09/23/2026
🎬☘️ **Did you know there’s a Hollywood in Ireland?**
One of the fun stories we learned during our day trip through County Wicklow was that **Hollywood, Ireland came LONG before Hollywood, California!**
As our guide told us, local legend says that a man named **Mathew Guirke**, a blacksmith from Hollywood, County Wicklow, left Ireland for California in the 1850s and took the name “Hollywood” with him. 🇮🇪➡️🇺🇸
There are several different stories about exactly how Hollywood, California got its famous name, and the Irish connection hasn’t been historically proven — but it’s a story that has been passed down locally in Wicklow for years.
And I kind of love that. ❤️
We spent our day surrounded by the Wicklow Mountains, exploring Glendalough and learning about the history and stories of the area. These are the little things I love about traveling — sometimes it’s not just the places you see, but the stories you hear along the way.
So next time you see that famous **HOLLYWOOD** sign in California, just remember… there’s a little village in Ireland that had the name first. 😉☘️🎬
