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Wexford, originally a Viking town called Weissfjord, was established in the tenth century. Normans invaded the town in the late twelfth century, and built a wall around the city. Wexford became a highly successful port over the centuries that followed. During the twentieth century, however, the silting up of Wexford Harbour rendered it pretty much impassable. Passage through the harbour has been restricted to fishing boats and pleasure craft in recent years. Wexford has always been at the forefront of Irish history over the ages. Due to its geographically strategic position, it has been a constant target of invaders. The Vikings and the Normans were the earliest to arrive, and later, in 1649, Oliver Cromwell and his armies invaded Wexford town, massacring over half its population.
This city was also an important site central to the failed rebellion of 1798. In its aftermath, the heads of many of the rebellion leaders were put on display at the Wexford Bridge. Wexford went through a period of economic depression in the mid-twentieth century, but it managed to recover, and is now a modern town full of life and vibrancy. The townspeople are proud of their heritage, and they enjoy their lives to the fullest. Wexford is one of the most truly cosmopolitan towns in Ireland, as a result of its largely maritime past and waves of invaders from numerous nations.
Wexford has a moderating climate throughout the year as it is located in the North, the recommended time of the year to visit Wexford is during the summer time. This includes the month of June to end of August.
yxpJCrtvMekMost Wexford attractions are related to religion. St. Iberius Church, featuring excellent examples of Romanesque architecture, is situated on North Main Street. The twin churches at Bride Street and Rowe Street are also worth visiting. They were designed by a student of Pugin and built in the year 1858. They are both wonderful examples of nineteenth century neo-gothic church architecture. The ruins of Selskar Abbey and Westgate Tower may also interest tourists. Westgate Tower is the only surviving gate of the town wall of Wexford after the twelfth century Norman invasion of Ireland. Other portions of the wall can be seen at Mallin Street and Abbey Street.
Wexford's winding narrow Viking streets are also sights to behold, dominated by the atmospheric buzz of the town. Many lanes linking the Main Street and the Quay front are still there, Keyser's Lane being the most notable among them. It was the main road linking the quays to the town in the Viking era. The Wexford Festival Opera has attracted music fans from all over the world for almost six decades. Brand new productions are created through the collaboration of talented new directors, designers and musicians. These include orchestral and choral concerts, talks, lunchtime recitals, standup shows among others. The Festival expands to new lengths every year, providing an experience of a lifetime to all who are interested in such exhibitions of talent.
The town of Wexford is ideal for casual exploration, and it offers tourists a plethora of opportunities for just wandering about. The Quayfront has been given a facelift by the authorities, and it allows for very pleasant strolls to be taken along the bank of the River Slaney. On the quayside, an agency called Harbour Thrills provides boat trips around the Wexford Harbour, mixing the thrill of adventure with the glorious beauty of nature. You can also hire a boat at Ferrycarrig and explore the river by yourself if you feel up to it. For the more urban tourists, the Main Street and its multitude of alleyways are havens for exploring. Many interesting sights can be seen there.For golf enthusiasts, there is Wexford Golf Course, located mere minutes away from the Mulgannon town center. Garrylough, Rosslare, Rathaspeck, Blackwater and St. Helen's Bay are home to other neighbouring golf courses. The Bettyville racecourse caters to horse-racing. It is 2 kilometers outside the town of Wexford, and an approximate of ten meetings are held every year. The new Tourist Office which can be found on the Quayfront is open all the year round, and a large variety of information on various activities such as walking tours, hiking, local festivals, horse-riding, cultural events; accommodation choices and eating out can be obtained from it.
Wexford has longstanding culinary traditions. Among the town's Modern Irish/Italian/European restaurants, Forde?s (located at Crescent Quay), Mange 2 (located at Monck Street, above the Crown bar), and La Riva (another one located at Crescent Quay) are the most notable ones. The Vine restaurant on North Main Street is great if you have an appetite for Oriental delicacies. You can even observe the chefs preparing your delicious meal in the open kitchen while you marvel at the great service and vibrant atmosphere. Connoisseurs of Italian food are also catered for at two restaurants called Mukut (located at Westgate) and Spice (located at South Main Street). Robertino sells excellent pizzas.
Westgate Design (located in North Main Street) offers tasty food at low prices, and has a very busy and bustling atmosphere. La Cuisine, a neighbor of Westgate Design, also offers cheap but delicious food, but it is nearly impossible to find empty tables there. They also serve excellent white coffees. Gusto, in South Main Street, sells scrumptious Panini and various other dishes, and has a very calm and soothing atmosphere. The Centenary Stores are very good for having lunch. La Dolce Vita (located at Trimmer's Lane) is considered by many to be the best Italian restaurant in Ireland, along with the Potato Market restaurant in Crescent Quay. The chips in the Premier in South Main Street are famous amongst locals. Do not forget to try out rissoles, whirly burgers and conzers leeks, which are all Wexford?s specialties.
Wexford is home to fifty or so pubs. The Thomas Moore Tavern in Cornmarket, a true old man's pub is a crowd favourite. In Monck Street, Mackens in the Bullring, the Crown Bar has a solid reputation, and it plays music at weekends. On South Main Street, we can find Finnegans and South 51, which cater to a more urban crowd. The Sky and The Ground, situated in South Main Street, is a great old-style bar which plays modern rock music on Saturdays and traditional Irish music three nights a week. Mary?s Bar, near the Arts Centre, is another great place to visit. The Centenary Stores, Colony and Exile are the three major nightclubs of Wexford. The Centenary Stores is the most popular one among them, and it remains open quite late every night except on Mondays and Wednesdays. It offers a crowd of great variety, efficient bar staff, a smoking area and good music, although it can get a bit more crowded on Saturday nights. On the quays, the Woodenworks is a great pub. Exile is a nightclub which caters to a much younger crowd, and it is geared more for dancers than drinkers. It has a lively atmosphere, is spacious, and plays catchy tunes. It also acts as a host to many InternationalDJs and bands who often play there. Numerous other bars such as Chocolate, South 51, Finnegans and Dakota are also open until quite late.
Wexford's Main Street and its side streets are wonderful places for browsing local produce of excellent quality. These streets are a part of the ancient Viking heritage of the town, and their innumerable twists and turns, combined with the buzz of the shopping crowds and hundreds of pedestrians, provide a unique experience to any shopper. Among its produce, Wexford is particularly lauded for its fresh strawberries, and Wexford punnets are must-haves for carrying things around during the warm summer afternoons, whether there is a picnic or not! The cheese sold by Wexford Creamery is also of excellent quality, and their vintage cheddar is considered to be among their most famous products. Handcrafted jewelry and ornaments can be bought at Wexford Silver (situated in North Main Street). Westgate Design, also located in North Main Street, provides a veritable array of authentic Wexford souvenirs and crafts in its huge cavernous store at quite reasonable prices, so if you are looking for something to take home, this is the place you should be visiting. Ballyelland Pottery, located in Castlebridge, produces beautiful pieces of pottery. The shopping experience which can be obtained at Wexford is truly one-of-a-kind, and can satiate even the most stringent shoppers.
Most hotels and guesthouses in Wexford are modifying the services they provide in order to facilitate people who have disabilities. Most of the buses and trains of the city are now equipped so that they can be accessed by wheelchairs. Notable heritage spots, museums, and other places of interest are also designed so that disabled visitors can get around without having to face problems. Wexford?s train stations have portable ramps and they even provide wheelchairs to transfer people with walking difficulties to and from the trains.
The stations also have a PA system for making announcements so that even people who are visually impaired can hear them. A program has also been developed to introduce induction loops at ticket-booking offices for the hearing-impaired. In some of the stations, tactile tiles have been used to help visually impaired people. The trains themselves have wide doors and feature a large entrance area to accommodate wheelchairs. The dining car of each train has a special area to accommodate the mobility-impaired. Guide dogs and hearing dogs for disabled people can be taken into buffets and restaurants in trains, and also into buildings. The newer elevators in most buildings are equipped with Braille-coded buttons, and they speak the number of the floor upon arrival to assist the people who cannot see.