Arklow is a historic town in County Wicklow on the east coast of Ireland. Founded by the Vikings, and the location of one of the bloodiest battles of the 1798 rebellion, it is now a thriving commuter town with a population of 11,721 according to the provisional 2006 census statistics.
Arklow is situated at the mouth of the River Avoca, the longest river entirely within County Wicklow. The town is divided by the river, which is crossed by the Nineteen Arches Bridge, a stone arch bridge linking the south or main part of the town with the north part, called Ferrybank.
The town's English name derives from "Arknell's Low" (Arknell was a Viking leader, a low was an area of land). Its Irish name means "the large estuary". Artifacts from the Viking Period are on display in the National Museum of Ireland in Dublin. Historically it was a major seafaring town, with both shipping and fishing using the port, and shipbuilding was a major industry. The town also has a long history of industry, in particular the chemical industry.