ARKLOW, a seaport and market-town near the southern border of the county of Wicklow, 50 miles from Dublin, containing, in 1851, 3306 inhabitants. It is situated at the extremity of the beautiful Vale of Ovoa, on the acclivity of a hill extending along the right bank of the river. The town is of mean appearance, and mainly supported by the herring fishery and the export of copper pyrites from the Ovoa mines. There are oyster-beds on the coast, but the oysters are so strongly impregnated with a peculiar flavour, supposed to be derived from the mining districts, through the Ovoa River, as to be unsaleable when first taken; but after being thoroughly purged in the purer waters of the Welsh and English coast, are remarkably delicate. The coast is much exposed, and the harbour only accessible to small vessels. Arklow formerly contained a monastery and a castle, which latter was demolished by Cromwell. During the disturbances of 1798, the insurgents were defeated by the king's troops under General Needham, in a battle fought near Arklow Bridge.