The Wicklow People was founded in 1883 as a National League broadsheet. Three years later it went 'commerical' and as a national minded newspaper for the county, gave the pro-Parnell viewpoint in not-so-delicate counter-balance to the the protestant Wicklow Newsletter.

J M Walsh was the proprietor of Wicklow People and its sister publication Wexford People, which started its run in 1853. Wicklow People was established in 1883 and was advertised as being one of the Wexford People series.