Wexford

I

Introduction

Wexford, county in Leinster province, south-eastern Republic of Ireland, bounded on the north by Wicklow, on the east and south by Wexford Bay (an inlet of St George's Channel), and on the west by Kilkenny and Carlow. Wexford has a land area of 2,351 sq km (908 sq mi).

II

Land and Resources

The terrain is mostly level except in the Blackstairs Mountains in the north-west where the highest point is Mount Leinster (796 m/2,610 ft). The Slaney is the principal river; the Barrow and the Bann also flow through the county. The county's coastline is low, irregular, and generally hazardous to navigation. Bannow Bay, Waterford harbour, and Wexford harbour are the chief inlets. There are many long, sandy beaches on the east coast, and the Hook Head peninsula on the south coast is a noted site for bird-watching, especially in winter. The grasslands and mudflats of the Wexford Slobs are among the most important ornithological sites in Ireland; the area is a wildfowl reserve and a popular habitat for wild geese—large numbers of Greenland white-fronted geese spend the winter months here each year. The Saltee Islands are one of Europe’s largest natural bird sanctuaries. The islands’ cliffs are home to over 50,000 seabirds during the summer months, including herring gulls, guillemots, razorbills, puffins, and cormorants. Our Lady’s Island, Tacumshane Lake, Ballyteigue Burrow, Carnsore Point, Bannow Bay, and the Hook Head have all been designated areas of national and international special ecological importance.

Wexford is one of the sunniest and driest Irish counties and enjoys one of the lowest rainfalls in the country, with an annual average of approximately 750 to 800 mm (30 to 31 in).

III

Population and Administration

The county has an estimated population of 102,069 (1991). The county town is Wexford (1991 population: 9,544): other towns include New Ross (5,018), Enniscorthy (4,127), and Gorey (2,193). Most people speak English (the official second language) and there are no Gaeltacht areas (areas where Irish is the first language) located in the county, although there are a few Irish (see Celtic Languages) speakers in the south-east.

Wexford is the administrative centre for the county and borough councils; there are town councils at New Ross and Enniscorthy, and Gorey is administered by a town commission.

IV

Places of Interest

Surrounded by fortified stone walls in medieval times, Wexford is now a designated heritage town. Westgate is the only surviving gate of the five that once admitted visitors to town and now houses a heritage centre, with information on the history, development, and culture of the local area. An international opera festival is held around October each year in the town. Tintern Abbey, situated on the shore of Bannow Bay, was founded in around 1200 by William Marshall. The abbey, named after Tintern in Wales, was one of the most powerful Cistercian foundations in the province until the dissolution of the monasteries in 1536.

Ballyhack Castle dates from around 1450 and is said to have been built by the Knights Hospitallers of St John. The castle stands on a steep slope overlooking Waterford estuary and is managed by Dúchas, the heritage service for the Republic of Ireland. The village of Ferrycarrig is the home of the Irish National Heritage Park, which has exhibits from all periods of Irish history. The National 1798 Centre at Enniscorthy offers information on the key events of the 1798 Rebellion of the Society of United Irishmen, with audio-visual displays and interactive exhibitions. The significant role played by the county in the uprising is examined in depth.