County Wexford Information

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County Wexford

County Wexford´s original Irish name is Loch Garman (Garman´s Lough). Located on the south-eastern tip of Ireland, it is the largest county in the province of Leinster.

The beauty of Wexford can be partly attributed to its strategic geography: its shores are bathed by the Atlantic Ocean on the south and by the Irish Sea on the east. The Barrow River and the impressive Blackstairs and Wicklow Mountains separate Wexford from the neighbouring counties of Waterford, Wicklow, Kilkenny and Carlow.

Home to some of the most beautiful beaches in Ireland, Wexford is also known as Ireland's "sunny southeast," as it is the region that receives the most hours of sunshine throughout the year. The area´s climate is generally mild, allowing for enjoyment of coastal attractions during all seasons.

By train, Wexford County is serviced by the Rosslare-Dublin and the Rosslare-Limerick lines. Bus Éireann operates two different routes from Dublin, (buses 37 and 38). By ferry, the Rosslare port offers several daily ferry services for passengers and cars to ports in Wales (Pembroke and Fishguard) and France (Cherbourg, Roscoff and Le Havre).

There is a small regional airport (Waterford Airport) offering flights from Britain in neighbouring Waterford. Dublin and Cork airports are both about two hours from Wexford.

The Wexford Fringe Festival is the most important Fringe Festival in the Southeast of Ireland, and its Opera Festival section is one of the top opera festivals in the world.

Wexford Town

The fruit of a combination between a prehistoric Celtic settlement and a 9th century Viking settlement, Wexford town boasts a rich historical and architectural heritage. The old town is made up of charming winding streets, in typical Anglo-Norman style. There are many walking tours available, and there are plenty of attractions to enjoy during their course.

The town´s restored Westgate has been transformed into a heritage centre which documents the town´s history and is well-worth a visit.

On the N11 road to Dublin, only 3 miles from Wexford, there is a National Heritage Park which features full-size replicas of buildings and monuments that illustrate 9 millennia of Irish history including forts, monasteries and dolmens. The park is nestled among beautiful natural surroundings, and it features a splendid nature trail.

Main Attractions

As far as scenic routes are concerned, the Bannow Drive around the local villages of Duncormick, Cullenstown, Bannow and Wellingtonbridge is among the most popular.

In the vicinity of Duncormick, Ballyteigue Burrow is a nature reserve that spans 9 km of beautiful coastline featuring the most impressive protected sand dune systems on the island. The area is also famous for an abundance of butterflies and wild flowers, and makes one of the most colourful and vibrant sceneries in the county.

The gorgeous Hook Peninsula is best experienced by taking the Ring of Hook drive. This scenic drive along numerous fabulous beaches also has other surprises such as a visit to a medieval lighthouse and the historic Loftus Hall town. Along the way, you will see many castles, forts, abbeys, and majestic cliffs. There are information centres in Duncannon, Dunbrody and at Hook Lighthouse.

Ring of Hook tips:
1. Have a taste of the chowder and fresh salmon sandwiches at the Templar Inn in Templetown, which overlooks the ruins of what was once the seat of the Knights Templar in Ireland.
2. If you are near Dunbrody Abbey on a Sunday, you may stumble upon a great open air market of local products, which actually takes place every other Sunday.

The most popular local beaches to soak up all the Wexford sunshine are Courtown, Curracloe, and Duncannon.

If you have never seen a neo-Gothic castle, you will be quite blown away by the sight of Johnstown Castle. Although the building is not open for visits, the site is home to the Irish Agricultural Museum and the park is rich in beautiful pools and a stunning variety of flowers and vegetation.