I discovered a hidden determination within me and that was wonderful.

Wicklow’s newest ambassador, Agnes, recently completed the Wicklow Passport by collecting all of the available stamps across Wicklow in just over two months. She travelled by bus, car, and by foot and demonstrated tremendous dedication toward becoming a Wicklow Ambassador. We caught up with Agnes to learn more about her journey.

How did you first hear about the Wicklow Passport?

I had recently moved to Ireland from South Africa and was searching online for places to travel in Ireland. I found the Wicklow Passport and thought it was a very clever idea. I then visited Russborough House where they had the passport. That is where this adventure started.

What motivated you to take on the challenge?

I love to travel and thought the Passport was a very interesting and exciting way of travelling. While I tried other counties, Wicklow has been the only one with this Passport. This makes it a lot more simple to see a County.

What was your favourite memory from your Wicklow Passport experience?

My favorite experience was Powerscourt Gardens and the Waterfall. It was amazing to see all that beauty in one place.

A close second would be the K2Alpaca experience in Newtownmountkennedy. Seeing animals that you can touch and feed is a great way to learn more about them.

What was the most challenging part of your journey?

The toughest experience I had was hiking from Aughrim to Avoca then onto Redcross and finally Arklow.

While the views were amazing, my legs hurt for the next 3 days!

What advice would you give to others who are interested in taking on a similar adventure?

I would recommend hiring a car to do some of the towns that do not have regular buses. It gives you more time and opportunities to stop and sightsee!

If you had the chance to do your Wicklow Passport adventure all over again, what would you change?

I wouldn’t change how I got around and how I got all the stamps.

I enjoyed the experience and it was a challenge.

I discovered a hidden determination within me and that was wonderful.

What was your overall impression of the Wicklow Passport challenge?

My impression at first was that it was going to be easy to get all the stamps. Towards the end, though, it did get more difficult.

What is your next adventure?

My next adventure is to see every other county and to try see it as fully as I did Wicklow.