About County Wexford
County Wexford is located on the south east corner of Ireland. The south east is known as the "sunny south east" as it enjoys more hours of sunshine than any other part of Ireland, making County Wexford the ideal holiday destination. It has so much to offer with blue flag beaches, pretty seaside towns, a beautiful landscape in which to enjoy outdoor activities and a wealth of historical attractions.
Wexford is also known as the "Model County" and the name Wexford derives from 'Waesfjord' which is Norse for 'inlet of mud-flats'. This is a county steeped in a long and eventful history. It was here that the Normans first landed when they invaded Ireland in 1169 and Wexford was also one of the main counties that took part in the 1798 Rebellion.
What To See And Do
It is a county rich in history and heritage with major attractions like Duncannon Fort, Johnstown Castle and Gardens, Enniscorthy Castle, Dunbrody Abbey, Dunbrody Heritage Ship, Westgate Heritage Tower and Tacumshane Windmill.
Other places of interest to visit include The Wexford Opera House, John F. Kennedy Arboretum, Wexford Wildlife Reserve, Kilmore Quay Maritime Museum, the Irish Agricultural Museum and the Berkeley Costume and Toy Museum.
With the Atlantic Ocean on its south coast and the Irish Sea on its east coast, County Wexford has lots of busy harbours, coastal inlets, delightful fishing creeks and of course, lots of safe sandy beaches like Courtown, Duncannon, Rosslare and Curracloe. Curracloe beach was in fact used in the opening scene of the movie Saving Private Ryan!
Whatever your interests are, you're sure to find plenty to do during your visit to County Wexford. In the unspoilt countryside you'll find challenging golf courses, excellent fishing outlets, walking paths, trails and scenic driving routes. You can also explore the countryside by horseback or head to the coast and enjoy some exhilarating water sports.
Towns In County Wexford
Courtown and Rosslare are two of Ireland's best loved seaside destinations and as well as safe sandy beaches both have lots of attractions and amenities to cater for all the family. Bunclody is a great destination if you want to take in some outdoor activities as it's situated at the foot of the Blackstairs Mountains on the River Slaney. Wexford town and Enniscorthy boasts some astounding historical attractions while the little picturesque town of Kilmore Quay is a charming spot with whitewashed thatched cottages lining the street. From Kilmore Quay you can visit the Saltee Islands - one of the biggest bird sanctuaries in Ireland!
How To Get To County Wexford
County Wexford is home to Rosslare Ferry Port, which is served by two main ferry companies Irish Ferries and Stena Line, so if you're travelling from England or France you can get a ferry from Pembroke, Cherbourg or Roscoff.
The nearest airport is in the neighbouring county of Waterford . Aer Arann flies into this airport from London Luton, Manchester and Lorient. If you fly into Cork Airport you can hire a car and take the scenic coastal drive to Wexford. This journey takes approximately 2 and a half hours.
County Wexford also has excellent bus and train connections. If you arrive in Dublin city or Dublin Airport you can get a train directly from Connolly Station to Wexford town in just over 2 and a half hours!
Featured Attraction - Duncannon Fort
It is said that this star shaped fort was built back in 1588 as a precaution against a feared attrack from the Spanish Armada. Take a tour and admire this superb attraction, which features a maritime museum, an arts centre, a café and a craft shop.
