Wexford County, Ireland
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County Wexford ( ga, Contae Loch Garman) is a county in Ireland. It is in the province of Leinster and is part of the Southern Region. Named after the town of Wexford, it was based on the historic
Gaelic Gaelic is an adjective that means "pertaining to the Gaels". As a noun it refers to the group of languages spoken by the Gaels, or to any one of the languages individually. Gaelic languages are spoken in Ireland, Scotland, the Isle of Man, and Ca ...
territory of Hy Kinsella (''Uí Ceinnsealaigh''), whose capital was Ferns.
Wexford County Council Wexford County Council ( ga, Comhairle Contae Loch Garman) is the authority responsible for local government in County Wexford, Ireland. As a county council, it is governed by the Local Government Act 2001. The council is responsible for hous ...
is the local authority for the county. The population of the county was 149,722 at the 2016 census.


History

The county is rich in evidence of early human habitation.Stout, Geraldine. "Essay 1: Wexford in Prehistory 5000 B.C. to 300 AD" in ''Wexford: History and Society'', pp 1 - 39. ''Portal tombs'' (sometimes called
dolmen A dolmen () or portal tomb is a type of single-chamber megalithic tomb, usually consisting of two or more upright megaliths supporting a large flat horizontal capstone or "table". Most date from the early Neolithic (40003000 BCE) and were somet ...
s) exist at Ballybrittas (on Bree Hill) and at Newbawn — and date from the Neolithic period or earlier. Remains from the Bronze Age period are far more widespread. Early Irish tribes formed the Kingdom of Uí Cheinnsealaig, an area that was slightly larger than the current County Wexford. County Wexford was one of the earliest areas of Ireland to be
Christianised Christianization ( or Christianisation) is to make Christian; to imbue with Christian principles; to become Christian. It can apply to the conversion of an individual, a practice, a place or a whole society. It began in the Roman Empire, conti ...
, in the early 5th century. Later, from 819 onwards, the Vikings invaded and plundered many Christian sites in the county. Annals of the Four Masters (A.F.M.) Vikings settled at Wexford town near the end of the 9th century. In 1169, Wexford was the site of the invasion of Ireland by Normans at the behest of Diarmuid Mac Murrough, King of Uí Cheinnsealaig and king of Leinster (Laigin). This was followed by the subsequent colonisation of the country by the Cambro-Normans. The native Irish began to regain some of their former territories in the 14th century, especially in the north of the county, principally under Art MacMurrough Kavanagh. Under
Henry VIII Henry VIII (28 June 149128 January 1547) was King of England from 22 April 1509 until his death in 1547. Henry is best known for his six marriages, and for his efforts to have his first marriage (to Catherine of Aragon) annulled. His disa ...
, the great religious houses were dissolved, 1536–41; in County Wexford this included Glascarrig Priory, Clonmines Priory, Tintern Abbey, and Dunbrody Abbey. On 23 October 1641, a major rebellion broke out in Ireland, and County Wexford produced strong support for Confederate Ireland. Oliver Cromwell and his English Parliamentarian Army arrived in 1649 in the county and captured it. The lands of the Irish and Anglo-Normans were confiscated and given to Cromwell's soldiers as payment for their service in the Parliamentarian Army. At Duncannon, in the south-west of the county,
James II James II may refer to: * James II of Avesnes (died c. 1205), knight of the Fourth Crusade * James II of Majorca (died 1311), Lord of Montpellier * James II of Aragon (1267–1327), King of Sicily * James II, Count of La Marche (1370–1438), King C ...
, after his defeat at the Battle of the Boyne, embarked for Kinsale and then to exile in France. County Wexford was the most important area in which the Irish Rebellion of 1798 was fought, during which significant battles occurred at The
Battle of Oulart Hill The Battle of Oulart Hill took place on 27 May 1798 when a rebel gathering of between 4,000 and 5,000 annihilated a detachment of 110 militia sent from Wexford town to stamp out the spreading rebellion in County Wexford. Background When news ...
during the
1798 rebellion The Irish Rebellion of 1798 ( ga, Éirí Amach 1798; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ''The Hurries'') was a major uprising against British rule in Ireland. The main organising force was the Society of United Irishmen, a Irish republicanism, ...
.
Vinegar Hill (Enniscorthy) Enniscorthy () is the second-largest town in County Wexford, Ireland. At the 2016 census, the population of the town and environs was 11,381. The town is located on the picturesque River Slaney and in close proximity to the Blackstairs Mountain ...
and
New Ross New Ross (, formerly ) is a town in southwest County Wexford, Ireland. It is located on the River Barrow, near the border with County Kilkenny, and is around northeast of Waterford. In 2016 it had a population of 8,040 people, making it the ...
. The famous ballad "
Boolavogue Boolavogue, also spelt Boolavoge or Boleyvogue (), is a village 12 km northeast of Enniscorthy in County Wexford, Ireland. It is in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ferns. It has given its name to " Boolavogue", an Irish ballad commemorating t ...
" was written in remembrance of the Wexford Rising. At Easter 1916, a small
rebellion Rebellion, uprising, or insurrection is a refusal of obedience or order. It refers to the open resistance against the orders of an established authority. A rebellion originates from a sentiment of indignation and disapproval of a situation and ...
occurred at Enniscorthy town, on cue with that in Dublin. During World War II, German planes bombed
Campile Campile () is a small village situated in County Wexford in the south of Ireland. It is south of the town of New Ross. As of the 2016 census, Campile had a population of 448 people. History Archaeological evidence of ancient settlement in ...
. In 1963 John F. Kennedy, then President of the United States, visited the county and his ancestral home at Dunganstown, near
New Ross New Ross (, formerly ) is a town in southwest County Wexford, Ireland. It is located on the River Barrow, near the border with County Kilkenny, and is around northeast of Waterford. In 2016 it had a population of 8,040 people, making it the ...
.


Geography and subdivisions

Wexford is the 13th-largest of Ireland's thirty-two traditional counties in area, and 14th-largest in terms of population. It is the largest of Leinster's 12 counties in size, and fourth-largest in terms of population. The county is located in the south-east corner of the island of Ireland. It is bounded by the sea on two sides—on the south by the Atlantic Ocean and on the east by
St. George's Channel St George's Channel ( cy, Sianel San Siôr, ga, Muir Bhreatan) is a sea channel connecting the Irish Sea to the north and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. Historically, the name "St George's Channel" was used interchangeably with "Irish Sea" ...
and the Irish Sea. The River Barrow forms its western boundary. The Blackstairs Mountains form part of the boundary to the north, as do the southern edges of the Wicklow Mountains. The adjoining counties are Waterford to the south-west,
Kilkenny Kilkenny (). is a city in County Kilkenny, Ireland. It is located in the South-East Region and in the province of Leinster. It is built on both banks of the River Nore. The 2016 census gave the total population of Kilkenny as 26,512. Kilken ...
to the west,
Carlow Carlow ( ; ) is the county town of County Carlow, in the south-east of Ireland, from Dublin. At the 2016 census, it had a combined urban and rural population of 24,272. The River Barrow flows through the town and forms the historic bounda ...
to the north-west and Wicklow in the north.


Towns and villages

*County Town: Wexford *Market Town: Gorey *
Adamstown Adamstown may refer to: Locations Australia * Adamstown, New South Wales, a suburb in New South Wales Ireland * Adamstown, Castletownkindalen, a townland in Castletownkindalen civil parish, barony of Moycashel, County Westmeath * Adamstown, Conr ...
*
Arthurstown Arthurstown () is a small village in the townland of Coleman in southwest County Wexford, Ireland. It is located at the junction of the R733 and R770 regional roads on the eastern shore of the Waterford Harbour estuary, where The Three Sister ...
*
Ballycanew Ballycanew (historically ''Ballyconway'', from ) is a small rural village in Ireland. It is situated in County Wexford, on the R741 regional road south of Gorey. This road is locally known as the "Coast Road". History The village was once k ...
*
Ballycullane Ballycullane () is a small village located in the south-west of County Wexford, in Ireland. As of the 2016 census, it had a population of 318 people. Transport Ballycullane Railway Station opened on 1 August 1906. In its final years the rail s ...
*
Ballyedmond Ballyedmond () is a small village and townland in County Wexford in Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western ...
* Ballyfad *
Ballygarrett Ballygarrett () is a rural village in the southeastern corner of Ireland. It is situated in County Wexford south of Gorey on the R742 regional road. The birthplace of Texas empresario James Power, Ballygarrett is twinned with Refugio, Texa ...
* Ballyhack * Ballymitty *
Ballywilliam Ballywilliam (historically also ''Ballyliam'', from ) is a village in the west of County Wexford, Ireland. The nearest town is New Ross. The village sits on the R731 road. History The village once had its own railway station, which was closed in ...
* Bannow *
Barntown Barntown () is a townland and village in County Wexford, Ireland. Located just outside the boundary of Wexford town, as of the 2016 census, Barntown had a population of 459 people. The remains of Barntown Castle, a Norman tower house, lie to t ...
*
Blackwater Blackwater or Black Water may refer to: Health and ecology * Blackwater (coal), liquid waste from coal preparation * Blackwater (waste), wastewater containing feces, urine, and flushwater from flush toilets * Blackwater fever, an acute kidney disea ...
* Bree * Bridgetown * Broadway *
Bunclody Bunclody (), formerly Newtownbarry (until 1950), is a small town on the River Slaney in Wexford, Ireland. It is located near the foot of Mount Leinster. Most of the town is in County Wexford; a small area at the north end of town is in County ...
*
Camolin Camolin, according to a 2004 report in the German magazine Der Spiegel, is a secret counter-terrorism unit based in Paris, France. The article states that the US, UK, Australia, Germany, and France - amongst others - created this unit after the ...
*
Campile Campile () is a small village situated in County Wexford in the south of Ireland. It is south of the town of New Ross. As of the 2016 census, Campile had a population of 448 people. History Archaeological evidence of ancient settlement in ...
*
Castlebridge Castlebridge () is a small town on the R741 regional road in County Wexford, Ireland, north of Wexford Town. It is located near the River Slaney and just north of Wexford Harbour. Castlebridge is a rapidly expanding suburb of Wexford Town; ...
* Castletown *
Cleariestown Cleariestown (), or Cleristown, is a small village situated in the south of County Wexford, in Republic of Ireland, Ireland. Cleariestown village has a Roman Catholic church (with adjoining cemetery). See also * List of towns and villages in the ...
*
Clohamon Clohamon () is a small, rural village and townland near Bunclody in County Wexford, Ireland. Located on the River Slaney The River Slaney () is a large river in the southeast of Ireland. It rises on Lugnaquilla Mountain in the western Wi ...
*
Clonroche Clonroche () is a village in County Wexford, Ireland. It is located approximately west of Enniscorthy and approximately east of New Ross, on the N30 national primary route. History From the mid-17th century until the early 20th century, th ...
*
Coolgreany Coolgreany () is a village located in north County Wexford in Ireland, in the shadow of Croghan Mountain, overlooking Tara Hill in the extreme north of County Wexford. The village is located about 3  km from the N11 Dublin-Wexford road a ...
* Courtown *
Craanford Craanford () is a small village in north County Wexford, Ireland, situated on the R725 regional road midway between Gorey and Carnew. It is closely associated with the Irish Rebellion of 1798. The village features an early 17th-century cor ...
*
Crossabeg Crossabeg or Crosabeg () is a small village in County Wexford, Ireland, just north of Wexford town. It contains The Forge Storytelling House, Foley's Pub, St Patrick, St Brigid and St Killian's Catholic church with adjoining cemetery and a prim ...
*
Cullenstown Cullenstown () is a townland and small village located on the south coast of County Wexford, in Ireland. A small beach, Cullenstown Strand, is located nearby. Cullenstown is home to the "shell cottage" (also known as "cliff cottage"), a 19th ce ...
*
Curracloe Curracloe () is a village in County Wexford, a few miles northeast of the town of Wexford, Ireland. It lies on the R742 regional road at the junction with R743, and is linked to the long and sandy Curracloe Strand (beach) by the short R743 ro ...
* Duncannon * Duncormick * Enniscorthy * Ferns *
Fethard-on-Sea Fethard-on-Sea or Fethard () is a village in southwest County Wexford in Ireland. It lies on the R734 road on the eastern side of the Hook peninsula, between Waterford Harbour and Bannow Bay. The village had a population of 311 as of the 20 ...
* Foulkesmill * Gorey *
Hollyfort Hollyfort () is a village north of County Wexford, Ireland. It lies within the townland of Mongan () in the valley of the River Bann, 5 km northwest of Gorey. Like its neighbour Monaseed Monaseed () is a small village in north Count ...
*
Inch Measuring tape with inches The inch (symbol: in or ″) is a unit of length in the British imperial and the United States customary systems of measurement. It is equal to yard or of a foot. Derived from the Roman uncia ("twelfth") ...
*
Killinierin Kilanerin or Killinierin () is a village in north County Wexford, Ireland, 4 kilometres west of the N11 road, near the village of Inch and approximately 12 kilometres from the town of Gorey. It lies in the foothills of Croghan Mountain, the ...
* Kilmore * Kilmore Quay *
Kilmuckridge Kilmuckridge (), formerly Ford or The Ford, is a village in County Wexford in Ireland, near the Irish Sea coast. As of the 2016 census, the village had a population of 722 people, having more than tripled in size (from 235) in the 20 years since ...
* Kiltealy *
Monamolin Monamolin or Monamoling () is a small rural village in County Wexford, Ireland, about south of the town of Gorey. Monamolin (in the parish of the same name),Monaseed Monaseed () is a small village in north County Wexford. The small village centre comprises a primary national school (established in 1913), a Catholic church, and a community hall. Monaseed is approximately 4 km from Craanford, and 14&nbs ...
*
Murrintown Murrintown (), also spelled Murntown, is a small village located in the southeast of County Wexford, in Ireland, close to Wexford town. It is part of the parish of Piercestown. Murrintown village contains a pub, primary school, Roman Catholic ...
*
Monageer Monageer (), or Monagear, is a small village situated in the centre of County Wexford, in Ireland. It is located a few kilometres roughly northeast of Enniscorthy town. Monageer village contains a shop, a pub, a primary school, and a Roman Cat ...
*
Monbeg Monbeg ( ga, an Mhoing Bheag) is a townland north-west of Enniscorthy, Ireland, in County Wexford. The population is about 101 inhabitants. There are views of surrounding areas from Monbeg Lane. The name Monbeg is derived from the Irish Iri ...
* Newbawn *
New Ross New Ross (, formerly ) is a town in southwest County Wexford, Ireland. It is located on the River Barrow, near the border with County Kilkenny, and is around northeast of Waterford. In 2016 it had a population of 8,040 people, making it the ...
* Oulart *
Oylegate Oylegate or Oilgate (), also known previously as Mullinagore (), is a small village in Ireland, located about halfway between Wexford and Enniscorthy towns, in County Wexford. It had a population of 358 as of the 2016 census. Name The name ...
*
Poulpeasty Poulpeasty, officially Pollpeasty (), is a small village in the west of County Wexford, Ireland. History and development The village and surrounding area were once part of the large estate of the Carew family in the nearby, but now ruined, Cas ...
* Rathangan * Rosslare * Rosslare Harbour * Raheen *
Rathnure Rathnure () is a small village on the R731 regional road about from the town of Enniscorthy, County Wexford, Ireland. The village is located at the foot of the Blackstairs Mountain, which borders County Carlow on the opposite side. Place ...
*
Saltmills Saltmills () is a small village located in the south-west of County Wexford, in Ireland. The village is located at the head of a small inlet that enters Bannow Bay. The village received its name from the medieval mills that existed just outside ...
* Taghmon *
Watch House Village Watch House Village is a small village in County Wexford, Ireland, on the River Derry. It is a twin village of the much larger Clonegal in County Carlow County Carlow ( ; ga, Contae Cheatharlach) is a county located in the South-East R ...
* Wellingtonbridge * Wexford


Mountains and hills

Largely low-lying fertile land is the characteristic landscape of the county. The highest point in the county is Mount Leinster at , in the Blackstairs Mountains in the north-west on the boundary with County Carlow. Other high points: *
Black Rock Mountain Black Rock Mountain State Park is a Georgia, United States, state park west of Mountain City in Rabun County, in the Blue Ridge Mountains. It is named after its sheer cliffs of dark-colored biotite gneiss. Astride the Eastern Continental D ...
, , located near the Wexford-Carlow border, within County Wexford. *
Croghan Mountain Croghan Mountain or Croghan Kinsella () at , is the 211th–highest peak in Ireland on the Arderin scale, and the 258th–highest peak on the Vandeleur-Lynam scale.Mountainviews, (September 2013), "A Guide to Ireland's Mountain Summits: The ...
(or ''Croghan Kinsella'') on the Wexford-Wicklow border - *Annagh Hill, , near the Wicklow border *
Slieveboy Slieveboy ( ga, Sliabh Buí) is a mountain located in north County Wexford, Ireland. Etymology It is never called 'Slieveboy' by locals, but always its Irish form Sliabh Buí, which is pronounced 'Shleeav Bwee'. Sliabh Buí means Yellow Moun ...
, Notable hills include: Carrigbyrne Hill; Camross (or Camaross) Hill, ;OSI, ''Discovery Series 77''. Carrigmaistia, ; Bree Hill, ; Gibbet Hill; Vinegar Hill; Slievecoiltia; Forth Mountain, ; and Tara Hill.


Rivers and lakes

The major rivers are the
Slaney Slaney is a surname. Notable people with this surname include: * Geoffrey Slaney (1922–2016), British surgeon and academic * Ivor Slaney (1921–1998), England musical composer and conductor * John Slaney (born 1972), Canadian ice hockey player ...
and the
Barrow Barrow may refer to: Places England * Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria ** Borough of Barrow-in-Furness, local authority encompassing the wider area ** Barrow and Furness (UK Parliament constituency) * Barrow, Cheshire * Barrow, Gloucestershire * Barro ...
. At in length, the river Barrow is the second-longest river on the island of Ireland. Smaller rivers of note are the Owenduff, Pollmounty, Corrock, Urrin, Boro, Owenavorragh (also spelt Ounavarra), Sow and Bann rivers. There are no significant fresh-water lakes in the county. Small seaside lakes or lagoons exist at two locations – one is called
Lady's Island Lake Lady's Island Lake () is a brackish lake in the south of County Wexford, Ireland. The lake is technically a back-barrier seepage lagoon, one of only two in Ireland. The other is nearby Tacumshin Lake. The lake has no natural outlet, but is separ ...
and the other Tacumshin Lake. The ''Wexford Cot'' is a flat-bottomed boat used for fishing on the tidal mudflats in Wexford. A canoe-shaped punt fitted with a gun, called a ''float'' in Wexford, is used traditionally to shoot game birds in the North Slob mud flats.


Islands

The
Saltee Islands The Saltee Islands (Irish: ''Oileán an tSalainn''; Old Norse: ''Salt ey'' ) are a pair of small islands lying 5 kilometres off the southern coast of County Wexford in Ireland. The two islands are Great Saltee (89 hectares) and Little Saltee (37 ...
lie offshore from Kilmore Quay, while the smaller
Keeragh Islands The Keeragh Islands (Irish: ''Oileáin na gCaorach'') are a pair of small islets located approximately 1.5 km (1 mile) off the coast of Bannow in south County Wexford, Ireland (GPS: Latitude: 52.1983, Longitude: -6.73778). They are a design ...
are offshore from Bannow.


Climate

County Wexford, sometimes dubbed Ireland's "sunny southeast", has in general a higher number of hours of sunshine recorded daily than in the rest of the country. This has resulted in Wexford becoming one of the most popular places in Ireland in which to reside. The county has a mild, but changeable,
oceanic climate An oceanic climate, also known as a marine climate, is the humid temperate climate sub-type in Köppen classification ''Cfb'', typical of west coasts in higher middle latitudes of continents, generally featuring cool summers and mild winters ( ...
with few extremes. The North Atlantic Drift, a continuation of the
Gulf Stream The Gulf Stream, together with its northern extension the North Atlantic Current, North Atlantic Drift, is a warm and swift Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic ocean current that originates in the Gulf of Mexico and flows through the Straits of Florida a ...
, moderates winter temperatures. There is a
meteorological station A weather station is a facility, either on land or sea, with instruments and equipment for measuring atmospheric conditions to provide information for weather forecasts and to study the weather and climate. The measurements taken include tempera ...
located at Rosslare Harbour. January and February are generally the coldest months, with temperatures ranging from on average. July and August are generally the warmest months, with average temperatures ranging from in coastal areas and in inland areas. The prevailing winds blow from the south-west. Precipitation falls throughout the year. Mean annual rainfall is . Generally, the county receives less snow than more northerly parts of Ireland. Heavy snowfalls are relatively rare, but can occur. The one exception is Mount Leinster, visible from a large portion of the county, and frequently covered with snow during the winter months.
Frost Frost is a thin layer of ice on a solid surface, which forms from water vapor in an above-freezing atmosphere coming in contact with a solid surface whose temperature is below freezing, and resulting in a phase change from water vapor (a gas) ...
is frequent in winter months, less so in coastal areas.


Soil

An ice sheet covered most, but not all, of the county during the last Ice age. As the ice retreated, County Wexford would have been one of the first areas to be covered with
glacial drift In geology, drift is a name for all sediment (clay, silt, sand, gravel, boulders) transported by a glacier and deposited directly by or from the ice, or by glacial meltwater. Drift is often subdivided into (unsorted and) unstratified drift (glaci ...
(a mixture of
boulder In geology, a boulder (or rarely bowlder) is a rock fragment with size greater than in diameter. Smaller pieces are called cobbles and pebbles. While a boulder may be small enough to move or roll manually, others are extremely massive. In c ...
s, clay, sand and
gravel Gravel is a loose aggregation of rock fragments. Gravel occurs naturally throughout the world as a result of sedimentary and erosive geologic processes; it is also produced in large quantities commercially as crushed stone. Gravel is classifi ...
) that blanketed the existing
bedrock In geology, bedrock is solid Rock (geology), rock that lies under loose material (regolith) within the crust (geology), crust of Earth or another terrestrial planet. Definition Bedrock is the solid rock that underlies looser surface mater ...
. This has led to high-quality soils, suitable for a wide range of agriculture. A very detailed soil survey of the county was published in 1964 as part of the 'National Soil Survey of Ireland'. It classifies each area of the county according to its specific
soil type A soil type is a taxonomic unit in soil science. All soils that share a certain set of well-defined properties form a distinctive soil type. Soil type is a technical term of soil classification, the science that deals with the systematic categoriz ...
. Most of the county is covered with soils called '' brown earths'', described as well-drained and having a wide use-range. After that, ''gleys'' (poorly to imperfectly drained with a limited use-range) are the next major soil type, primarily located in the south-east of the county and east of Gorey (along the coast). Gleys are dotted elsewhere around the county in small areas, and where they occur they generally form
bog A bog or bogland is a wetland that accumulates peat as a deposit of dead plant materials often mosses, typically sphagnum moss. It is one of the four main types of wetlands. Other names for bogs include mire, mosses, quagmire, and muskeg; a ...
land. The last major soil type, '' brown podzolics'', occur mainly near the edges of the Blackstairs Mountain range and around
Bunclody Bunclody (), formerly Newtownbarry (until 1950), is a small town on the River Slaney in Wexford, Ireland. It is located near the foot of Mount Leinster. Most of the town is in County Wexford; a small area at the north end of town is in County ...
and in the
baronies Barony may refer to: * Barony, the peerage, office of, or territory held by a baron * Barony, the title and land held in fealty by a feudal baron * Barony (county division), a type of administrative or geographical division in parts of the British ...
of East Shelmalier and South Ballaghkeen. Though there are areas covered with other
soil type A soil type is a taxonomic unit in soil science. All soils that share a certain set of well-defined properties form a distinctive soil type. Soil type is a technical term of soil classification, the science that deals with the systematic categoriz ...
s, these are of limited extent.


Flora

Common species of tree include oak,
ash Ash or ashes are the solid remnants of fires. Specifically, ''ash'' refers to all non-aqueous, non- gaseous residues that remain after something burns. In analytical chemistry, to analyse the mineral and metal content of chemical samples, ash ...
, sycamore, alder, blackthorn,
hawthorn Hawthorn or Hawthorns may refer to: Plants * '' Crataegus'' (hawthorn), a large genus of shrubs and trees in the family Rosaceae * ''Rhaphiolepis'' (hawthorn), a genus of about 15 species of evergreen shrubs and small trees in the family Rosace ...
,
beech Beech (''Fagus'') is a genus of deciduous trees in the family Fagaceae, native to temperate Europe, Asia, and North America. Recent classifications recognize 10 to 13 species in two distinct subgenera, ''Engleriana'' and ''Fagus''. The ''Engle ...
and birch. Less common (but plentiful) species include wild cherry and Scots pine (also called red deal). Elm is now far less common, due to the devastating effects of Dutch elm disease.
Gorse ''Ulex'' (commonly known as gorse, furze, or whin) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae. The genus comprises about 20 species of thorny evergreen shrubs in the subfamily Faboideae of the pea family Fabaceae. The species are n ...
(or furze) is very common. A priority habitat in Wexford is the
grey dune Grey dunes are fixed, stable sand dunes that are covered by a continuous layer of herbaceous vegetation. These dunes are typically located 50–100 meters from the ocean shore and are found on the landward side of foredunes (also known as yel ...
, on which many native wild flora grow, including
bee orchid Bee orchid is a common name for several orchids and may refer to: *'' Cottonia peduncularis'', a species of orchid from India and Sri Lanka *'' Diuris carinata'', a species of orchid from the south-west of Western Australia *'' Ida barringtoniae'', ...
and pyramidal orchid. Despite the designation of much of this habitat as a Special Area of Conservation, it remains threatened by destruction for agricultural intensification. There is very little natural forest in the county. Most natural trees and vegetation grow on
hedge A hedge or hedgerow is a line of closely spaced shrubs and sometimes trees, planted and trained to form a barrier or to mark the boundary of an area, such as between neighbouring properties. Hedges that are used to separate a road from adjoini ...
rows.


Fauna

South-eastern Wexford is an important site for wild birds—the north side of Wexford Harbour, the North Slob, is home to 10,000 Greenland white-fronted geese each winter (roughly one third of the entire world's population), while in the summer
Lady's Island Lake Lady's Island Lake () is a brackish lake in the south of County Wexford, Ireland. The lake is technically a back-barrier seepage lagoon, one of only two in Ireland. The other is nearby Tacumshin Lake. The lake has no natural outlet, but is separ ...
is an important breeding site for terns, especially the
roseate tern The roseate tern (''Sterna dougallii'') is a species of tern in the family Laridae. The genus name ''Sterna'' is derived from Old English "stearn", "tern", and the specific ''dougallii'' refers to Scottish physician and collector Dr Peter McDoug ...
. The grey heron is also seen. Throughout the county pheasant, woodpigeon and feral pigeons are widespread.
Mute swan The mute swan (''Cygnus olor'') is a species of swan and a member of the waterfowl family Anatidae. It is native to much of Eurosiberia, and (as a rare winter visitor) the far north of Africa. It is an introduced species in North America, home ...
,
mallard The mallard () or wild duck (''Anas platyrhynchos'') is a dabbling duck that breeds throughout the temperate and subtropical Americas, Eurasia, and North Africa, and has been introduced to New Zealand, Australia, Peru, Brazil, Uruguay, Arge ...
, kingfisher, and owls (the long-eared owl, the
short-eared owl The short-eared owl (''Asio flammeus'') is a widespread grassland species in the family Strigidae. Owls belonging to genus ''Asio'' are known as the eared owls, as they have tufts of feathers resembling mammalian ears. These "ear" tufts may or ...
, and the
barn owl The barn owl (''Tyto alba'') is the most widely distributed species of owl in the world and one of the most widespread of all species of birds, being found almost everywhere except for the polar and desert regions, Asia north of the Himalaya ...
) are less common - but plentiful.
Red grouse The red grouse (''Lagopus lagopus scotica'') is a medium-sized bird of the grouse family which is found in heather moorland in Great Britain and Ireland. It is usually classified as a subspecies of the willow ptarmigan but is sometimes consider ...
, once common, is now extremely scarce. The species has been in decline for some decades. Threats include habitat degradation, disease, predation and over-hunting. Red grouse in Ireland are now considered threatened. The
corncrake The corn crake, corncrake or landrail (''Crex crex'') is a bird in the rail family. It breeds in Europe and Asia as far east as western China, and migrates to Africa for the Northern Hemisphere's winter. It is a medium-sized crake with buff- ...
, also once very common, is now almost never seen. Smaller birds—such as crows, swallows, robins, wrens and so on—are very common. The first magpies in Ireland were recorded by Robert Leigh, of Rosegarland, County Wexford, as having appeared in the County of Wexford about 1676. Land mammals include badger,
rabbit Rabbits, also known as bunnies or bunny rabbits, are small mammals in the family Leporidae (which also contains the hares) of the order Lagomorpha (which also contains the pikas). ''Oryctolagus cuniculus'' includes the European rabbit speci ...
,
otter Otters are carnivorous mammals in the subfamily Lutrinae. The 13 extant otter species are all semiaquatic, aquatic, or marine, with diets based on fish and invertebrates. Lutrinae is a branch of the Mustelidae family, which also includes wea ...
, hedgehog,
red fox The red fox (''Vulpes vulpes'') is the largest of the true foxes and one of the most widely distributed members of the Order (biology), order Carnivora, being present across the entire Northern Hemisphere including most of North America, Europe ...
,
mink Mink are dark-colored, semiaquatic, carnivorous mammals of the genera ''Neogale'' and '' Mustela'' and part of the family Mustelidae, which also includes weasels, otters, and ferrets. There are two extant species referred to as "mink": the A ...
, bats,
squirrel Squirrels are members of the family Sciuridae, a family that includes small or medium-size rodents. The squirrel family includes tree squirrels, ground squirrels (including chipmunks and prairie dogs, among others), and flying squirrels. Squ ...
s ( red and grey),
rat Rats are various medium-sized, long-tailed rodents. Species of rats are found throughout the order Rodentia, but stereotypical rats are found in the genus ''Rattus''. Other rat genera include ''Neotoma'' ( pack rats), ''Bandicota'' (bandicoot ...
s ( brown and black - both introduced species), and
mice A mouse ( : mice) is a small rodent. Characteristically, mice are known to have a pointed snout, small rounded ears, a body-length scaly tail, and a high breeding rate. The best known mouse species is the common house mouse (''Mus musculus' ...
( wood (or field) and
house A house is a single-unit residential building. It may range in complexity from a rudimentary hut to a complex structure of wood, masonry, concrete or other material, outfitted with plumbing, electrical, and heating, ventilation, and air condi ...
). Two types of
hare Hares and jackrabbits are mammals belonging to the genus ''Lepus''. They are herbivores, and live solitarily or in pairs. They nest in slight depressions called forms, and their young are able to fend for themselves shortly after birth. The ge ...
—the Irish (or mountain) hare and the less common brown (or European) hare—are found. Hare is not nearly as common as rabbit. The stoat (''Mustela erminea hibernica'') is also reasonably common. Locally the stoat is just as often incorrectly called a weasel. Only two types of seal are found on County Wexford's coast— Atlantic grey seals are very plentiful in coastal areas; the slightly smaller common (or harbour) seal is less common, yet plentiful. The ''
small tortoiseshell The small tortoiseshell (''Aglais urticae'') is a colourful Eurasian butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. Adults feed on nectar and may hibernate over winter; in warmer climates they may have two broods in a season. While the dorsal surface of th ...
butterfly'' (reddish-orange colour, with black markings) is the most common species of butterfly in the county. Various types of moth are also common. The
common frog The common frog or grass frog (''Rana temporaria''), also known as the European common frog, European common brown frog, European grass frog, European Holarctic true frog, European pond frog or European brown frog, is a semi-aquatic amphibian o ...
- the only type of frog found - is plentiful.


Governance and politics


Local government

Wexford County Council Wexford County Council ( ga, Comhairle Contae Loch Garman) is the authority responsible for local government in County Wexford, Ireland. As a county council, it is governed by the Local Government Act 2001. The council is responsible for hous ...
has thirty-four members. The council has three representatives on the
Southern Regional Assembly The Southern Region has been a region in Ireland since 1 January 2015. It is a NUTS Level II statistical region of Ireland (coded IE05). NUTS 2 Regions may be classified as ''less developed regions'', ''transition regions'', or ''more de ...
, where it is part of the South-East strategic planning area.


National politics

County Wexford is represented by the Dáil constituency of Wexford (5 seats). The county is part of the European Parliament constituency of
South South is one of the cardinal directions or Points of the compass, compass points. The direction is the opposite of north and is perpendicular to both east and west. Etymology The word ''south'' comes from Old English ''sūþ'', from earlier Pro ...
(5 seats).


Demographics

In 2016, the county had a total population of 149,722 people. Of these, 61.4% (91,969 people) lived in rural areas and 38.6% (57,753 people) lived in urban areas. 83.8% of the population stated their religion as Roman Catholic, 7.1% other religions, and 7.5% stated they had no religion. Between 2006 and 2011, the population increased by 10%, slowing to 3% between 2011 and 2016.


Urban areas and populations


Culture

Since 1951, an opera festival, Wexford Festival Opera, takes place every year in the Theatre Royal in Wexford town and runs for several weeks. In 2008, a new Opera House replaced the old one on the same site, once called the Wexford Opera House, but in 2014 being designated as Ireland's
National Opera House The National Opera House, formerly the Wexford Opera House, is a theatre in Wexford, Ireland. It was officially opened on 5 September 2008 in a ceremony with An Taoiseach Brian Cowen, followed by a live broadcast of RTÉ's '' The Late Late S ...
. It consists of two theatres, the O'Reilly Theatre and the Jerome Hynes Theatre. There is a renowned singing tradition in County Wexford. Having an abundance of traditional songs, many of which relate to the rebellion of 1798, the county has for many years had a strong presence in the Irish traditional singing scene. Noted singers include All-Ireland Fleadh Champions
Paddy Berry Paddy Berry (Patrick Joseph Berry), born 12 October 1937, is a traditional Irish singer from Wexford, Ireland. Born and raised in Scar, Duncormick, Paddy Berry now lives in Drinagh, on the outskirts of Wexford Town. Paddy is a well known performe ...
, Seamus Brogan and Niall Wall. Paddy Berry has also collected and published a number of songs from Wexford. Beaches in
Curracloe Curracloe () is a village in County Wexford, a few miles northeast of the town of Wexford, Ireland. It lies on the R742 regional road at the junction with R743, and is linked to the long and sandy Curracloe Strand (beach) by the short R743 ro ...
, County Wexford were used to film the opening scenes of the movie '' Saving Private Ryan'', which depicted the
D-day The Normandy landings were the landing operations and associated airborne operations on Tuesday, 6 June 1944 of the Allied invasion of Normandy in Operation Overlord during World War II. Codenamed Operation Neptune and often referred to as D ...
assault on
Omaha Beach Omaha Beach was one of five beach landing sectors designated for the amphibious assault component of operation Overlord during the Second World War. On June 6, 1944, the Allies invaded German-occupied France with the Normandy landings. "Omaha" r ...
. ''
The Count of Monte Cristo ''The Count of Monte Cristo'' (french: Le Comte de Monte-Cristo) is an adventure novel written by French author Alexandre Dumas (''père'') completed in 1844. It is one of the author's more popular works, along with ''The Three Musketeers''. Li ...
'', directed by Kevin Reynolds, was partly filmed in the village of Duncannon in 2000 — Duncannon Fort being used for one of the main scenes. The movie Brooklyn (film) was partially filmed in Enniscorthy and featured some of the locals as extras.


Media

Two radio stations are based in the county: South East Radio and Beat FM. The county's main newspapers include ''
Wexford People The ''Wexford People'' is a local or regional newspaper published weekly every Tuesday in County Wexford, Ireland. The newspaper contains stories relating primarily to the town of Wexford and its surrounding area, as well as stories relating to ...
'', ''
New Ross Standard The ''New Ross Standard'' is a local newspaper published once per week (every Tuesday) in County Wexford, Ireland. It is published in colour. The newspaper was first published in the late-19th century (). In recent years, it has also been mad ...
'', ''
Gorey Guardian The ''Gorey Guardian'' is a local newspaper published once per week (every Tuesday) in County Wexford, Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in north-western Europe. It is separate ...
'', and ''
Enniscorthy Echo The ''Enniscorthy Echo'' was a local newspaper published once per week (every Wednesday) in County Wexford, Ireland. It was published in colour. History The newspaper was first published in 1902 from offices at Abbey Square, Enniscorthy, Count ...
''.


Places of interest

The scenic Bannow Drive, popular amongst tourists, is a signposted route through four Wexford villages: Duncormick,
Cullenstown Cullenstown () is a townland and small village located on the south coast of County Wexford, in Ireland. A small beach, Cullenstown Strand, is located nearby. Cullenstown is home to the "shell cottage" (also known as "cliff cottage"), a 19th ce ...
, Bannow and Wellingtonbridge. Ballyteigue Burrow, located near Duncormick, is one of the finest protected sand
dune A dune is a landform composed of wind- or water-driven sand. It typically takes the form of a mound, ridge, or hill. An area with dunes is called a dune system or a dune complex. A large dune complex is called a dune field, while broad, f ...
systems in Ireland. Rich in wildflowers, wildlife and butterflies, this 9 km (6 mile) coastal stretch is a protected nature reserve by the golden sands of Ballyteigue Bay, with spectacular scenery. The Hook Peninsula is noted for its many beaches and spectacular scenery. It features the medieval
Hook Head Hook Head (), historically called Rindowan, is a headland in County Wexford, Ireland, on the east side of the estuary of The Three Sisters (Rivers Nore, Suir and Barrow). It is part of the Hook peninsula and is adjacent to the historic townl ...
lighthouse and the historic townland of
Loftus Hall Loftus Hall is a large country house on the Hook peninsula, County Wexford, Ireland. Built on the site of the original Redmond Hall, it is said to have been haunted by the devil and the ghost of a woman. Loftus Hall has a long history of own ...
. Popular beaches are located at Courtown,
Curracloe Curracloe () is a village in County Wexford, a few miles northeast of the town of Wexford, Ireland. It lies on the R742 regional road at the junction with R743, and is linked to the long and sandy Curracloe Strand (beach) by the short R743 ro ...
,
Carnsore Point Carnsore Point ( or ''Ceann an Chairn'') is a headland in the very South East corner of County Wexford, Ireland. This headland is Ireland's southern limit point of the Irish Sea, on the western side of St George's Channel. Ptolemy's ''Geography ...
, Duncannon and Rosslare Strand. Other places of interest include: * Ferns Castle and Abbey * Enniscorthy Castle and Museum *
Vinegar Hill Vinegar is an aqueous solution of acetic acid and trace compounds that may include flavorings. Vinegar typically contains 5–8% acetic acid by volume. Usually, the acetic acid is produced by a double fermentation, converting simple sugars to ...
*National 1798 Visitor Centre *
Boolavogue Boolavogue, also spelt Boolavoge or Boleyvogue (), is a village 12 km northeast of Enniscorthy in County Wexford, Ireland. It is in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ferns. It has given its name to " Boolavogue", an Irish ballad commemorating t ...
*The
Browne-Clayton Monument The Browne-Clayton Monument is a column of the Corinthian order on a square pedestal base built in the 19th-century in Leinster, Ireland. It stands on Carrigadaggan Hill, at Carrigbyrne in County Wexford at , just off the N25 national route b ...
* Oulart Hill *
Castleboro House Castleboro House is a former stately home in Clonroche, County Wexford, Ireland. It was built in 1770 by Robert Shapland Carew, father of Robert Carew, 1st Baron Carew, who was an Irish Whig Party politician and landowner. The mansion has ...
*The Seven 'Castles' of Clonmines * Johnstown Castle *Dollar Bay *
Loftus Hall Loftus Hall is a large country house on the Hook peninsula, County Wexford, Ireland. Built on the site of the original Redmond Hall, it is said to have been haunted by the devil and the ghost of a woman. Loftus Hall has a long history of own ...
- Abandoned Haunted House (the first Hall was built on this site in 1350) www.loftushall.ie *Ballyteigue Castle * Bannow Church (dates from the 13th century) *
Selskar Abbey Selskar Abbey () is a ruined Augustinian abbey in Wexford, Ireland. Founded in the twelfth-century, the abbey's full name was the Priory of St Peter and St Paul. The name is derived from Old Norse ''selr-skar'', "seal skerry." History It is ...
, Wexford town *Irish National Heritage Park (Ferrycarrig) * Tacumshin windmill (southeast County Wexford) *
St. Mary's Church, New Ross St. Mary's Church is a medieval church and National Monument in New Ross, Ireland. Location St. Mary's Church is located on Mary Street, New Ross, on the east bank of the River Barrow. History Abbán built a monastery in the New Ross area in ...
* Dunbrody Abbey * Tintern Abbey *
Slade Castle Slade Castle is a tower house and National Monument in County Wexford, Ireland. It is located in the village of Slade on the Hook Peninsula and primarily dates to the late 15th or early 16th century. Location Slade Castle is located in the vil ...
* Ballyhack Castle *J.F. Kennedy homestead and park *Slieve Coilte * Wells House and Gardens * Duncannon Fort *
Saltee Islands The Saltee Islands (Irish: ''Oileán an tSalainn''; Old Norse: ''Salt ey'' ) are a pair of small islands lying 5 kilometres off the southern coast of County Wexford in Ireland. The two islands are Great Saltee (89 hectares) and Little Saltee (37 ...


Economy


Agriculture

The economy is chiefly agricultural. Cattle, sheep, pig rearing and some
horse breeding Horse breeding is reproduction in horses, and particularly the human-directed process of selective breeding of animals, particularly purebred horses of a given breed. Planned matings can be used to produce specifically desired characteristics in ...
are the main types of husbandry practised. Poultry rearing, once popular, has very much declined. Wheat, barley, rapeseed, and oats are grown, as are potatoes.
Sugar beet A sugar beet is a plant whose root contains a high concentration of sucrose and which is grown commercially for sugar production. In plant breeding, it is known as the Altissima cultivar group of the common beet (''Beta vulgaris''). Together wi ...
is no longer grown due to the withdrawal of EU subsidies. The numbers involved in farming have been declining for many years and many of the seasonal workers are now eastern Europeans. Mushrooms are also grown indoors. Tomatoes are grown under glass, for example at
Campile Campile () is a small village situated in County Wexford in the south of Ireland. It is south of the town of New Ross. As of the 2016 census, Campile had a population of 448 people. History Archaeological evidence of ancient settlement in ...
. Wexford
strawberries The garden strawberry (or simply strawberry; ''Fragaria × ananassa'') is a widely grown hybrid species of the genus '' Fragaria'', collectively known as the strawberries, which are cultivated worldwide for their fruit. The fruit is widely ap ...
are famous and can be bought in shops and wayside stalls throughout the summer. Every year, near the end of June, a 'Strawberry Fair' Festival takes place in the town of Enniscorthy, and a ''Strawberry Queen'' is crowned. Dairy farming forms an important part of the agricultural industry. Locally produced milk is on sale in many supermarkets. Wexford Irish Cheddar is a brand, and Carrigbyrne, a full-flavoured soft
cheese Cheese is a dairy product produced in wide ranges of flavors, textures, and forms by coagulation of the milk protein casein. It comprises proteins and fat from milk, usually the milk of cows, buffalo, goats, or sheep. During production, ...
, is produced near New Ross.


Forestry

Evergreen tree species are extensively cultivated, especially in more recent years—
Norway spruce ''Picea abies'', the Norway spruce or European spruce, is a species of spruce native to Northern, Central and Eastern Europe. It has branchlets that typically hang downwards, and the largest cones of any spruce, 9–17 cm long. It is very close ...
and
Sitka spruce ''Picea sitchensis'', the Sitka spruce, is a large, coniferous, evergreen tree growing to almost tall, with a trunk diameter at breast height that can exceed 5 m (16 ft). It is by far the largest species of spruce and the fifth-larg ...
are the most common varieties planted. These are generally sown on poorer quality soils (mainly in bogs and on hills or mountainsides). A small amount of deciduous trees are also planted, though these require better soils.


Mining

Silver was once mined at Clonmines—primarily in Tudor times. Lead was mined at Caim, 1818 - c. 1850—this mine also contains zinc; the two are usually found together. Copper ore ( malachite) is found at Kerloge, just south of the town of Wexford. Iron is found in small quantities at Courtown Harbour. The county is not noted for mineral reserves. No significant mining activity is currently practised, with the exception of quarrying for stone. In 2007, a significant oil find was made off Hook Head in County Wexford.


Energy

Carnsore Point Carnsore Point ( or ''Ceann an Chairn'') is a headland in the very South East corner of County Wexford, Ireland. This headland is Ireland's southern limit point of the Irish Sea, on the western side of St George's Channel. Ptolemy's ''Geography ...
made the national headlines in the late 1970s after a proposal was made to build a
nuclear energy Nuclear energy may refer to: *Nuclear power, the use of sustained nuclear fission or nuclear fusion to generate heat and electricity * Nuclear binding energy, the energy needed to fuse or split a nucleus of an atom *Nuclear potential energy ...
plant there; the plans were abandoned after extensive protests from the public, due to environmental and health concerns. Great Island Power Station opened in 1967 and was operated by the
Electricity Supply Board The Electricity Supply Board (ESB; ga, Bord Soláthair an Leictreachais) is a state owned (95%; the rest are owned by employees) electricity company operating in the Republic of Ireland. While historically a monopoly, the ESB now operates as ...
(ESB) until it was sold to Endesa in January 2009. It is an electricity-generating station fueled by heavy fuel oil and rated at 240 MW. It is located at the confluence of the rivers
Barrow Barrow may refer to: Places England * Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria ** Borough of Barrow-in-Furness, local authority encompassing the wider area ** Barrow and Furness (UK Parliament constituency) * Barrow, Cheshire * Barrow, Gloucestershire * Barro ...
and River Suir, Suir, near
Campile Campile () is a small village situated in County Wexford in the south of Ireland. It is south of the town of New Ross. As of the 2016 census, Campile had a population of 448 people. History Archaeological evidence of ancient settlement in ...
. Before its sale, the station was scheduled to close by 2010. Endesa propose building a 430 MW combined cycle, combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) Natural gas, gas fired plant on the site. The project would need a new gas pipeline from the existing transmission network at Baunlusk, south of Kilkenny City. A wind farm has now been built on the site, featuring 14 wind turbines generating electricity. It was completed in November 2002 and was the first wind farm on the east coast of Ireland. Wind farms now exist at a few other locations in the county, such as Ballywater Wind Farm, at Cahore (near
Kilmuckridge Kilmuckridge (), formerly Ford or The Ford, is a village in County Wexford in Ireland, near the Irish Sea coast. As of the 2016 census, the village had a population of 722 people, having more than tripled in size (from 235) in the 20 years since ...
), on the county's east coast, and Richfield wind farm, located in the southeast of the county.


Transport

* Bus: Wexford and Dublin are linked by Bus Éireann route 2, while route 5 operates Waterford-New Ross-Enniscorthy-Dublin. There are numerous local bus routes radiating from Wexford town to places such as Kilmore Quay, Lady's Island Lake, Lady's Island,
Kilmuckridge Kilmuckridge (), formerly Ford or The Ford, is a village in County Wexford in Ireland, near the Irish Sea coast. As of the 2016 census, the village had a population of 722 people, having more than tripled in size (from 235) in the 20 years since ...
. * Rail: The Dublin–Rosslare railway line, Rosslare–Dublin railway line runs through the county, serving Rosslare Europort, Rosslare Strand, Wexford, Enniscorthy and Gorey. Four trains run in each direction daily (three at weekends), with additional commuter services from Gorey. The Limerick–Rosslare railway line, Rosslare–Limerick railway line which traverses the southern part of the county is now mothballed but being maintained (it served stations at Bridgetown, Wellington Bridge,
Ballycullane Ballycullane () is a small village located in the south-west of County Wexford, in Ireland. As of the 2016 census, it had a population of 318 people. Transport Ballycullane Railway Station opened on 1 August 1906. In its final years the rail s ...
and
Campile Campile () is a small village situated in County Wexford in the south of Ireland. It is south of the town of New Ross. As of the 2016 census, Campile had a population of 448 people. History Archaeological evidence of ancient settlement in ...
). * Ferry: Rosslare Europort, located at Rosslare Harbour, operates a busy ferry service. There are regular sailings to Wales (Pembroke, Pembrokeshire, Pembroke and Fishguard) and France (Cherbourg-Octeville, Cherbourg and in the summer months to Roscoff) for passengers and vehicles. There is also ferry service in operation between Ballyhack and Passage East (County Waterford), crossing the River Barrow, Barrow estuary.


Sport and events


Gaelic games

In recent years the county Gaelic football, Football team has been making rapid advances. Camogie, a women's version of hurling, is also played, and Wexford won the All Ireland in 2007, 2010, 2011 and 2012. Wexford Park is the county's main Gaelic Athletic Association, GAA pitch, holding 25,000 supporters. Also, Gaelic handball, handball is played on a limited basis; there are a number of handball alleys located throughout the county. As a county, Wexford are most noted for hurling have won the Leinster Senior Hurling Championships a total of 21 times, first in 1890 and most recently in 2019. In the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship, All Ireland Senior Hurling Championships, Wexford have won 6 times, first in 1910 and most recently in 1996, beating Limerick in the final.


Football

Wexford Youths F.C., formed 2007, renamed as Wexford FC in 2017, is the major football club in the county, currently playing in the League of Ireland First Division.


Golf

There are numerous golf clubs in the county - including Rosslare Golf Club, Rosslare (a Links (golf), Links course), and Enniscorthy. Two more are located near Gorey - Ballymoney Golf Club and Courtown Golf Club - are 18 hole golf courses. Bunclody Golf and Fishing Club, boasting Europe's only golf lift, is situated just inside County Carlow. There are also a few others. New Ross Golf Club, however, is actually located in County Kilkenny - about 1 km (1,000 yards) from New Ross town. There are also many par-3 courses in the county, such as Scarke Golf Course & Driving Range, located about east of New Ross, the 'Abbey Par 3' course, at Winningtown, Fethard-on-Sea, Blackwater Par 3 Golf Course, Kilnew, Blackwater, located a few kilometres northeast of Wexford town, Garrylough Golf Course and Driving Range, Screen, and Rathaspeck Manor Golf Course, Rathaspeck, near Rosslare (there are also few Par-4 holes on this course). There are also a number of other Par-3 courses in the county.


Fishing

Maritime activity takes at various locations in County Wexford, including at Kilmore Quay and Slade, County Wexford, Slade Harbour. Common fish species include herring, mackerel, cod, monkfish, Merlangius merlangus, whiting, Bass (fish), bass, perch, Sea robin, gurnard, haddock, Mullet (fish), mullet, pollock, John Dory, Sole (fish), sole, European conger, conger eel, shad, salmon, trout, Northern pike, pike, carp, and tench. Shellfish include mussels, Cockle (bivalve), cockles, Common periwinkle, periwinkles, clams, and oysters.


Racing

Wexford Racecourse (horse racing) is located at Wexford, Wexford town and there is a Greyhound Racing track at Enniscorthy.


People

*Bunny Ahearne - president of the International Ice Hockey Federation *Michael William Balfe, Michael Balfe - 19th-century composer, grew up in Wexford *John Banville - novelist (2005 Booker Prize and 2013 Austrian State Prize for European Literature) *Major Gerald Edwin Hamilton Barrett-Hamilton, G. E. H. Barrett-Hamilton - zoologist, grew up in Kilmanock *John Barry (naval officer), John Barry - Commander United States Navy *
Paddy Berry Paddy Berry (Patrick Joseph Berry), born 12 October 1937, is a traditional Irish singer from Wexford, Ireland. Born and raised in Scar, Duncormick, Paddy Berry now lives in Drinagh, on the outskirts of Wexford Town. Paddy is a well known performe ...
- Traditional Irish Singers, singer, song collector and folklorist *Wallis Bird - musician *Des Bishop - New York-born comedian, went to school in County Wexford *Jim Bolger ONZ - former Prime Minister of New Zealand. *Jim Bolger (racehorse trainer) - horse trainer. *Myles Byrne - participant in the Irish Rebellion of 1798 *Thomas Cloney - participant in the Irish Rebellion of 1798 *John Henry Colclough – participant in the Irish Rebellion of 1798 *Eoin Colfer - best-selling writer of children's literature *Brendan Corish - Labour Party (Ireland), Irish Labour Party leader and Tánaiste *Richard Corish - Trade Unionist *Gordon D'Arcy- Rugby player, Leinster Rugby, Leinster & Ireland national rugby union team, Ireland *Tadhg Furlong- Rugby player, Leinster Rugby, Leinster & Ireland national rugby union team, Ireland *Francis Danby - 19th-century painter *Chris de Burgh - Argentinian-born singer-songwriter, based in County Wexford *Pádraic Delaney - actor *John Doran (British Army officer) *Anne Doyle - RTÉ newsreader *Kevin Doyle - football player *Mary Fitzgerald (trade unionist) *John French - maternal grandfather of George Harrison *Nicholas French - former RC Bishop of Ferns *Nicholas Furlong - writer, journalist and historian *Eileen Gray - 20th-century Irish furniture designer and architect and a pioneer of the Modern Movement in architecture, raised in Enniscorthy *Anna Maria Hall (Mrs. S.C. Hall) - 19th-century novelist, raised in Bannow *John Harrison (VC 1857), John Harrison - recipient of the Victoria Cross *Bagenal Harvey, Beauchamp Bagenal Harvey - participant in the Irish Rebellion of 1798 *Edward Hay (County Wexford), Edward Hay - writer of a history of the Irish Rebellion of 1798 *Herbert F. Hore, Herbert Hore - historian *William Kehoe (businessman), William Kehoe - iron founder *Patrick Kennedy - great-grandfather of John F. Kennedy (former president of the United States). *John Murphy (priest), Father John Murphy - participant in the Irish Rebellion of 1798. *Col Joshua Nunn - veterinarian and barrister *Aidan O'Brien - horse trainer *Joseph O'Brien (jockey) - son of Aidan O'Brien and horse trainer, formerly jockey *Thomas O'Connor (rancher) - Irish rancher and landowner *Michael O'Hanrahan - Irish rebel executed for fighting in the 1916 Easter Rising. *Chris O'Neill (YouTuber), Chris O'Neill - animator/musician and online entertainer *Nicky Rackard - hurling player *John Redmond - 19th- 20th-century nationalist politician *Billy Roche - playwright *Dick Roche - politician *Patrick Roche (Wisconsin politician), Patrick Roche - politician *James Ryan (Irish politician), James Ryan - politician and Irish Revolutionary *Martin Storey - hurling player *Colm Tóibín - novelist (2006 International Dublin Literary Award) *Maverick Sabre - singer/songwriter


See also

*List of towns and villages in the Republic of Ireland, List of towns and villages in Ireland *List of abbeys and priories in the Republic of Ireland#County Wexford, List of abbeys and priories in Ireland (County Wexford) *Lord Lieutenant of Wexford *High Sheriff of Wexford


References


Bibliography

*Byrne, Francis J. ''Irish Kings and High Kings''. Dublin, 1973–2001 *Carlyle, Thomas. ''"Oliver Cromwell's Letters and Speeches"''. Vol. 1. New York: Wiley & Putnam, 1845 *Gerald of Wales, Cambrensis, Giraldus. ''Expugnatio Hibernica - The Conquest of Ireland''. Dublin: R.I.A., 1978 *Colfer, Billy. ''The County of Wexford''. County Wexford: Foillsitheoirí Cois Sláine, n.d. - 1980 or 1981. *Nicholas Furlong, Furlong, Nicholas. ''A History of County Wexford''. Dublin: Gill & MacMillan, 2003. *Nicholas Furlong, Furlong, Nicholas and John Hayes. ''County Wexford in the Rare Oul' Times'' Vol. IV. 1910–1924. Wexford: Old Distillery Press, 2005. *Ordnance Survey Ireland (OSi). ''Discovery Series 77 - Co Wexford (part).'' Scale 1: 50,000. Dublin: OSI, Phoenix Park, 1997. *''The Times Atlas of the World – Reference Edition''. London: Times Books, 1995–2002. *Whelan, K.(ed) & W. Nolan (assoc. ed.). ''Wexford: History and Society''. Dublin: Geography Publications, 1987


External links


County Council website

Late 19th-century map of County Wexford

History Articles
County Wexford, Leinster, Wexford Counties of the Republic of Ireland, Wexford Local government areas of the Republic of Ireland, Wexford