Wexford (Irish: Loch Garman) is the county town of County Wexford, on the southeast corner of Ireland. The bay that forms its harbour has for centuries drawn incomers, and it was at the centre of the rebellion of 1798. In 2022 it had a population of 21,500.
Understand
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Wexford began in the 10th century as the Viking harbour of Veisafjörðr - "Bay of the Mud Flats". A long sand spit stretched north from Rosslare to enclose the bay of Wexford Harbour: it was shallow but afforded protection for small wooden vessels. The bay also attracted other visitors: the Normans established a walled town in the late 12th century, the crusading Knights Templar had a base here, and Wexford was a major port into early modern times. Indeed it was a nest of privateers until Oliver Cromwell's forces arrived in 1649, killing not just them but most of the inhabitants. In 1798 Wexford, and the entire county, was at the centre of the United Irishmen rebellion; see County Wexford#Understand for this event which convulsed the whole of Ireland. And then came the worst of a series of famines.
By the 20th century shipping had outgrown the harbour, the whole bay was silting up, and the sand spit was eroding and losing its protective value. A new port was therefore established at Rosslare to the south; Wexford became a backwater only used by small pleasure craft and fishing boats. Agriculture and fishing remain its main industries.
Wexford Tourist Office is in the Arts Centre on Cornmarket, opposite Whites Hotel. It's open Tu-F 10AM-5PM, Sa 10AM-4PM.
Get in
[edit]By road from Dublin follow M11 south, 155 km. From Rosslare harbour follow M25 north, 19 km.
Five trains a day run from Dublin Connolly, taking 2 hr 30 min to Wexford via Dún Laoghaire, Bray, Wicklow Town, Rathdrum, Arklow, Gorey and Enniscorthy. They continue to Rosslare Strand and Rosslare Europort (for ferries daily from Wales, and in summer from Cherbourg, Roscoff and Bilbao). See Irish Rail for timetables and tickets. This is the only railway to Wexford, the line from Waterford was axed in 2010.
1 O Hanrahan Railway Station is by the river bridge. It's named for Michael O'Hanrahan (1877-1916), executed for his part in the Easter Rising.
By bus there's competition on the route from Dublin. Expressway Bus 2 runs hourly from Dublin Airport and Busáras via Arklow, Gorey and Enniscorthy, taking 3 hr to Wexford. Wexford Bus 740 also runs hourly from the airport by a similar route. Change at Gorey for buses to Wicklow Town.
Expressway Bus 40 is the Marco Polo of Ireland, trekking the width of the country from Rosslare ferry port via Wexford to Waterford, Dungarvan, Youghal, Cork, Macroom, Killarney and Tralee. The section between Wexford and Waterford runs five times a day, whereas Wexford Bus 340 is every couple of hours, both taking an hour.
Local Link Bus 387 runs from Rosslare harbour and town hourly, taking 40 min.
Wexford Bus 376 runs thrice a day from Carlow, taking 1 hr 20 min via Enniscorthy. Bus 390 runs every 2 hours from Kilmore Quay, taking 40 min.
Wexford bus station is at the railway station. It may be shown on timetables as Redmond Square.
Get around
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Wexford Bus runs two town loops, M-Sa every 30 min:
- WX1 "Drinagh Loop" runs clockwise from Redmond Square to The Quays, Drinagh Retail Park, Whitemill, Clonard Village, the Hospital and back to Redmond Square.
- WX2 "Clonard Loop" runs anticlockwise from Redmond Square to the Hospital, Clonard Village, Distillery Road, The Quays and back to Redmond Square.
Further out, Bus 877 "Bridge Loop" is clockwise from Redmond Square to the racecourse, National Heritage Park, Kyle Cross, Castlebridge and back to Redmond Square. It runs M-Sa hourly and you can buy a combined bus and Heritage Park ticket from the driver.
Route maps can be found on the TFI route mapper.
A dozen taxi firms operate in town.
See
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- Town centre retains its Viking street pattern, with the main street winding south from Selskar Abbey. Portions of the town wall remain at Abbey Street and Mallin Street, but its gatehouses have been demolished. The quays are pleasant to stroll; "keysers" were narrow alleys between quays and town in Viking times, with Keysers Lane the main thoroughfare.
- 1 Selskar Abbey was the Augustinian Priory of St Peter and St Paul. The name is Old Norse for "seal skerry", though it would be an exceptionally old Norseman who knew a time when this site was tide-washed - it's believed a Viking temple to Odin originally stood here. It was founded in its present form in 1190, dissolved in 1542 and utterly wrecked by Cromwell in 1649. There's a legend that Henry II spent Lent of 1172 at its predecessor abbey, doing penance for the murder of Thomas Becket. That's credible since Henry II was in Ireland at the time, and trying to repair the political damage caused by the murder. The gate tower added in 1300 only gave admittance to the abbey not the town (so the priests avoided tolls) but in later years was called Westgate and became confused with the former town entrance on Westgate. In 1826 the ruin was incorporated into a Protestant church, which in turn has closed. There are guided tours in July and August.
- 2 Church of St Iberius on North Main St is Anglican, with Renaissance front and attractive Georgian interior - it looks Scottish with its gallery. It's named for the fellow who preached and inspired a monastery on Beggerin Island (below), and is open Tu-Th 10AM-4PM, Su 11AM-12:30PM.
- Wexford Presbyterian Church is 100 m south of St Iberius on Anne St. It was built in 1843.
- Church of the Immaculate Conception is Roman Catholic, a sturdy 19th-century neo-gothic building. It's 100 m west of St Iberius on Rowe St Y35 KX66.
- 3 Franciscan Friary church is at 2 Francis St Y35 H793. The friary was wrecked by Cromwell but remains active, with the present church re-built in Italianate style in 1856.
- 4 Church of the Assumption on Bride St is Roman Catholic, 19th-century neo-gothic though much altered.
- 5 Irish National Heritage Park, Ferrycarrig Y35 X313, ☏ +353 53 912 0733. Daily Sep-Apr 9:30AM-5:30PM, May-Aug 9:30AM-6:30PM. Outdoor museum shows the history of Ireland from prehistory through Viking and early Celtic times to the present day. Assistance dogs only. Adult €18, child €9, conc €14.
- 6 Barntown Castle is the stump of a tower house along a back lane 5 km west of town. It's on private land but you see enough from the lane; it could pass for an artfully camouflaged electricity substation.
- 7 Johnstown Castle (Irish Agricultural Museum), Oldtown Lane Murntown Y35 HP22, ☏ +353 53 918 4671. Daily 9AM-4:30PM. The castle is a Gothic Revival mansion built in 1810. In 1945 it was given to the state in lieu of tax, and became an agricultural college and research station. The outbuildings in 1979 became the Agricultural Museum, which now has a display on the Famine. The main house was restored in 2019: one highlight is the 86-m servants' tunnel, keeping minions out of sight until they were wanted. There's an extensive park with gardens, woodlands, ornamental lakes, Gothic follies and statues, and the scenic stump of Rathlannan Castle a 15th / 16th century tower house. Castle, museum & gardens adult €18, conc €14, child €8.
- 8 Wexford Wildfowl Reserve is on North Slob, a polder of farmland reclaimed from mudflats in the 1840s and lying 2 m below sea level. Come in winter to see thousands of Greenland geese (Anser albifrons flavirostris). It's open daily 9:30AM-4:30PM, free. In 1951 it prompted the Guinness Book of Records, when the boss of Guinness was in a shooting party and argued with a companion over which game bird was the fastest in Europe. He realised there was no ready reference for this and a myriad similar questions.
- Monastery of St Ibhar is a scrappy ruin north of the Wildfowl Reserve, on what was Beggerin Island until the Slob (Irish for mud) was reclaimed. Ibar Mac Lugna or Iberius probably preceded St Patrick, but the monks of Armagh controlled the ancient manuscripts and saw to it that Patrick came first with Ibar as his disciple.
- 9 Curracloe Beach is a very long sandy beach northeast of town, 11 km away via R742. It's backed by sand dunes, and further south by the woods of Raven Nature Reserve. It was used as the location for Omaha Beach, the D-Day landing site in Normandy, in the 1998 film Saving Private Ryan. There are more sandy beaches south of town, see Rosslare.
Do
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- 1 Wexford Swimming Pool & Leisure Centre is across the bridge behind Riverbank House Hotel. It has a gym and fitness classes. Other centres in town (eg the Talbot, and Club Vitae in Clayton Whites Hotel) involve buying extended memberships.
- National Opera House is at High St Y35 FEP3. It stages opera, music and dance in two auditoriums, and is the main venue for Wexford Festival Opera, next held 15-31 Oct 2026.
- Arc Cinema is on Redmond Square by the bus and railway station.
- Gaelic games: County GAA teams play Gaelic football and hurling at 3 Wexford Park, capacity 25,000. It's on Clonard Rd 500 m west of town centre.
- Football: Wexford FC play soccer in the League of Ireland First Division, the Republic's second tier. Their stadium is 4 Ferrycarrig Park (capacity 2500) on N11 five km north of city centre. The playing season is March-Nov with games usually on Friday evening.
- 5 Wexford Golf Course is 1 km south of town centre at Mulgannon. Blue tees 5981 m, par 71. Other nearby courses are at Rathaspeck and Rosslare, and there's a driving range at Killiane Castle.
- 6 Wexford Racecourse (aka Bettyville) is 2 km west of the centre along R769 Newtown Road. It's a left-handed course of 1 mile 4 furlongs, with National Hunt (jumps) races March-Oct.
Buy
[edit]- Main Street is the pedestrianised retail strip. Several craft jewellery places, eg Wexford Silver next to Vine Restaurant.
- 1 Aldi is the main supermarket, on Trinity St. It's open M-Sa 8AM-10PM, Su 9AM-9PM.
- Tesco is on Distillery Rd Y35 AD98, open daily 8AM-10PM.
- Pettitt's SuperValu is further west, within St Aidan's Shopping Centre on Green St XC42, open M-Sa 7:30AM-9PM, Su 9AM-9PM.
- Dunnes department store is on Redmond Rd opposite the train & bus stations, open M-Sa 8AM-8PM, Su 9AM-8PM.
Eat
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- Strawberries and cream is a County Wexford specialty. In summer you can buy strawberries in punnets from roadside stalls.
- Wexford Kebab House is by Arc Cinema and the railway station, open M-Th 1-10PM, F-Su noon-10PM.
- Dragon Heen by the railway station is open M-Sa 4:30-10PM, Su 1-10PM.
- Sealord is an Indian in Redmond Square by the station, open daily 4:30-10PM.
- Mi Asian Street Food is next door on Redmond Square, open daily 12:30-10PM.
- The Old Granary is north side of the Abbey at 10 Westgate Y35 FW95, open W Th 5-9PM, F-Su noon-3PM, 5-9PM.
- Charred, Trimmers Lane West Y35 VH93 (by Abbey entrance), ☏ +353 53 912 2928. Su-Th 1-9PM, F Sa 1-10PM. Burgers and similar fast food.
- 1 Vine Restaurant, 109 North Main St Y35 X7PH, ☏ +353 53 912 2388. Th-Su 5:30-9:30PM. This Thai restaurant gets great reviews for food and service.
- Copper Chimney is an Indian restaurant opposite Vine, at 90 North Main St Y35 T18F. It's open Tu-Su 4:30-10:30PM.
- La Cuisine, 80 North Main St Y35 EY19 (50 m south of Copper Chimney), ☏ +353 53 912 4986. M-Sa 9AM-5PM. Deli cafe, decent food but limited seating.
- Spice, Monck St Y35 XC95 (by Crown Quarter), ☏ +353 53 912 2011. Daily 5-10PM. Mostly South Indian style.
- 2 Ramen Wexford, Common Quay St Y35 EK88, ☏ +353 53 917 4789. Su-Th 1-8PM, F Sa 1-9PM. Serves good Asian food.
- 3 La Côte, Custom House Quay Y35 C2FK, ☏ +353 53 912 2122. Tu-Sa 5:30-10:30PM. Great seafood, the tasting menu is especially good value.
- Cappuccinos, 25 North Main St Y35 X978 (facing St Iberius), ☏ +353 53 912 3669. M-Sa 8AM-5PM, Su 10AM-5PM. Pleasant central cafe.
- Westgate Design, 22a North Main St Y35 NX37 (50 m south of St Iberius). M-Sa 8AM-6PM. Restaurant and cafe within Westgate Design shopping mall.
- 4 Rob's Ranch House, 17 South Main St Y35 P237, ☏ +353 53 912 3334. M-Sa 10:30AM-8:30PM, Su 12:30-7PM. They do trad breakfasts, Tex Mex, pizza, burgers, wraps and the like.
- 5 Simon's Place, 37 South Main St Y35 H725, ☏ +353 53 918 0041. W-Sa 9:30AM-12:30PM, Su 11AM-11PM. Pub with trad food and Yellowbelly Brewery.
- Premier is a fish & chips takeaway at 104 South Main St Y35 H63F opposite Bugler Doyle's, open daily 4-9PM.
- Stable Diet, 100 South Main St Y35 EE78 (50 m south of Bugler Doyle's), ☏ +353 53 914 9012. M-Sa 8:30AM-5PM Su 9:30AM-4PM. Cafe and patisserie serves great coffee, cakes and lunches.
Drink
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- Maggie May's is on Monck St opposite Crown Quarter, open M-Sa 10:30AM-11:30PM, Su noon-11PM.
- Mackens (aka Cape Bar or The Undertaker) is on the Bull Ring, open M-Sa 10:30AM-11PM, Su 1-11PM.
- Bugler Doyles is on South Main St, see Sleep.
- The Sky and The Ground, 112 South Main St Y35 C65F (20 m south of Bugler Doyles), ☏ +353 53 912 1273. Su-Th 3-11:30PM, F Sa 3PM-12:30AM. Atmospheric pub with a great selection of ales.
Sleep
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- 1 Talbot Hotel Wexford, Trinity St Y35 FP9P, ☏ +353 53 912 2566. Modern hotel in a converted waterfront warehouse, with spa and swimming pool. B&B double €100.
- 2 Whites of Wexford (formerly Clayton Whites), Abbey Street Y35 C5PF, ☏ +353 53 912 2311. Central hotel in an 18th-century building, clean welcoming and efficient, with spa and pool. Assistance dogs only. Underground car park (max height 2 m) has 250 spaces. B&B double €160.
- Abbey House is a B&B at 34 Abbey St Y35 RX86 opposite Whites.
- Crown Quarter is a budget hotel behind Whites at Monck St XVE0.
- 3 The Blue Door, 18 Lower George's St Y35 ET88, ☏ +353 53 912 1047. Welcoming B&B in a Georgian townhouse, open year-round.
- 4 Bugler Doyle's, 83 South Main St Y35 FV48, ☏ +353 53 912 2261. Lively pub, has rooms but not the place for peaceful sleep. B&B double €110.
- 5 Riverbank House Hotel, Ferrybank South Y35 AH33, ☏ +353 53 912 3611. Friendly budget place, good dining, some rooms small and tired. B&B double €90.
- Ferrybank Caravan and Camping Park, Tincone, Ferrybank Y35 PP64 (behind Riverbank House and pool), ☏ +353 53 918 5256. Clean quiet place open year-round, 1 km walk across bridge to town. Camping €12 ppn, caravan €25.
- 6 Ferrycarrig Hotel, Ferrycarrig Y35 Y9TA, ☏ +353 53 912 0999. Pleasant efficient hotel with views over the Slaney estuary. B&B double €120.
- 7 New Park Hotel (formerly Maldron), Ballindinas Y35 E8KT, ☏ +353 53 917 2000. Boxy modern place at edge of town, scores well for comfort and service. With leisure centre and pool. Some traffic noise. B&B double €100.
- 8 Whitford House Hotel, New Line Rd Y35 WD3C, ☏ +353 53 914 3444. Great reviews for this well-run edge of town hotel. With leisure club and pool. B&B double €110.
Connect
[edit]As of Dec 2025, Wexford and its approach roads have 5G from all Irish carriers.
Go next
[edit]- Enniscorthy was the stronghold of the 1798 rebellion, commemorated in the National 1798 Centre and on Vinegar Hill.
- Rosslare harbour is industrial and restricted, but the Strand a few km north is an attractive beach.
- Kilmore Quay has boat trips to Great Saltee Island, a nature reserve.
- Fethard-on-Sea is the main village on the scenic Hook Peninsula.
- New Ross has the Dunbrody replica emigrant sailing ship, the JFK Arboretum, and the Kennedy dynasty's ancestral homestead.
| Routes through Wexford |
 Dublin ← Gorey ←
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N  S
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→ ENDS AT ROUNDABOUT WITH 
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| Waterford ← New Ross ← | W  SE
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→ Rosslare
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