Holiday Destination: Wexford

Wexford is the county town of County Wexford, Ireland. It is near the south eastern corner of the island of Ireland, close to Rosslare Europort. The town is linked to Dublin by the National Primary Route. Wexford's success as a seaport declined in the 20th century, because of the constantly changing sands of Wexford Harbour. By 1968 it had become unprofitable to keep dredging a channel from the harbour mouth to the quays in order to accommodate the larger ships of the era, so the port closed. The port had been extremely important to the local economy, with coal being a major import and agricultural machinery and grain being exported. The woodenworks which fronted the quays and which were synonymous with Wexford were removed in the 1990s as part of an ambitious plan to claim the quay as an amenity for the town as well as retaining it as a commercially viable waterfront.

Climate

Summer 17 °C (65 °F), Winter 4 °C (41 °F)

Tourist Season

Summer is the best for visiting Wexford.

Accommodation

Hotels and Apartments.

General Information Of Wexford

• Land Area: 909 sq mi (1,454 km2)
• Population: 20 Thousand.
• Capital City: Wexford.
• Language: Irish and English.

Tourist Attraction in or Near by Wexford

Curracloe Beach

Curracloe beach is a long sandy beach on the south east coast of Ireland. This Blue Flag beach is noted as being a very peaceful beach, which makes it perfect for long walks and family days out. Visitors with dogs will be allowed to exercise their pets on the beach providing the dogs are kept on a lead. Curracloe Beach is something of a celebrity as it was used for the filming of the D Day sequence in the award winning Hollywood blockbuster ‘Saving Private Ryan’. Director Steven Spielberg chose Curracloe beach as a location for the film due to its similarity with Omaha Beach in Normandy, France. Curracloe beach is an area that is a haven for nature lovers. Visitors can enjoy the Raven Nature Reserve which is part of the extensive network of sand dunes on the beach. The area has a variety of rare and protected wildlife and plants. The sand dunes have a 5 km long nature trail that runs through them which finishes at Raven Point and passes through the sand dunes that sit on the peninsula.

The Hook Peninsula and Lighthouse

The Hook Lighthouse is a building situated at the tip of the Hook Peninsula in County Wexford, in Ireland. It is one of the oldest lighthouses in the world, and the oldest operating lighthouse in Ireland. It is operated by the Commissioners of Irish Lights, the Irish Lighthouse Authority, it marks the eastern entrance to Waterford Harbour. The exact circumstance of the initial construction on the present structure are the subject of some controversy.

Irish National Heritage Park

A visit to the Irish National Heritage Park is like no other you can imagine. Surprises await around every turn as you explore 35 acres of this remarkable heritage trail. From campsite to Ringfort, from mill to Fulacht Fiadh, from Crannog to Viking house, every activity is an unexpected adventure into 9,000 years. The world you enter is an authentic recreation of Ireland’s heritage. Homesteads, places of ritual, burial modes and long forgotten remains will enlighten the casual visitor and interest the scholar.

Ros Tapestry

The Ros Tapestry Project is a major community arts and history project centered around the town of New Ross in County Wexford, Ireland. The project is dedicated to producing a tapestry in fifteen panels which tells the story of the coming of the Normans to Ireland in the 12th century and the foundation of the port and town of New Ross at the beginning of the 13th century. Four panels have been completed by January 2007 and groups of volunteer stitchers are working on ten other panels. At that time the focus of the tapestry widened from the story of the Norman expansion into Ireland in the latter part of the 12th century to include the founding of the port and town of New Ross at the beginning of the 13th century. A provisional list of 15th themes for tapestry panels was outlined, as well as the measurements for the panels to be hung from the gallery of the late Georgian, early 19th century church.

Johnstown Castle and Irish Agricultural Museum

The exquisite 19th century Johnstown Castle is nestled within fifty acres of ornamental grounds. Stroll through the wooded grounds with over two hundred different kinds of trees and shrubs or relax by the castle lakeside with its Gothic towers and waterfalls. Ramble along the Castle lake terrace walk lined with statues to the Garden lake. Both lakes are home to a wide range of waterfowl mute swans, water hens, little grebes and heron. Pass through the Devil's Gateway into the walled ornamental gardens and hothouses. This hidden paradise provides a dazzling, colourful array of flowering plants. The sunken Italian Garden contains a shaded picnic area where one can sit and watch the peacocks strut by. Another attraction is the ruin of a medieval tower house called Rathlannon Castle. Please note that unfortunately Johnstown Castle itself is not currently open to the public.

Enniscorthy Castle

Enniscorthy is the second largest town in County Wexford, Ireland. The population of the town and environs is 9538. The Placenames Database of Ireland sheds no light on the origins of the town's name. It may refer either to the "Island of Corthaidh" or the "Island of Rocks". With a history going back to 465 Enniscorthy is one of the longest continuously occupied sites in Ireland. The cathedral of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ferns is sited in the town.

Kilmore Quay and the Saltee Islands

The Saltee Islands are a pair of small islands lying 5 km off the southern coast of County Wexford in Ireland. The two islands are Great Saltee and Little Saltee. They have been undwelled since the early 20th century. Both have been privately owned by the Neale family since 1943. The islands are based on Pre Cambrian bedrock, between 600 million and 2 billion years old. The highest point in the Saltees is South Summit on Great Saltee at 198 feet. The waters around the islands can be treacherous, hence the area is known as the 'Graveyard of a Thousand Ships' and the islands their tombstones.

National 1798 Visitor Centre and Vinegar Hill

This distinctive centre is located just off the N30 and N11 in the shadow of Vinegar Hill, beside the picturesque river Slaney and just 500 meters from the thriving market town of Enniscorthy. The Centre tells the epic and heroic tale of the 1798 Rebellion and its aftermath using the latest multi media and interactive exhibits. A spectacular audio visual presentation places the story in an international context and state-of-the-art exhibition techniques are used to give visitors a glimpse of our fascinating journey to modern democracy. Vinegar Hill has an iconic view of Enniscorthy and was the location during the Rebellion of 1798 where Irish insurgents, led by Father Murphy, encamped on the hill and flew their banner from the windmill.

JFK Park & Arboretum

Dedicated to the memory of John Fitzgerald Kennedy, President of the United States from 1960 to 1963, the Arboretum is a plant collection of international standing. It covers 252 hectares on the southern slopes and summit of Slievecoiltia. It contains 4,500 types of trees and shrubs from all temperate regions of the world, planted in botanical sequence. There are 200 forest plots grouped by continent. Special features include an Ericaceous Garden, dwarf conifers, hedges, ground covers and climbing plants. The lake is the most popular part of the Arboretum, and is a haven for waterfowl. A road provides access to the 271m summit from which there are panoramic views. A Visitor Centre houses exhibitions and an audio visual show.

Wexford Wildfowl Reserve

Wexford Harbour and its Slobs are natural havens for birds. Located on the South East coast of Ireland, they are the closest point for birds migrating into or out of Ireland from Britain and the Continent from a southerly direction. The area is renowned for the wide diversity and density of its birdlife. Up to 10,000 Greenland White fronted Geese occur in winter, a third of the world population. Internationally important numbers of Bewick's Swans and Pale bellied Brent Geese occur. It attracts waders and wildfowl from Wexford Harbour, where an internationally important flock of Black tailed Godwits and good numbers of Scoters winter. Slavonian Grebes are regular. Breeding birds include Pochard, Shoveler, Reed and Sedge Warbler, Cuckoo and Tree Sparrow.

Accessibility

Bus Terminal in or Near by

Wexford Bus

Redmond Road
Wexford, Co. Wexford, Ireland

Waterford Marina Hotel

1 Canada Street
Wexford, Co. Wexford, Ireland

Airport

Waterford Airport: For International and Domestic flights.

Railway Stations

Wexford railway station

Redmond Square
Wexford, Co. Wexford, Ireland