Wexford Guide
Vikings (well - two of the girls were Danish at least) get ready to
welcome visitors at The Irish National History Park Ferrycarrig -
3km from Wexford Town
latest update March 2008
This southeasternmost county of Ireland packs in plenty of interest, so much so that it has ended up with its own page. The Irish come here for the beaches and the sun - there's more here than anywhere else in the country. Foreign tourists may pass to and from Rosslare Harbour or go to the main towns, but there is plenty of lush rolling countryside and the Blackstairs Mountains to explore.
The Coast Route south to Wexford
There is a waymarked path the length of Wexford's coast. Minor roads follow it a km or two inland. South from Arklow the first settlement is the pocket sized resort of Courtown complete with minature promenade and timewarped in the 1930's. For the 40 odd km to Wexford town there are no settlements on the coast itself just km after km of unspoiled shoreline with the R742 following it a little inland with access roads to the beaches. The finest of these is at Curracloe a few km north of Wexford: an 8km shallow horseshoe of sand. At Raven Point the coast turns inland to form the north shore of Wexford Harbour, this area, the North Slobs is a wildfowl reserve. The South Slobs on the opposite side of the harbour is another reserve. At the west end of the bay the R741, continuing the R742 route, crosses to Wexford town on a bridge across the harbour.
Inland south to Wexford.
The more travelled route takes the N11 south. Gorey is a busy little town, pleasant but without any great sights. From here the road heads inland down the wide valley of the river Bann. The tiny village of Ferns has the remains of a medieval abbey and castle. Enniscorthy presents two faces: enter from the valley and the impression is of an industrial town sprucing itself up, enter from the hills to the west and find yourself in a well preserved historic town worth exploring. For a multi media experience of the 1798 rebellion visit The National 1798 Rebellion Centre. For a traditional presentation of the same history visit The County Museum in a norman castle overlooking the town. Best time to visit: during Strawberry Fair in last week of June or first week of July: music, street entertainment AND SOFT FRUIT.
From here it is a pleasant 20km to Wexford down the Slaney valley (if you can ignore the traffic). Just before the impressive bridge that crosses the river to Wexford town is the fine Irish National Heritage Park with recreations of Irish settlements from prehistoric to medieval times.
Wexford town
Despite few surviving historic buildings the old port of Wexford is the Irish town with the most medieval atmosphere due to the densely packed narrow streets of the old town which run down to the quayside. It is best known today for the Wexford Opera Festival which takes place every October. As well as performances of 3 lesser known operas by a world class cast there is a general arts festival. The operas are staged in the Theatre Royal High Street, which for 150 years has been in a number of houses strung together. Rebuilding is underway and a proper opera house, still hidden behind the old street frontage, will open for the 2008 festival in october 2008. See also the Wexford Arts Centre in Cornmarket 053 23764. Bars? The Centenary Stores, Charlotte Street, has music, mainly Trad, most nights of the week The Sky and the Ground 112 South Main steeet is a tourist draw with Trad every night but saturday. Dead on your feet? Try The Cape: friendly bar/undertakers at The Bull Ring. For decent cheapish food try Cappuccino's 23 North Main Street which has a mediteranean flavour, or good quality pub grub at Asple's, The Crescent.
O'Hanrahan Station 05391 22522 on Redmond Place is served by Train and Coaches
5km south of town is Johnstone Castle, a 19th century Gothic revival builing with a 15th century Tower Castle at its core. The grounds contain superb collections of the Irish Agricultural Museum 05391 71247.
The Coast: To Rosslare, Kilmore Quay and Bannow Bay
The low lying countryside south of Wexford town has plenty of interest. This is the first area occupied by the English in Ireland and they have left many towercastles dotting the landscape. The N25 speeds south from Wexford past Rosslare Town (two km of tourist accommodation on a sandy bay) to Rosslare Harbour. Here a tiny town on a grid plan overlooks the harbour where boats arrive from Wales and France. To the great inconvienience of hostellers the Youth Hostel was closed at the end of the 2004 season. Tourist Offices at Kilrane 2km inland 053 916 1155.
Trains North to Dublin via Wexford and East through Waterford to Limerick.
The sea has made several inroads into the south Wexford coast which give it much of its charm and provide important wildlife havens. A few km south of Rosslare is the quiet idyll of Lady's Island, joined to the mainland and lying in a landlocked lagoon. Pilgrims, who have been coming for centuries are now joined by birdwatchers. Minor roads bypass Tacumshane lake, an inlet almost cut off from the sea to reach Kilmore Quay, a village with many thatched cottages and a busy little quayside looking out to the Saltee Islands and their puffin colonies. Boats run trips to the islands in summer. Westwards from here is another wildlife area: Ballyteige Bay, while roads twist and turn inland westwards to the small village Wellington Bridge.
The Coast: Hook Head Peninsular
Hook Head is a 20km long chicken leg of a peninsula. Its landscape of low rolling hills has more visual interest than the low lying plain that preceeds it. For most of the 10km to Fethard it forms one side of Bannow Bay. The road then heads straight down the narrow end of the peninsula to two pretty little quays: Churchtown and Slade on either side of the Head, where the 12th century stone barrel of Hook Head Lighthouse still guides shipping after over 800 years service.
Heading north up the right side of Waterford Harbour the scenery improves. The Coastal path should have now opened up shoreline access, previously much of the coast here was private. Duncannon is a small holiday town 1/2km south of Duncannon Fort, built in 1586 against the Spanish Armada. A few km north are the tiny villages of Arthurstown and Ballyhack, home of 16th century Ballyhack Castle and one end of the 20 minute ferry crossing into County Waterford (the other is Passage East).
North to New Ross
From Ballyhack the R733 winds towards New Ross up the River Barrow valley. 5km south of the town is the John F Kennedy Arboretum, 051 388171, 5000 exotic trees and shrubs on 600 acres above the Kennedy ancestoral home at Dunganstown, open to visitors 051 388264.
New Ross was developed in the 12 century, but what we have today is a Georgian market town and modern port with brightly painted buildings which cascade down the hillside to the river. Don't miss the impressive interior of the Augustinian Church. Tourist Office in grain store 22 The Quay 051 421857. Ruin of 13th century St Mary's Church on Church lane. SS Dunbrody Famine Ship, moored on the waterfront, 051 425239 is a reconstruction of a ship that ferried people escaping the 1840's famine. Trad music at Mannions,1km out on Enniscorthy road
Blackstairs Mountains
From Enniscorthy the River Slaney reaches into north west Wexford . On its north bank are the last of the Wicklow Hills, to its south rise the Blackstairs Mountains which mark the boundary between counties Wexford and Kilkenny. Here you will find rugged scenery not usually associated with the south east. The highest point is Mount Leinster at 796m. There is a road to the top which accesses a radio mast. In good weather Counties Wexford, Waterford, Carlow, Kilkenny and Wicklow are laid out below you. If you have the inclination and the money contact The Mount Leinster Hang Gliding Club 01 455 6437 for some of the best hang gliding in the country.
The small town of Bunclody, 18km from Enniscorthy on the N80, was developed in the 18th century. It has a picturesque setting by the Slaney between the two ranges of hills and makes a good base for the Blackstairs Mountains.
