the Wicklow Volunteer Centre website

County Wicklow is a great place to volunteer with lots of exciting opportunities for you to help shape and improve the community around you. 

Think for a moment about all the wonderful clubs and community services that would not exist without volunteers - your local GAA and tidy towns groups, Meals on Wheels and services to the elderly, family resource centres and community playgroups, Cancer and other support organisations, residents associations and environmental groups. 

Volunteering enriches communities, gives you as a volunteer an opportunity to develop personally, and puts people at the heart of how we all live.

Are you looking to volunteeer? Give us a call on 01 2040885, 0404 25430 or 0402 91519 for a chat,  or download Thinking of Volunteering our useful step-by-step guide.

You could check out Articles for Volunteers which may be of interest to you, or find one-off volunteering opportunities in our News and Events section. How we work with volunteers list the services we offer volunteers. 

If your organisation is looking for volunteers, or wants advice on volunteering you can call us on 01 2040885, 0404 25430 or 0402 91915, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , or go to our organisational pages to learn more about our services.

Here you can get information on Volunteer Management Training, Garda Vetting and other support service we provide to volunteer involving organisatons in Wicklow. You can download How we work with organisations which outlines our services. This section also list the addresses of our offices as well as opening times.

If you are a volunteer and new to our web site why not look at our news and events section for the latest of what is happening for volunteers and volunteer involving organisations.

And finally, did you know that research has shown that volunteering helps us to  live longer and be happier?

County Wicklow Volunteer Centre is a member of Volunteer Ireland, a representative body, support agency and membership organisation.

Bray Cancer Support Centre

Ceramics and Pottery Class Exhibition takes place on Monday 28th May from 7.00 pm in Open Door, Vevay Road.

Are looking for volunteers to help steward at the Flora Ladies Mimi-marathon. Please call 01 2866966 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Are looking for volunteers to join them in the Garden of Ireland 7k Run and 3k Family Walk at Powerscourt Estate on Saturday 7th July. Enter online at www.runireland.con or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.