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Holiday Home Ireland - Wexford
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Wexford Holiday Homes |
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Wexford |
Wexford is a coastal county in the
south-east of Ireland lying within the province of Leinster. It
shares boundaries with Wicklow, Carlow, Kilkenny and Waterford. The
River Barrow forms a natural border to the west of the county,
whilst the southern part of the coast overlooks the Celtic Sea. The
slightly longer eastern coast looks out on to St George’s Channel,
part of the Irish Sea. The Blackstairs Mountains or southern Wicklow
Mountains cover most of the northern county boundary. Wexford is
often called "the sunny south east of Ireland" because of its
statistically proven longer number of sunshine hours than anywhere
else in Ireland. This helps to make it a popular weekend destination
for people living in Dublin about 2 hours away by car. The
population of the county is 132,000, of which one third live in
urban locations and the remaining two thirds in rural homes.
Wexford Holiday Homes |
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The main settlement is historic Wexford town which has a large
natural harbour. Its strategic location and turbulent past has made
Wexford town the scene of many infamous and bloody battles in years
gone by. One of the most outrageous acts of warfare occurred in 1649
when the local settlers were slaughtered while considering the terms
of surrender to English Parliamentarian forces under the command of
Oliver Cromwell. The second largest town in Wexford is Enniscorthy
located 14 miles north of Wexford town on the River Slaney.
Enniscorthy castle is an imposing Norman stronghold dating from
1205. Just to the south of Wexford town is the town of Rosslare and
its nearby harbour or Europort which handles freight as well as car
and foot passengers on ferry routes into Wales and France. |
The Saltee Islands
The Saltee Islands (Oileán an tSalainn in Irish) 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 (40 hectares). They have been uninhabited since the
early 20th century and privately owned by the Neale family since
1943. Together, the islands form one of Ireland's largest bird
sanctuaries. Many species of seabirds are found there, including
gannets, cormorants, puffins, razorbills and guillemots, as well as
a colony of grey seals. The Saltee Islands St. Georges Channel are
situated approximately 5 kilometres off the coast of Kilmore Quay
Co.Wexford. The larger island, Great Saltee, is very popular with
both day-trippers and birdwatchers. They also lie on an important
migratory route and a popular stopping-off place for spring and
autumn migrants. The Great Saltee also has a breeding population of
Grey Seals, one of the very few in eastern Ireland. Up to 120
animals are present in autumn and up to 20 pups are produced
annually. |
Wexford County Museum
Castle / museum in Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford. The Museum is located
in a mediaeval castle, originally built in the 13th Century. First
opened on Easter Sunday, 1962, it illustrates in a magnificent way
the storied past of the county in its varied aspects,
ecclesiastical, military, maritime, agricultural and industrial. Of
particular interest are the fine collections commemorating the
risings of 1798 and 1916.
Holiday Homes in Wexford, Ireland |
John F. Kennedy Ancestral Homestead
The Kennedy Homestead celebrates the story of five generations of
the Family dynasty, a story of epic proportions, full of triumph and
tragedy. The centre traces history of those who stayed behind and
those who left Dunganstown on an immigrant ship to the slums of
Boston and from the English court of St. James to the Camelot days
at the White House. Birthplace of the Great Grandfather of the late
President John F. Kennedy, the visitor centre provides an engaging
guided tour around the original farmyard, which incorporates an
audio-visual display and rare family artefacts. |
Irish Agricultural Museum
The National Museum of Agriculture and Rural Life is located in
historic farm buildings (1810) within the extensive, ornamental
grounds (20ha) of Johnstown Castle. A major Famine Exhibition
covering the history of the potato and the great disaster of the
1840’s is at the museum. Major themes covered by the museum are:
1. The tools and machines of Irish Farming, 1750-1950.
2. Dairying.
3. Rural Transport.
4. Farmhouse furniture (120 pieces on display)
5. Rural crafts – blacksmith, wheelwright/carpenter, cooper, harness
maker, basket maker, thatcher.
During 2002, a permanent exhibition on Harry Ferguson, born in Co.
Down, and his ‘Ferguson System’ was opened. Another new feature is
full-scale replicas of farmhouse kitchens depicting life in 1800,
1900 and 1950. |
Wexford Arts Centre
Wexford Arts Centre provides a year-round programme of artistic
activity for the town and county of Wexford. We have exhibitions
scheduled throughout the year with emphasis on contemporary and
emerging Irish and international art (admission free), and a range
of plays, concerts, film, lectures, classes, workshops and other
activities. Visitors to Wexford Arts Centre can pick up a copy of
our colourful bi-monthly programme or register online for regular
emails The Centre is also resident in a preserved heritage site,
built in 1760's, as a market place and assembly halls. So there is a
lot of architectural history in the building itself. If you feel ""peckish'"on
your visit, you can try the wide range of scrumptious foods
available at the D'Lush cafe, located on the premise. D'Lush Cafe
offers a choice of savoury or sweet fare including crepes and
sandwiches made from homemade bread or spelt bagels with soft goats
cheese and organic rocket leaves. D' Lush is an ideal rendezvous,
either for a lunch break or a pre-show meal from Thursday to
Saturday, with a fine selection of wines and freshly brewed coffee
also available.
Wexford Cottages |
Duncannon Fort
Duncannon Fort is a star shaped fortress, built in expectation of an
attack on the area by the Spanish Armanda. 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.
Duncannon Fort has set up a Pirates & Mermaids Themed Museum for
families and our Officer’s Mess Café is Family Friendly with high
chairs, baby changing mats, fun plates for boys & girls and serving
Captain Jack hot chocolate with marshmallows Duncannon Fort dates
from 1588, built to repel the Spanish Armada, and to stop the
pirates plundering the merchant ships of their riches on their way
up Waterford Harbour. Built on the site of a Norman Fortress which
had previously been an Iron Age site. Captured by Thomas Preston
[Kilkenny Confederates] was successfully defended against Oliver
Cromwell. Played host to King James the second and William of
Orange. Played a major role during 1798 and was rebuilt at the time
of Napoleon. Handed over by the British in 1922 and last used and
rebuilt by the Irish Army during WW2. Four years ago Duncannon Fort
was once again taken over and occupied on the June Bank Holiday
Weekend and every year since by Re-enactors and Military Vehicles
from throughout the ages of time and history. The colour and
pageantry of this event is unsurpassed. Groups such as the Celts
will show people what it was like to live in the great outdoors. The
Roman Army [Legion Augustus] will invade Ireland in time to stop the
Viking Hoards. The Pike men of 1798 will try and defeat those
Redcoats and rescue the croppy boys from their cell in Duncannon
Fort. American Civil War troops will again stand on the sidelines of
Irish history and do their bit. The Great War troops and The Irish
war of independence will be portrayed and explained again at this
years show. WW2 will see the Germans on Irish soil, with British,
American and Soviet troops to see that all can be friends when they
come to Ireland. |
Hook Lighthouse Visitor Centre
Lighthouses have a magic and mysticism of their own, none more so
than the 13th Century Hook Lighthouse, the oldest working lighthouse
in Northern Europe. Discover the medieval wonders of Hook
Lighthouse. Relax and enjoy a meal in the Lighthouse café or have a
leisurely browse in the craft shop. The former keeper’s houses now
play host to visitor facilities, while retaining the elegant facades
of their late Victorian build. Facilities for the disabled are
provided in the visitors centre, but the tower itself by its nature
will not be accessible to the disabled. |
Kilmore Quay
Kilmore Quay is a village in the very south of County Wexford
located on the Atlantic Ocean. It is a small village centered around
the famous fishing harbour. The village and harbour look at over the
privately owned Saltee Islands which are important bird sanctuaries.
On the edge of the village are some fish processing plants. The main
road is lined by some quaint houses with thatched roofs. The village
of Kilmore is located a mile or two back along the R739 and
presumably was the original settlement.
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Ireland |
Rosslare
Rosslare is a seaside resort in County Wexford in south-east
Ireland. It is not to be confused with Rosslare Harbour, which is
situated 8km south of Rosslare village. It is situated 90 miles
south of Dublin. Rosslare has been a tourist resort for over 100
years. Billing itself the "Sunny South East", it prides itself on
being the sunniest spot in Ireland, and records bear this out:
Rosslare receives 300 hours more sunshine each year than the average
place in Ireland. The long sandy strand attracts swimmers and
families, while there are a number of good golf courses in the
vicinity.
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Towns and Villages in County Wexford
The next largest towns in Wexford are New Ross, Gorey and Bunclody.
Other notable towns include Adamstown, Ballycanew, Ballycullane,
Ballyhack, Bridgetown, Camolin, Campile, Castlebridge, Castlellis,
Clongeen, Clonroche, Coolgreany, Courtown Harbour, Duncannon, Ferns,
Fethard, Kilmore Quay, Kilrane, Murntown, Newbawn, Oilgate,
Piercetown, and Taghmon. |
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