Located about 50km from Dublin, Wicklow, like many of the towns along the N11 south of the capital, has experienced a rapid rise in population.
With its promise of sea views, forest parks and mountain walks on its doorstep, new houses in these towns have been an easy sell for commuter living.
However, the four-hour traffic jam on the N11 recently highlighted the potentially enormous time cost for those who have moved south.
The main housing developments have been a considerable distance from the town centre. The population of the town's hinterland has risen by 27 per cent from 4,590 to 5,840 in the last five years.
When the whole area is taken into account, there are now 11,000 people living in the greater Wicklow area, and this is predicted to rise to 20,000 by 2015.
With limited employment opportunities in the immediate region, the vast majority of these new residents are travelling to the greater Dublin area for work.
The routine of commuter life is now firmly established. Creche and childcare runs normally take place well before 8am as both parents set out for work, leaving these new estates almost deserted for most of the day.
The distance of the new homes from the town centre can be up to four kilometres, leaving most of its residents entirely car-dependent. Public transport for commuters is poor. Although the Wexford rail line serves the town, the service is limited, with two trains in the morning, one of which is almost always full.
The last train to serve Wicklow in the evening from Dublin leaves at 6.30pm. The much-vaunted Transport 21 plan is of limited comfort - it promises one extra train service by 2015.
The bus service is also limited, with just three buses leaving the town for Dublin between 7am and 10am.
This has left a very high number of commuters entirely reliant on private cars.
Significant road improvements along the N11 have shortened commuting times somewhat, but these are deteriorating again as the population expands along the road, with no improvement in public transport.
Educational facilities have also become an issue. The increase in population has yet to be followed by new school facilities. The town's gaelscoil has been operating from temporary accommodation for the past 10 years (some of the time in a former funeral home).
Educate Together occupies an old hostel. Approval for new school buildings has been given by the Department of Education, but construction is not expected to begin in the immediate future.
Commuter life has also had an impact on the town's economy. Its main supermarket opens 24 hours a day, and can be as busy at 9pm as it is at 6pm.
The town centre is very quiet during weekdays, and extremely busy on Saturdays. Some shop owners will do as much business on Saturday morning as they do in the previous five days.