Growing up in Ireland, County Wexford was always renowned for being a popular holiday destination for many. Only approximately an hour and a half from Dublin it would see lots of Irish families rushing off to the beaches of Wexford for some well-deserved family fun time and relaxation. Our family was one of them! The car as always would be packed to the brim and off we would go with the excitement of visiting the south west of Ireland. When I think of those wonderful summers as a child, I think of ice cream cones (the very best in Wexford, or maybe they just tasted the best as we were on holidays!), our Mum’s ham sandwiches (always taste better with a mouthful of sand), Dad’s flask of tea (God forbid you went anywhere without a flask of tea) and the black and red picnic blanket that a family of 6 squeezed onto, all the siblings fighting for a corner.
When I think of those summer days I think of the simplicity and beauty of County Wexford.
Fast forward a few (40+) years and County Wexford is still as beautiful as ever but has so much more to offer of undiscovered natural beauty, I think I was just too young to notice or appreciate as a child. (my focus was on ice-cream cones and carefully minding my 1/6 patch of picnic blanket!) A few years ago, to celebrate our late parents 50th wedding anniversary, we were fortunate to visit Wexford as a family once last time and I got to see it through a tourist’s eyes and as a tourism professional.
We stayed in the village of Blackwater, a beautiful little village with a population of just over 300 people, 5 mins from Curracloe and about 20 minutes north of Wexford Town. With the family and extended family we opted for a self-catering house which suited our needs perfectly.
Our first stop of course was Curracloe beach which brought back so many happy memories, it did not disappoint. Famous for its soft and fine sand and sand dunes, it is one of Ireland’s Blue Flag Beaches (total of 90 on the Island of Island). It stretches for approximately 10 miles long so it is the perfect destination to grab an ice cream (whatever the weather) and take a stroll. You may recognise some of the views, as Curracloe beach was famously used in the filming of the D-Day landings scenes of the 1997 film, “Saving Private Ryan” and the more recent movie Brooklyn with Saoirse Ronan.
Rosslare Beach is another beach that has a lot of childhood memories (Back in the day -we stayed in Curracloe or the town of Rosslare, about 20 minutes south of Wexford). Rosslare Strand is also a Blue Flag Beach but more interesting is that it has been said that Rosslare receives 300 hours more sunshine each year than the average place in Ireland so it still proves a very popular destination.
Next on my most recent visit was Hook Head Lighthouse. The Hook Lighthouse is over 800 years old and is situated on Hook Head at the tip of the Hook Peninsula (about 45 minutes from Wexford town -beautiful scenic drive too). The Hook Lighthouse is the oldest original operating lighthouse in the World. It was a particularly cold day (for the month of August), which obviously isn’t that unusual in Ireland but it was busy with happy tourists and families enjoying the ancient sight. While there, enjoy a tour of the Lighthouse. On the guided tour you will climb the 115 steps of the tower where you are taken on a journey through time. You will meet some holograms along the way who will tell tales of Knights and Monks. It is worth the climb for the views, the views around Hook Head Lighthouse are breath-taking, some of the finest on the east coast. A wonderful way to blow off any unwanted cobwebs. There is also a fabulous little coffee shop which actually lies in the former lighthouse keepers houses and a little gift shop where you will find an array of wonderful Irish gifts to take home. A little piece of trivia is that Hook Head is said to have found its way into the common English usage in the saying “By Hook or by Crook”. A phrase derived from a vow made by Oliver Cromwell to take Waterford by Hook (on the Wexford side of the estuary) or by Crook (a village on the Waterford side of the estuary) ……
Just a 5-minute drive from Hook Lighthouse is Loftus Hall. An errie drive takes you to a large impressive mansion which dates back to the 1300’s. It has a very strange and almost scary feel to it as you approach and you soon find out why when you walk through the doors. Legend has it that it is haunted and many locals in fact believe it was visited by the devil himself, so they are afraid to enter after dark. (we left way before dark!!) The beautiful grounds, fascinating history and rugged backdrop of Loftus Hall add to its darkness and mystery. Boking a tour in advance is essential when you visit and if you are brave enough, book the night tour.
Next on the family trip was a visit to the beautiful harbour town of Wexford. This is the county town and is steeped in heritage and history. A heritage trail through its medieval streets shows the influence of Viking, Norman and Cromwellian invasions. Highlights of the town include Selskar Abbey, where Henry II spent six weeks of penance in 1172 for his part in the murder of St Thomas Beckett.
The state-of-the-art Opera House in the center of the town celebrates the 60-year-old Annual Opera Festival every October (not this year). Wexford Festival Opera is one of the leading opera festivals in the world, and each year attracts audiences from home and abroad who come to experience this unique celebration of this dramatic art.
There is an abundance of great coffee shop and restaurants to choose from with the town bustling with art and culture too. We dined in La Cote Restaurant, located on Custom Quay, a contemporary seafood restaurant owned and run by Michelin-trained chef Paul Hynes and his wife Edwina. We enjoyed an amazing meal (the best pavola I ever tasted!) and went for a sroll along the water afterwards……
Remember I mentioned that the sun shines more in Wexford than any other county? Well because of this (well so they say) Wexford produces the best strawberries. You’ll see them displayed on the side of the road all over the summer months and I can tell you first hand they do taste absolutely amazing.
Other highlights of Wexford include:
Dunbrody Famine Ship Experience -New Ross County Wexford – Centred on an authentic reproduction of an 1840’s emigrant vessel, it provides a world-class interpretation of the famine emigrant experience.
The Irish National Heritage Park – Located just outside Wexford Town the Irish National Heritage Park brings to life over 9000 years of Irish history. Take a journey through Pre-Historic Ireland, Early Christian Ireland and the Age of Invasion across 40 acres of magical woodland, with spectacular views across the River Slaney estuary. Explore historic buildings and settlements to see how Ireland’s earliest settlers lived, worked and fought.
JFK Arboretum – Dedicated to the memory of U.S President John F. Kennedy, the John F. Kennedy Memorial Park stretches across 623 acres, near New Ross in County Wexford. This tranquil arboretum features over 500 different rhododendron and azaleas and an internationally important collection of over 4,500 different trees and shrubs, some of which are very rare.
Where to Stay
Marlfield House -Luxury County House and Member of Ireland’s Blue Book
Monart Hotel & Spa –Five Star Deluxe Hotel and Adults Only Spa Listed in the top 1% of all hotels in the world by Trip-advisor 2020 -Just 3 Minutes from Wexford Town
Brandon House Hotel -4 STar Country Manor Hotel in New Ross, 32 minutes from Wexford Town
Talbot Hotel -4 Star Hotel in the Heart of Wexford Town
There is so much to see and do in Wexford so many hidden sights waiting to be discovered when we return to Ireland, contact us now to plan your 2021 Trip ………
