Welcome to Wexford!
County Wexford is in the south-eastern corner of the country, with a long coastline on both the Irish sea and Celtic Sea.
On the north it is bounded by the hills of County Wicklow and on the west by the River Barrow and the Blackstairs mountains. The River Slaney waters its fertile central plain.
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Information Wexford Ireland
Wexford Ireland
County Wexford itself was settled long before the Vikings arrived, although they played a big part in the county’s development. Evidence of early human habitation can be found in the portal tombs, known as dolmens, that are located at Newbawn and Ballybrittas and pre-date the Bronze Age. Evidence of Bronze Age settlement is even stronger. County Wexford can also claim to be one of the earliest counties in Ireland to become Christianised, in the early fifth century.
In the ninth century, the Vikings founded Wexford town in County Wexford and the narrowness of its streets and adherence to the same town plan is testament to those days. Norse invaders over the centuries noted the marshy nature of the region, and to the northeast of the town of Wexford are wetlands containing the Wexford Wildfowl Reserve, a breeding ground for ducks, goosanders, redshanks and geese, among other birds.
You can be sure to spot seagulls in Rosslare, to the south of Wexford town. With its ferry harbour, it is the starting point in Ireland for many of its British visitors, and it’s a busy tourist resort with a number of hotels and seaside restaurants, as well as many holiday homes of the Irish themselves who journey from Dublin and elsewhere in the summer months.
However, County Wexford was also the more notorious landing point for the 1169 invasion of Ireland by Normans led by Strongbow, which ultimately led to Anglo-Norman colonisation and subsequent British rule for most of the next millennium.
Wexford also has other things going for it. The Wexford Opera Festival – held in the Theatre Royal of Wexford town for three Autumn weeks – makes it a centre of high culture too. Many of the operas put on during the festival are under-performed elsewhere and may be regarded as obscure, so the town is frequented during the festival by opera buffs eager to catch shows that they won’t catch elsewhere.
Attractions Wexford Ireland
Wexford Tourist Attractions
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Ballyhack Castle - Ballyhack
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.
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Berkeley Forest House Museum - New Ross
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.
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Duncannon Fort - Duncannon
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.
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Hook Lighthouse - Churchtown
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.
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John F. Kennedy Arboretum - New Ross
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.
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Johnstown Castle - Johnstown
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.
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Maritime Museum - Kilmore Quay
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.
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National Heritage Park - Ferrycarrig
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.
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The Irish Agricultural Museum - Johnstown
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.
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Yola Farmsted Folk Park - Rosslare
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.
Heritage Sites
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Ballyhack Castle - Ballyhack
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
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Tintern Abbey - Saltmills
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.
The Golf Courses Wexford Ireland
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Ballymoney Golf Club
Ballymoney, Gorey, Co. Wexford
Ballymoney Golf Club is an 18-hole, Par 72 parkland course measuring over 6,300 yards. A family owned and run course, it is open for green fees at all times and offers great value for money.
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Courtown Golf Club
Kiltennel, Gorey, Co. Wexford
Although it's boundaries come within 100 meters of the sea, Courtown is actually a parkland course. It is surrounded on three sides by forestry and the course boasts thousands of trees, in fact every fairway is tree lined to reward the accurate golfer and punish the wayward. The course is matured par 71, almost 6000 meters in length and provides great variety.
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Enniscorthy Golf Club
Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford
Enniscorthy 18 hole parkland course, Which has been re-designed and improved in the last few years, making it a most challenging course. Enniscorthy is a delight to all who play it and is renowned for the quality of its greens.
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New Ross Golf Club
New Ross, Co. Wexford
The course exhibits superb, panoramic views of the town of New Ross and an attractive background of hills and mountains. To succeed requires straight hitting and careful placing of shots. The fairways are reasonably tight and allow very little room for error, so accuracy is paramount.
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Rosslare Golf Club
Rosslare, Co. Wexford
The renowned 18 hole championship links and new 12 hole Burrow course provide a wonderful golfing experience. Celebrating 100 year in 2005 - the club continues to extend a warm welcome and challenging golf to visitors and societies.
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Scarke Golf Course
New Ross, Co. Wexford
Scarke Golf Course and Driving Range is situated in one of the most beautiful scenic areas in the South East of Ireland. Our courses are some of the finest and we are sure you will enjoy the facilities we provide.
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Seafield Golf and Country Club
Ballymoney, Gorey, Co. Wexford
Breathtaking new championship course. Parkland, Heath land and Seaside combine to provide a challenging game of golf. Designed by Peter McEvoy and constructed to full USGA specifications. Located just off the N11, less than one hour from Dublin and Rosslare.
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St Helens Bay Golf Club
Kilrane, Rosslare Harbour, Co. Wexford
18 Hole Championship Golf Course designed by Philip Walton.
- Tel: +353 (0)53 33234
- Email: sthelens@iol.ie
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Tara Glen Golf Club
Gorey, Co. Wexford
Tara Glen Golf Club occupies a stunning location beside the beach at Gorey in Co Wexford. Despite its location, however, this nine-holer is a parkland course, not a links layout. The club was founded in 1993 and is extremely scenic.
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Wexford Golf Club
Wexford Town, Co. Wexford
Parkland course with mature trees. 18 Hole, Par 72. 5,734 meters. The location provides views of Wexford, including the Saltee Islands, the Blackstairs Mountains and Wexford.
