Main
Tourist Attractions Include :
Johnstown Castle
Once owned by the Grogan
family who were the biggest untitled landowners
in Ireland. It was donated to the state after the
death of the last resident Lady M Fitzgerald in
1942 on condition that it be used for agricultural
education and research. The castle itself a gothic
revival style masion is not open to the public
but the wonderful 50 acre gardens are.
The Irish Agricultural Museum
This Museum is located in the old farmyard
buildings of Johnstown Castle, which were built
about 1810. These have
been restored and converted to provide facilities
for Ireland's largest Agricultural Museum. There
is also a new display of lawn and garden equipment. The
exhibitions cover farm and rural transport, rural
crafts, all the major farming activities as well
as the activities on the farmyard and farm dwelling.
A large permanent exhibition on the story of the
potato and of the Great Famine of 1845-47 has recently
opened.
National Heritage Park
Located at Ferrycarrig, the National Heritage
Park traces the habitation of man in Ireland, from
the first
settlers to the arrival of the Normans in the twelfth
century. It demonstrates this through life size
reconstruction of homesteads, burial modes and
places of ritual. Your senses
are sure to come alive with sites and sounds stretching
back almost nine thousand years. Celtic Banquets
are held on selected evenings where a lordly Celtic
Chief fills vats with liquor, and prepares great
quantities of food. Traditional Bards are also
provided to entertain.
Hook Lighthouse
Located opposite Churchtown, Hook Lighthouse
was built in the thirteenth century as a navigation
aid by William
Marshal - Earl of Pembroke, as part of the development
of his
Lordship of Leinster. The massive structure has three stone vaulted
chambers with a spiral stairway ascending through the thickness
of the wall. According to tradition, a warning
beacon was established at Hook Head in the sixth century by a Welsh
monk named Dubhan, whose church still exists at nearby Churchtown.
His successors were appointed custodians of Marshal's Tower and
continued to keep the light for several centuries. Visitors to
the oldest operational lighthouse in both Ireland and Great Britain
will experience a journey through time from the story of the sixth
century beacon up to present day light keeping.
John F. Kennedy Arboretum
Located at New Ross, the John F Kennedy Arboretum displays
extensive collection of trees and shrubs from temperate
regions of the world, dedicated to the memory of
John Fitzgerald Kennedy. Arranged in botanical
sequence, it covers 252 hectares of the Southern
slopes and summit of Slieve Coillte. It includes
200 forest plots, rhododendrons, dwarf conifers,
hedges, lake and viewing point.
Yola Farmsted Folk Park
Located at Rosslare Harbour, Yola Folk Park rediscovers the
delights of eighteenth century village life in
Ireland, taking in a restored farmhouse and dining
in the old world surroundings of Granny's Kitchen
with its authentic open fire. Watch and listen
as the wind drives the sails on one of the country's
few working windmills. Call into the schoolhouse,
the Kennedy House with its adjoining aviary and
visit the lofted Kilmore Cottage.
Maritime Museum
Located at Kilmore Quay, The Maritime Museum is housed on
board the lightship Guillemot. There are two museums
in one, since the lightship is the last Irish Lights
vessel, complete with all its cabins (containing
the original furniture, generations and fittings).
It also houses many original and unusual artifacts.
From the bridge desk both the book and the barrels
lights can be seen, there are also excellent views
of the Saltee Islands. Below deck there are model
ships, a very extensive collection of pictures,
and many sea antiques.
Ballyhack Castle
Ballyhack Castle is situated on a steep slope overlooking
Waterford estuary. The Castle, a large tower house,
is thought to have been built in 1450 by the Knights
Hospitallers of Saint John. The Knights were one
of the two great military orders founded at the
beginning of the twelfth century at the time of
the crusades.
Berkeley Forest House Museum
Located at New Ross, Berkeley Forest Museum houses 18th and
19th Century toys, costumes, toy carriages, embroidered
textiles and rare dolls - many of them from Irish
families. The property is that of the family of
George Berkeley, in whose honour the University
of California is named. The fine collection is
housed in the main rooms. A small pretty garden
is included in the visit.
Duncannon Fort
Duncannon Fort is star shaped and built at a strategically
important promontory in Waterford Harbour. It was
erected in 1588 in the expectation of an attack
by the Spanish Armada. There had previously been
a Celtic fort and a Norman castle on the site.
The fort is noted for its dry moat, exterior walls
and the legend of the croppy boy.
Heritage Sites
Tintern Abbey
Located at Saltmills, close
to New Ross, Tintern is a Cistercian abbey, founded
circa 1200 by William Earl of Marshal, and named
after Tintern in Wales. The remains of the Abbey
consist of the nave, chancel, tower, chapel and
cloister. It was partly converted into living quarters
after 1541, and further adapted over the centuries.
Guided tours are available on request.
Tintern Abbey Saltmills, New Ross
A Cistercian abbey, founded
c. 1200 by William, the Earl Marshall, and named
after Tintern in Wales. The remains consist of
nave, chancel, tower, chapel and cloister. It was
partly converted into living quarters after 1541,
and further adapted over the centuries. The Abbey
was occupied by the Colclough family from the 16th
century until 1960s.
Ballyhack Castle
Ballyhack Castle is located on a steep slope in a commanding
position overlooking Waterford estuary. The castle,
a large tower house, is thought to have been built
c. 1450 by the Knights Hospitallers of St. John,
one of the two great military orders founded at
the beginning of the 12th century at the time of
the Crusades.
Interesting
Shops
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Wexford's
history goes back to pre-Christian times.
The first part of Ireland to be invaded by
Anglo-Normans in 1169, Wexford was subjugated
by Oliver Cromwell in 1649. Wexford was one
of the centres of the Irish rebellion of
1798.
