Teaming up with Bray Tourism Bray & District Chamber of Commerce, the new series of walking tours around Bray will give participants a local’s insight into the history, sights and sounds of the popular seaside town.
The walks will be operated by Leaving Certificate student and Bray native Jake O’Neill, who hopes to bring a fresh perspective to tourism with the launch of two free tours celebrating the town’s history, culture, music, film connections and hidden stories. The initiative aims to give local residents and visitors a more personal and engaging way to experience Bray.
“I wanted to create something that felt accessible, interesting and genuinely enjoyable for people of all ages,” said Jake (18), the founder of Bray Walking Tours.
“Bray has so much character and history, but there are also so many fascinating stories connected to music, film and culture that people walk past every day without noticing.”
The tip-based tours are completely free to attend ,but participants are encouraged to give the volunteer guides a gratuity at the end. There will be two separate tours, ‘Bray’s History and Culture’ and ‘Bray’s Movies, Music and More’, and each will last approximately two hours, starting at Bray Train Station and ending at the bandstand on the promenade.
One focuses on Bray’s rich history and cultural heritage, guiding visitors through stories of Victorian Bray, local landmarks, famous figures and the town’s evolution over the years. The second tour takes a more modern and entertainment-focused approach, highlighting the town’s links to music, movies, television and pop culture.
The latter will explore Bray’s connection to famous Irish musicians such as Bono, Shane MacGowan, Phil Coulter, and Mary Coughlan, it will visit the former home of Sinéad O’Connor, and show visitors where Hozier lived and attended school, as well as talking about local sports stars, boxer Katie Taylor, wrestler Finn Bálor and F1s Eddie Jordan.
It will also cover the many films and TV shows that have been shot in the area, like Excalibur, Braveheart, Michael Collins and Harry Wild, and touch on other famous people from the area like comedian Dara Ó Briain, and TV host Laura Whitmore.
The walks are limited to 20 people per tour and people must book in advance. A limited number of tours will take place between now and the end of June, due to Jake sitting his Leaving Certificate, before a full schedule begins in July – but bookings are open now.
Representatives from both Bray Tourism and Bray Chamber welcomed the initiative, praising the student’s “creativity and enthusiasm” for promoting the town.
“The launch of these tours is a fantastic example of the energy and innovation coming from young people in Bray,” said the chair of Bray Tourism, Eugene Finnegan. “Projects like this help showcase the unique character of our town while encouraging visitors to engage more deeply with Bray’s history and culture.”
President of Bray and District Chamber of Commerce Jonathan Donnelly also expressed support for the project, saying: “It is incredibly encouraging to see a young entrepreneur creating something positive for the local community and tourism sector. These tours offer a fresh and modern way to experience Bray, and we are delighted to support the initiative.”
Acknowledging the support he has received, Jake added: “I would like to thank Sarah Finnegan of Finnegan Coaches, Brian White of Bray Cualann Historical Society, Kathy Lee O’Toole of Bray and District Chamber, Bray Municipal District Administrator Brian Wildes and Councillor Erika Doyle, who were all very helpful in setting up the tours.”
The first tour takes place on Sunday, May 17. You can book a spot at: bray.ie/braywalkingtours