Local Attractions
The Hook Peninsula and Lighthouse
The Visitor Centre at Hook Lighthouse is at the tip of the Hook Peninsula, Lonely Planet describes it as one of the top 14 attractions in Ireland. The centre offers guided tours of the lighthouse tower, one of the oldest operational lighthouses in the world.
The lighthouse is a 13th Century Norman structure, built by the Earl of Pembroke as part of the development of his Lordship of Leinster, culminating with the spectacular view from the balcony.
Relax by the sea and keep an eye out for seals, dolphins and even whales - check out this youtube video of humpbacks off the hook! In clear weather, you can see for miles, and in a storm the spray often reaches the top of the lighthouse!
Location: Hook Head
W: http://www.hooktourism.com/ www.hookheritage.ie
T: +353 (0) 51 397054
Sat Nav: N: 52.124875 W: -6.930615
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Irish National Heritage Park
A visit to the Irish National Heritage Park is like no other you can imagine. Surprises await around every turn as you explore 35 acres of this remarkable heritage trail. From campsite to Ringfort, from mill to Fulacht Fiadh, from Crannog to Viking house, every activity is an unexpected adventure into 9,000 years.
The world you enter is an authentic recreation of Ireland’s heritage. Homesteads, places of ritual, burial modes and long forgotten remains will enlighten the casual visitor and interest the scholar.YouTube Video of the Heritage Park
Location: Ferrycarrig
W: www.inhp.com
T: +353 (0) 53 912 0733
Sat Nav: N: 52.348 W: -6.51673
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Johnstown Castle and Irish Agricultural Museum
The harmony between great Victorian revival castles and their surrounding ornamental grounds is rarely seen to such perfection as at Johnstown Castle.
The mature woodlands and lakes of this demesne provide the perfect setting for this turreted, battlemented and machicolated castle of gleaming silver-grey ashlar, built for the Grogan Morgan family between 1810 and 1855 and incorporating part of a more ancient castle.
The Irish Agricultural Museum is a premier cultural institution within the South East. It showcases country life and displays a vast array of artefacts relating to a bygone era including carts, ploughs, country dressers and sugan chairs. YouTube video of Johnstown Castle.
Location: Johnstown Castle Estate
W: www.irishagrimuseum.ie/johnstown_castle_estate/johnstown_castle.htm
Sat Nav: N: 52.17782 W: -6.30355
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Enniscorthy Castle
Recently renovated and refurbished, Enniscorthy Castle explores the development of the castle and town from its earliest 12th Century Anglo-Norman origins, through the 16th century, with recreations of the rooms of Mr. Henry J. Roche and his family who lived there from 1903 to 1951. The exhibitions also explore the 1916 Rising in Enniscorthy and the work of Irish furniture designer and architect Eileen Gray born in 1878 just outside Enniscorthy.
The roof of the castle is also accessible, with spectacular views of the surrounding buildings, Vinegar Hill, and countryside.
Location: Town centre, Enniscorthy.
W :http://www.enniscorthycastle.ie/
T : 353 (0) 53 92 34699
Sat Nav: 52.501479,-6.567233
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dunbrody Famine Ship and Irish Emigration Experience
The Dunbrody was a 19th Century three-masted sailing ship that brought many emigrants from Ireland to North America during and after the Great Famine. An exact replica of this 176ft long 19th century ship was constructed and completed in 2001. Today she rests at the New Ross quay beside a fascinating state-of-the -art visitor centre. YouTube Video of the Dunbrody.
Location: New Ross.
W: http://www.dunbrody.com/
T: +353 (0)51 425239
Sat Nav: N: 52.393823,-6.947855
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Extreme Adventure at Gravity Forest Park
Gravity Forest Park boasts the largest adventure ropes courses in Ireland. With varying levels, get ready for Aerial Trekking, Zip Wires, Climbing Walls and more! Courtown itself is a fantastic family friendly resort - great beaches, walks and activities. See the Courtown harbour website for more information.
Most of the activities are all inclusive and are suitable and accessible for wheel chair users. Height restriction of 1.3 meters or taller and maximum weight of 120kg applies to all activities. Check out Gravity park on YouTube
Location : Courtown, Gorey
W: http://www.gravityforestpark.ie/index.php
T: +353 (0) 539424849
Sat Nav: 52.645433,-6.22766
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kilmore Quay and the Saltee Islands
Kilmore Quay is a beautiful small fishing village 20km from Wexford town noted for it's white washed thatched cottages and relaxed and friendly atmosphere.
A favourite with anglers, wildlife lovers and families, fishing boats ferry day trippers out to the Saltees Islands from the quay. The Islands were once a magnet for pirates and smugglers but are now home to hundreds of gannets, puffins and seals! Kilmore is famous for producing some of the best and freshest seafood in the country.
Location: Kilmore Quay, Wexford.
W: http://www.kilmorequayweb.com/ www.salteeislands.info
Sat Nav: 52.172642,-6.590209
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
National 1798 Visitor Centre and Vinegar Hill
This distinctive centre is located just off the N30 and N11 in the shadow of Vinegar Hill, beside the picturesque river Slaney and just 500 meters from the thriving market town of Enniscorthy. The Centre tells the epic and heroic tale of the 1798 Rebellion and its aftermath using the latest multi-media and interactive exhibits. A spectacular audio-visual presentation places the story in an international context and state-of-the-art exhibition techniques are used to give visitors a glimpseof our fascinating journey to modern democracy.
Vinegar Hill has an iconic view of Enniscorthy and was the location during the Rebellion of 1798 where Irish insurgents, led by Father Murphy, encamped on the hill and flew their banner from the windmill. The shell of the windmill remains today.
Location: Enniscorthy
W: http://www.1798centre.ie/index.htm
T: +353 (0) 53 923 7596
Sat Nav: N: 52.49675529 W: -6.569405
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
JFK Park & Arboretum
Dedicated to the memory of John Fitzgerald Kennedy, President of the United States from 1960 to 1963, the Arboretum is a plant collection of international standing.
It covers 252 hectares (623 acres) on the southern slopes and summit of Slievecoiltia. It contains 4,500 types of trees and shrubs from all temperate regions of the world, planted in botanical sequence. There are 200 forest plots grouped by continent.
Special features include an Ericaceous Garden, (with 500 different rhododendrons, and many varieties of azaleas and heathers), dwarf conifers, hedges, ground covers and climbing plants. The lake is the most popular part of the Arboretum, and is a haven for waterfowl.
A road provides access to the 271m summit from which there are panoramic views. A Visitor Centre houses exhibitions and an audio visual show.
Location: 12 km south of New Ross
W: http://www.heritageireland.ie/en/south-east/thejohnfkennedyarboretum/
T: +353 (0)51 388171
Sat Nav: 52.319261,-6.934819
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wexford Wildfowl Reserve
Wexford Harbour and its Slobs are natural havens for birds. Located on the south-east coast of Ireland, they are the closest point for birds migrating into or out of Ireland from Britain and the Continent from a southerly direction.
Waders and wildfowl in particular are attracted to the area where the flat landscape and the wide shallow harbour with its sandbars and mud banks provide safe areas to feed, loaf, roost and breed.
From early October through to the middle of April, the North and South Slobs and the Harbour are home to thousands of ducks, geese, swans and waders making this a site of major international importance for wildfowl and waders. In addition, during spring and autumn, large numbers of birds on migration stop to feed in these rich areas.
It's a short drive to the stunning Raven Nature Reserve - a beautiful place for a walk or cycle through mature pine forest growing on old sand dunes parallel to the sea.
Location: Wexford
W: www.wexfordwildfowlreserve.ie
T: 353 (0) 53 912 3406
Sat Nav: 52.35960, -6.41720
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ferns Castle and Village
Ferns Castle was built in the 13th century, possibly by William, Earl Marshall. Originally, the castle formed a square, with large corner towers. Now, only half of the castle now remains. The most complete tower contains a fine circular chapel, with carved ornaments. The tower also has several original fireplaces and a vaulted basement. Archaeological excavations revealed a rock-cut ditch outside the castle walls.
Ferns itself has a fascinating history and was once the capital of Leinster - that legacy can be seen all around the village.
Location: Ferns
W: www.heritageireland.ie/en/South-East/FernsCastle/ www.fernsvillage.ie
T:+353 (0) 53 936 6411
Sat Nav: N: 52.59057521 W: -6.49993
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wexford Opera House
Wexford Opera House is Ireland’s first custom-built, multi-purpose opera house. The stunning landmark building is nestled in the heart of the beautiful Harbour town of Wexford and offers two diverse performance spaces, The John and Aileen O’Reilly Theatre and the Jerome Hynes Theatre.
It offers a wide range of entertainment, from light opera to popular culture, amateur drama, top comedy acts and international tours.
Location: High Street, Wexford
W: www.wexfordoperahouse.ie
T: +353 (0) 53 912 2144
Sat Nav: 52.33801, -6.46238