County Wexford is considered by some historians to be the most historical county in Ireland.  The place is steeped in history.  Wexford was the first arrival point in Ireland for the Vikings, who landed at Bannow Bay.  The Normans also came here, and significant parts of the town’s Norman wall can be seen in Wexford to this day.

Wexford: A traditional Irish town

Wexford is a traditional Irish town with narrow streets and everyday evidence of an old way of life (you may well see a local man making his way around town in a horse and trap).  Wexford is also possibly the best centre for traditional music on the east coast, with vibrant trad music sessions in local pubs most nights of the week.

The county of the Kennedys

Probably Wexford’s proudest boast is that it is the county of the Kennedys.  The site of the ancestral home of John F. Kennedy, 35th President of the United States, is in Dunganstown, New Ross.  JFK is Wexford’s most famous son.  Every July there is a heady three-day Festival bearing his name, the JFK-Dunbrody Festival.  

JFK returned to visit the Kennedy Homestead on 27th June 1963 as President and the farmyard is a major destination for tourists who visit this part of Ireland.  Nearby is the scenic and splendid John F. Kennedy Arboretum, dedicated to the perpetual memory of the late President Kennedy.  Also connected with the Kennedy story is the Dunbrody ship, on which Patrick Kennedy, great-grandfather of JFK, is believed to have set sail for the New World.  The ship is a full-scale reconstruction of the original Dunbrody of the 1840s, is moored in New Ross and guided tours with live actors in period costumes are available.

The birth place of Commodore John Barry

Another famous son of Wexford is Commodore John Barry, founder of the U.S. Navy.  Wexford-born John Barry was instrumental in the winning of the American War of Independence.  A towering statue of Commodore John Barry (presented to Ireland by  the American nation) occupies pride of place on Wexford’s Crescent Quay.  Two U.S. Presidents, Eisenhower and Kennedy, have laid wreaths at this statue - Wexford town’s best-known landmark.  There is an exact replica of this statue in Boston.

The setting for the 1798 rebellion

County Wexford was the setting for the largest uprising in the history of the Irish nation - the 1798 rebellion.  Vinegar Hill in Enniscorthy saw the fiercest fighting of the rebellion and a visit to Vinegar Hill, which overlooks Enniscorthy town and commands magnificent views, is a must for anyone interested in the history of 1798.  The 1798 Centre in Enniscorthy town, dedicated to the history of the rebellion, is one of the most informative visitor/interpretative centres in the country.

The Irish National Heritage Park

The Irish National Heritage Park at Ferrycarrig is one of the top visitor attractions in the south east.  Within the park, each era of Irish history is brought to life in reconstructions and ancient rituals are re-enacted in the park daily.  Make sure not to miss the chance to enjoy this mile-long walk through Irish history when you come to Wexford.

The home of Saving Private Ryan

Wexford came to worldwide prominence in 1997 when Curracloe Beach, just outside of Wexford town, was chosen as the location for the filming of the monumental D-Day landing scene from Steven Spielberg’s monumental war movie Saving Private Ryan starring Tom Hanks and Matt Damon.  You can stride along the sands of the beach where Private Ryan landed on D-Day in the film that has come to be accepted as the greatest tribute to the many heroes who laid down their lives at the altar of freedom during World War II.  Saving Private Ryan was voted the greatest war movie of all time in ‘The 100 Greatest War Movies’ on Channel Four in 2005.  Today, Wexford is promoted as the home of Saving Private Ryan.  Plans are underway for a 10th year anniversary celebration of the making of Saving Private Ryan in Wexford for the summer of 2007.

Wexford Opera Festival

Wexford is also the home of a unique Opera Festival which puts humble Wexford alongside Rome, Salzburg and Vienna on the pages of Opera magazine in October.  Wexford has built a name for staging some of the world’s rarest and less-seen Operas.  The Festival starts every year in October and runs for two weeks, usually into November.  The two-week Festival opens with a stunning firework display on Wexford quays.  Around the Opera Festival is built a whole series of fringe events and exhibitions, notably the ’Singing and Swinging’ Pubs competition.  Wexford Opera Festival, over fifty years in existence, has something for everyone.  The Festival has an international dimension and you may see someone famous among the attendance at the Operas.  A special Opera train travels from Dublin to Wexford each day during the festival.

Duncannon Fort and Hook Lighthouse

In east County Wexford two big attractions, within viewing distance of each other are Duncannon Fort and Hook Lighthouse.  Historic Duncannon Fort  has retained a strategic importance for centuries and was first constructed in anticipation of an attack from the Spanish Armada.  A few years ago, the Fort was film location for The Count of Monte Cristo starring Jim Caviezel of The Passion of The Christ fame and Guy Pearce.  Today the Fort has a Visitor Centre with a Maritime Museum featuring liftings from the sea bed and the sword used in the final scene of The Count of Monte Cristo.  There is a Seaweek Festival in early June which promotes the area’s links with Newfoundland.

Throughout County Wexford, there is a multitude of attractions for visitors, local and national, and something to suit everyone’s taste.  Remember, Wexford is the sunny south east.  Wexford, they say, gets more days of sun in the years than the rest of Ireland.  Spirits down here are always sunny, so Wexford will seem like the sunny south east whenever you visit.

There is a wealth of activities in historic, scenic Wexford.  You will never run out things to do. Wexford town is situated within ten miles of Rosslare Harbour - the gateway to Ireland and Europe.