Things to do in Wexford | Ireland’s sunny south eastern county
Do you like to head west to the Emerald Isle but dread the wild Atlantic weather?
Finding a holiday destination in Ireland that offers heritage, adventure and reliable weather can seem like a roll of the dice.
This article explains the definite reasons why the “Sunny South East” is the ideal destination to add to your trip, breaking down the things to do in Wexford by region and seasonal timing.
The historic heart and town culture
Housing more than 9,000 years of human history from early Viking days to the grand Victorian era, Wexford Town and its surrounding historic sites preserve their past.
Irish National Heritage Park Selskar Abbey
The Irish National Heritage Park is a reconstruction of ancient Ireland located just outside the main hub in Ferrycarrig and includes the Viking houses, crannogs and reconstructed ringforts.
In the heart of Wexford Town you can stroll through the ruins of Selskar Abbey, which is a fascinating historic site and the site of the signing of the first Anglo-Irish treaty.
Johnstown Castle Estate and the Wexford garden trail
Johnstown Castle Estate is one of the highlight attractions of the Wexford Garden Trail and is one of the most beautiful examples of the Gothic Revival style of architecture in the country with its magnificent 19th-century Gothic Revival façade and three ornamental lakes and immaculate grounds.
The estate is also home to the Irish Agricultural Museum, where it’s quite possible to spend the entire day scanning and exploring content of various depths for its natural and historical interests.
Dunbrody Famine Ship & The JFK Connection
Dunbrody Famine Ship offers a world-class interpretation and an incredibly moving account of the emigrant experience in an original 1840s ship.
The Kennedy Homestead, the birth home of President John F. Kennedy, is just a few minutes’ drive away and is dedicated to the strong link between the region and the United States.
National Opera House and festivals
Every autumn, Wexford Town becomes a cultural powerhouse with the modern, acoustic jewel that is the National Opera House at its heart.
Every October, the world-famous Wexford Festival Opera presents itself, reviving music that has been forgotten or neglected and attracting international audiences.
Why are Wexford’s blue flag beaches and wildlife so special?
The county has a vast 250 km long coastline that ranges from award-winning sandy shorelines to pristine island sanctuaries. It makes it one of Ireland’s most diverse and well-preserved coastal regions.
Curracloe Beach & The East Coast
Curracloe Beach is consistently voted as one of the best beaches along the coast of Ireland and is renowned for its large stretches of golden sand dunes and calm, safe waters.
It is so different and unique that it was the exact same shore used by director Steven Spielberg to shoot the intense and iconic D-Day landing sequence in Saving Private Ryan.
Saltee Islands (The Puffin Seasonality Gap)
The Saltee Islands are an internationally protected wild bird sanctuary which is accessible only by a passenger ferry (it takes 20 minutes to get there from Kilmore Quay, a traditional fishing village).
The Puffin Gap: Puffin spotting is a general summertime activity in many guides, however these iconic birds are very seasonal and only nest on the cliffs from mid-May to mid-July before heading back out to sea.
Wexford Strawberries and local eats
Local farmers grow the sweetest strawberries that can be found on the island because of the soft, sunny microclimate of the southeast.
Fresh punnets can be picked up from the traditional roadside huts in summer, while seafood lovers can taste refined seafood at local town favourites, such as La Côte Seafood Restaurant.
The active trail and iconic peninsulas
Pack up your hiking shoes and go for a hike, kayak, or explore the coast. It’s a prime area for active travellers.
The Hook Peninsula (Lighthouse, Dollar Bay & Loftus Hall)
On the Hook peninsula it is important to plan a trip in a geographical order to prevent over-exertion between the island’s iconic landmarks, which are closely packed together.
The star of the peninsula is the magnificent Hook Lighthouse, a black-and-white striped lighthouse that is the world’s oldest intact operational lighthouse.
On the tour, you can enjoy a sunbathe at the sheltered Dollar Bay, visit historic Duncannon Fort and see the haunting exterior of Loftus Hall, Ireland’s most famous haunted house.
Forth mountain and Vinegar Hill walks
For scenic biking, hiking or walking, take in the views of Forth Mountain and its Cambrian quartzite tracks, just outside of Wexford Town, for a ten-kilometre walk.
Instead, a brief stroll up Vinegar Hill in Enniscorthy offers a small-scale but completely historical view of the River Slaney, where the great battle of the 1798 Rebellion took place.
