Wexford
Wexford with over 200km of spectacular coastline
It is the sunniest and warmest county in Ireland and it is where you can chill out, and relax and recharge, and it can provide the oasis of calm you have been looking for. Wexford county offers freedom of choice, opportunities to explore, and new activities to discover, a wealth of historic sites and attractive towns and villages.
Dating back to the 2nd Century, Wexford is a lively town with winding streets, a pretty quayside and an array of pubs, cafes and fine restaurants. It’s a shopper’s paradise with an excellent range of shops, from small boutiques to craft shops with unique hand crafted goods.
Wexford is a historic county with bustling towns such as Enniscorthy, Gorey, New Ross and Wexford Town. It has many fascinating visitor attractions to choose from including the remarkable Hook Lighthouse, the Irish National Heritage Park, the “living history” of the Dunbrody Heritage Ship and a new attraction the Ros Tapestry, opened in Spring 2009 in New Ross, the Irish Agricultural Museum at Johnstown Castle Estate. Wexford is also a county of spectacular parks and gardens, such as Johnstown Castle gardens and The John F Kennedy Arboretum – ideal for a family walk and picnic. It is also world renowned for the diverse range of bird-life that inhabits and passes through its nature reserves.
A full calendar of events, including the world famous Wexford Festival Opera, the Blackstairs Opera in the Garden, the Enniscorthy Strawberry Fair, and the Street Rhythms Festival, the Maritime Matters Festival at the Hook lighthouse, the New Ross Piano Festival, and the Duncannon Sand Sculpting Festival, ensures there’s always something fun to see and do.
Wexford offers a superb choice of holiday accommodation in all categories. You can choose from well run camping and caravan parks, good value bed and breakfast, self catering apartments /cottages, farmhouses, and boutique hotels to downright luxury hotels with health spa treatments and gourmet food.
Dunbrody Famine Ship - Wexford
Located alongside the New Ross docks, the Dunbrody Famine Ship is a full scale replica of the original ship built in 1845 which transported emigrants to North America.
Duncannon Fort - Wexford
Duncannon Fort is a star shaped fortress, built in expectation of an attack on the area by the Spanish Armada. There are spectacular views across the estuary to Co. Waterford and down to Hook Head. Home to a Toy Museum, Art Gallery, Maritime and Military Museum.
John F. Kennedy Arboretum - Wexford
This arboretum of 623 acres (252ha) is dedicated to the memory of U.S. President John F. Kennedy. It contains over 500 different rhododendron and azaleas, an internationally important collection of over 4000 different trees and shrubs, some vary rare, and a small islet studded lake home to large numbers of mallard, moorhen and rudd.
Hook Lighthouse Visitor Centre - Wexford
Lighthouses have a magic and mysticism of their own, none more so than the 13th century Hook Lighthouse. Relax by the sea and keep an eye out for seals, dolphins and even whales.
Johnstown Castle Gardens - Wexford
Johnstown Castle Garden has fifty acres of ornamental grounds. The famous architect Daniel Robertson designed both Johnstown Castle Gardens and Powerscourt Gardens. Johnston Castle is not open to visitors.
