County Wexford - CURIOUS IRELAND

Wexford Town was founded by Vikings in 800 AD and its name translates from Old Norse to mean ‘inlet of flat mud lands’. The first Normans landed here and quickly established themselves by building many impressive castles, lighthouses and abbeys. It also has a beautiful coastline where you can find beaches like Curracloe Beach that was used in Steven Spielberg’s ‘Saving Private Ryan’. You will also see many monuments to the 1798 Rebellion with the most important being at Vinegar Hill. Its highest peak is Mount Leinster at 795m.

Dunbrody Famine Ship Experience, New Ross. County Wexford

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Award-winning tourist experience The Dunbrody Famine Ship is an award-winning tourist attraction centered on an authentic reproduction of an 1840s emigrant vessel. It provides a world-class interpretation of the experience of Irish people [...]

Dunbrody Famine Ship Experience, New Ross. County Wexfordemmet2023-05-09T11:06:56+00:00

Tacumshane Windmill, Tacumshane. County Wexford 1852

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The last windmill to be in use in Ireland The Tacumshane Windmill was built in 1846 and features a rare revolving straw thatch cap to catch the wind for its sails. The Normans [...]

Tacumshane Windmill, Tacumshane. County Wexford 1852 emmet2023-05-09T11:07:57+00:00

Johnstown Castle, Rathaspeck, County Wexford c.12th-c.19th centuries

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World-class gardens & agricultural research Johnstown Castle was originally the site of a Norman castle built by the Esmonde family of Lincolnshire. In 1649, The Esmondes were expelled by Oliver Cromwell for being [...]

Johnstown Castle, Rathaspeck, County Wexford c.12th-c.19th centuriesemmet2023-05-09T11:09:40+00:00

Clonmines, Bannow Bay. County Wexford c.14th-c.16th centuries

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Ireland's best-preserved medieval town Clonmines was established in the 13th century by the great Norman knight William Marshall as an alternative port to New Ross. The remains of this once considerable town include [...]

Clonmines, Bannow Bay. County Wexford c.14th-c.16th centuriesemmet2023-05-09T11:11:02+00:00

Slade Castle, Slade Village. County Wexford c.1480

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A castle once converted into tenements Slade Castle was built by the Laffin family in the late 1400s in a charming little fishing port. The Laffins were among the first wave of Anglo-Norman [...]

Slade Castle, Slade Village. County Wexford c.1480emmet2023-05-09T14:20:27+00:00

Scarawalsh Bridge, Scarawash. County Wexford 1795

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One of Ireland's most beautiful 18th-century bridges Scarawalsh Bridge was built in 1795 and is a well-known landmark located between Enniscorthy and Ferns in County Wexford. This 6 arch humpback road bridge spans [...]

Scarawalsh Bridge, Scarawash. County Wexford 1795emmet2023-05-09T14:21:30+00:00

The Browne-Clayton Monument, Carrigadaggan Hill, County Wexford 1841

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The only Corinthian column in the world you can climb inside This monument was built in 1841 and stands over 94 ft high on Carrigadaggan Hill in County Wexford. Its design replicates Pompey's [...]

The Browne-Clayton Monument, Carrigadaggan Hill, County Wexford 1841emmet2023-05-09T11:12:10+00:00

Hook Head Lighthouse, Hook Head. County Wexford c.1200

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The oldest operational lighthouse in the World Tradition states that Dubhán, a missionary monk, established some sort of beacon at this location as early as the 5th century AD. Interestingly, the word 'dubhán' [...]

Hook Head Lighthouse, Hook Head. County Wexford c.1200emmet2023-10-05T16:07:22+00:00

Templar’s Church, Templetown. County Wexford 1310

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The Knights Templar in Ireland After the Norman invasion of Ireland in 1169, large areas of land around the Hook Peninsula were given to the order Knights Templar Order, a brotherhood of monastic [...]

Templar’s Church, Templetown. County Wexford 1310emmet2023-05-09T14:28:00+00:00

Loftus Hall, Hook Head. County Wexford 1870

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'allegedly'.. the most haunted house in Ireland! Loftus Hall was built by The 4th Marquess of Ely in 1872 and soon after this date strange happenings began. One infamous story took place on [...]

Loftus Hall, Hook Head. County Wexford 1870emmet2023-05-09T14:23:18+00:00

Tintern Abbey, Hook Head. County Wexford 1200

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A beautiful abbey founded by the greatest Norman knight Tintern Abbey was founded in 1200 by William Marshall, the 1st Earl of Pembroke. Marshal had set sail for Ireland on his first visit [...]

Tintern Abbey, Hook Head. County Wexford 1200 emmet2023-05-09T14:30:26+00:00

St. Mogue’s Cottage, Ferns. County Wexford 1790

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A beautifully restored historical cottage Ferns was established as a monastery in 598 AD by St Mogue of Clonmore. Dermot McMurrough was born in Ferns and ruled The Kingdom of Leinster from here. [...]

St. Mogue’s Cottage, Ferns. County Wexford 1790emmet2024-02-26T19:04:43+00:00

St Alphonsus’ Church, Barntown. County Wexford 1851

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A stunning interior designed by Britain's greatest Victorian architect This little church was built in 1851 to the designs of Augustus Welby Pugin. Pugin was Britain's most influential architect in the first half [...]

St Alphonsus’ Church, Barntown. County Wexford 1851 emmet2023-05-09T14:28:49+00:00

Dunbrody Abbey, Campile. County Wexford 1170

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The longest abbey in Ireland Dunbrody Abbey was founded in 1170 on the grounds of a former Cistercian monastery under the instructions of Strongbow's uncle - Herve de Montmorency. When completed in 1220 [...]

Dunbrody Abbey, Campile. County Wexford 1170emmet2023-05-09T14:33:32+00:00

The Kennedy Homestead, Dunganstown. County Wexford c.1800

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Birthplace of JFK's great grandfather This small cottage in Dunganstown in County Wexford is the birthplace of JFK's great grandfather Patrick Kennedy (b.1823 – 1858). By the time Patrick reached adulthood, both his [...]

The Kennedy Homestead, Dunganstown. County Wexford c.1800 emmet2024-02-26T19:06:47+00:00

Enniscorthy Castle, Enniscorthy. County Wexford 1190

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One of the most attacked buildings in Ireland Enniscorthy Castle was built in 1190 by the Norman De Prendergast family who lived here for 300 years. In 1490, during this period of Gaelic [...]

Enniscorthy Castle, Enniscorthy. County Wexford 1190emmet2023-05-09T14:32:32+00:00

St Aidan’s Cathedral, Enniscorthy. County Wexford 1843

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Designed by one the greatest Victorian architects St. Aidan's Cathedral was designed by the gifted Victorian architect Augustus Welby Pugin (1812 – 1852) and was once the largest Cathedral in Ireland. Pugin is [...]

St Aidan’s Cathedral, Enniscorthy. County Wexford 1843emmet2023-10-05T23:09:36+00:00

Ferns Castle, Ferns. County Wexford 1220

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Once one of Ireland's finest Norman castles Ferns Castle was originally the stronghold of Diarmaid McMurrough the King of Leinster (1110-1171). He was the king who invited Strongbow and the Normans into Ireland [...]

Ferns Castle, Ferns. County Wexford 1220 emmet2023-05-09T14:35:37+00:00