County Wexford facts for kids

Quick facts for kids County Wexford Contae Loch Garman
County
Coat of arms
Nickname(s):  The Model County
Motto(s):  Exemplar Hiberniae  (Latin) "An example to Ireland" "Sampla na hÉireann"
Location in Ireland
Country	Ireland
Province	Leinster
Region	Southern
Established	1210
County town	Wexford
Area
• Total	2,367 km2 (914 sq mi)
Area rank	13th
Highest elevation (Mount Leinster)	794 m (2,605 ft)
Population  (2022)
• Total	163,527
• Rank	14th
• Density	69.086/km2 (178.93/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC±0 (WET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+1 (IST)
Eircode routing keys	Y21, Y25, Y34, Y35 (primarily)
Telephone area codes	051, 052, 053, 056 (primarily)
Vehicle index mark code	WX

County Wexford (Irish: Contae Loch Garman) is a county in Ireland. It is located in the Leinster province and is part of the Southern Region. The county is named after the town of Wexford. It was once the historic Gaelic area of Hy Kinsella (Uí Ceinnsealaigh), with Ferns as its main town. Wexford County Council is the local government for the county. In 2022, about 163,527 people lived here.

History of County Wexford

Enniscorthy Castle

Wexford town around 1800.

County Wexford has many signs of early human life. Ancient tombs called dolmens from the Stone Age can be found at Ballybrittas and Newbawn. There are also many remains from the Bronze Age. Early Irish tribes formed the Kingdom of Uí Cheinnsealaig, which was a bit larger than today's County Wexford.

Christianity and Viking Invasions

Wexford was one of the first parts of Ireland to become Christian in the early 400s. Later, starting in 819, Vikings attacked and looted many Christian sites. Vikings settled in Wexford town by the late 800s.

Norman Arrival and English Rule

In 1169, the Normans invaded Ireland through Wexford. This happened because Dermot MacMurrough, the King of Leinster, asked for their help. After this, the Cambro-Normans began to settle in the country.

During the 1300s, the native Irish started to take back some of their lands, especially in the north of the county. This was led by Art MacMurrough Kavanagh. Under King Henry VIII, many religious houses like Glascarrig Priory and Tintern Abbey were closed between 1536 and 1541.

Rebellions and Important Visits

A big rebellion started in Ireland on October 23, 1641, and County Wexford strongly supported it. In 1649, Oliver Cromwell and his English Parliamentarian Army took control of the county. The lands of the Irish and Anglo-Normans were taken and given to Cromwell's soldiers.

County Wexford was a very important place during the Irish Rebellion of 1798. Major battles happened at The Battle of Oulart Hill, Vinegar Hill (near Enniscorthy), and New Ross. The famous song "Boolavogue" was written to remember the Wexford Rising.

In 1916, a small rebellion happened in Enniscorthy town, at the same time as the Easter Rising in Dublin. In 1963, John F. Kennedy, who was the President of the United States, visited the county and his family's old home in Dunganstown, near New Ross.

Geography and Landscape

County Wexford is the 13th largest of Ireland's 32 traditional counties by size. It is the largest county in the province of Leinster. The county is in the southeast corner of Ireland. It has the Atlantic Ocean to the south and the Irish Sea to the east. The River Barrow forms its western border. The Blackstairs Mountains and the southern parts of the Wicklow Mountains are to the north. Wexford borders County Waterford, County Kilkenny, County Carlow, and County Wicklow.

Towns and Villages in Wexford

The county town is Wexford. The main market town is Gorey. Here are some of the towns and villages in County Wexford:

Mountains and Hills in Wexford

Mount Leinster, the highest point in County Wexford.

Wexford's landscape is mostly low, fertile land. The highest point is Mount Leinster at 795 meters (2,608 feet). It is part of the Blackstairs Mountains in the northwest, on the border with County Carlow.

Other high points include:

• Black Rock Mountain, 599 meters (1,965 feet)
• Croghan Mountain (or Croghan Kinsella), 606 meters (1,988 feet)
• Annagh Hill, 454 meters (1,490 feet)
• Slieveboy, 420 meters (1,378 feet)

Some notable hills are Carrigbyrne Hill, Camross Hill, Carrigmaistia, Bree Hill, Gibbet Hill, Vinegar Hill, Slievecoiltia, Forth Mountain, and Tara Hill.

Rivers, Lakes, and Islands

The Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Bridge, Ireland's longest, crosses the River Barrow near New Ross.

The two main rivers are the Slaney and the Barrow. The River Barrow is Ireland's second-longest river at 192 kilometers (119 miles). Smaller rivers include the Owenduff, Pollmounty, Corrock, Urrin, Boro, Owenavorragh, Sow, and Bann.

There are no large freshwater lakes in the county. However, there are small seaside lakes or lagoons called Lady's Island Lake and Tacumshin Lake.

The Saltee Islands are about 5 kilometers (3 miles) offshore from Kilmore Quay. The smaller Keeragh Islands are about 1.5 kilometers (1 mile) offshore from Bannow.

Wexford's Climate

Curracloe Beach, known for its sunny weather.

County Wexford is often called Ireland's "sunny southeast" because it gets more sunshine than most of the country. This makes it a popular place to live. The county has a mild and changing oceanic climate without extreme temperatures. The North Atlantic Current helps keep winter temperatures moderate.

January and February are usually the coldest months, with temperatures from 4 to 9°C (39-48°F). July and August are the warmest, with temperatures from 13 to 19°C (55-66°F) near the coast and 12 to 22°C (54-72°F) inland. Winds usually blow from the southwest. Rain falls throughout the year, with an average of 800 to 1200 mm (31-47 inches) annually. Heavy snow is rare, but Mount Leinster often has snow in winter. Frost is common in winter, especially away from the coast.

Soil and Nature

Most of County Wexford was covered by an ice sheet during the last Ice age. When the ice melted, it left behind a mix of rocks, clay, sand, and gravel called glacial drift. This created rich soils that are good for farming.

The most common soil type is brown earths, which are well-drained and useful for many things. Gleys are the next most common, found mostly in the southeast and east of Gorey. These soils are poorly drained and often form bogland.

Common trees include oak, ash, sycamore, alder, blackthorn, hawthorn, beech, and birch. Gorse is also very common. Wexford has a special habitat called the grey dune, where many wild flowers grow, like the bee orchid. There are not many natural forests; most trees grow in hedgerows.

Wildlife in Wexford

Southeastern Wexford is an important place for wild birds. The North Slob (north of Wexford Harbour) is home to about 10,000 Greenland white-fronted geese each winter. This is about one-third of the world's population! In summer, Lady's Island Lake is a key breeding spot for terns, especially the roseate tern.

You can often see pheasants, woodpigeons, and feral pigeons throughout the county. Mute swans, mallards, kingfishers, and owls are also present. The red grouse, once common, is now very rare. The corncrake is also almost never seen anymore. Smaller birds like crows, swallows, and robins are very common.

Land mammals include badgers, rabbits, otters, hedgehogs, red foxes, mink, bats, squirrels, rats, and mice. There are two types of hares: the Irish hare and the less common brown hare. The stoat is also quite common.

Two types of seals live on Wexford's coast: Atlantic grey seals are very common, and the slightly smaller common (or harbour) seal is also plentiful. The small tortoiseshell butterfly is the most common butterfly in the county. Various types of moths are also common. The common frog is plentiful.

People and Population

In 2022, County Wexford had a population of 163,919 people. About 61.4% lived in rural areas, and 38.6% lived in towns. Most people (83.8%) said they were Roman Catholic. Between 2006 and 2011, the population grew by 10%, and by 3% between 2011 and 2016.

Main Towns and Their Populations

Culture and Arts

The "Pikeman" statue in Wexford town, remembering the 1798 Rebellion.

Since 1951, the Wexford Festival Opera takes place every year in Wexford town. In 2008, a new building called the National Opera House replaced the old one. It has two theaters, the O'Reilly Theatre and the Jerome Hynes Theatre.

County Wexford is known for its singing traditions. Many traditional songs are about the Irish Rebellion of 1798. Singers like Paddy Berry, Seamus Brogan, and Niall Wall are well-known. Paddy Berry has also collected and published many Wexford songs.

The opening scenes of the movie Saving Private Ryan, showing the D-day assault, were filmed on beaches in Curracloe, County Wexford. Part of The Count of Monte Cristo was filmed in Duncannon in 2000. The movie Brooklyn (film) was partly set and filmed in Enniscorthy, with some locals as extras.

Media and News

Two radio stations are based in the county: South East Radio and Beat 102-103.

The main newspapers for the county include Wexford People, New Ross Standard, Gorey Guardian, and Enniscorthy Echo.

Places to Visit

The scenic Bannow Drive is a popular route for tourists. It goes through four Wexford villages: Duncormick, Cullenstown, Bannow, and Wellingtonbridge.

Ballyteigue Burrow, near Duncormick, has one of Ireland's best protected sand dune systems. It is full of wildflowers, wildlife, and butterflies. This 9 km (6 mile) coastal area is a protected nature reserve.

The Hook Peninsula is famous for its many beaches and beautiful views. It has the old Hook Head lighthouse and the historic Loftus Hall.

Popular beaches are found at Courtown, Curracloe, Carnsore Point, Duncannon, and Rosslare Strand.

Other interesting places to see:

Economy and Industry

Farming in Wexford

Cattle grazing near Duncormick.

The economy of County Wexford is mainly based on farming. Farmers raise cattle, sheep, pigs, and some horses. Growing wheat, barley, rapeseed, and oats is also common, as are potatoes.

Wexford strawberries are very famous and can be bought in shops and roadside stalls during summer. Every year in late June, a 'Strawberry Fair' Festival happens in Enniscorthy, where a Strawberry Queen is crowned. Dairy farming is also a big part of the farming industry. You can find local milk in many supermarkets. Wexford Irish Cheddar is a well-known cheese brand, and Carrigbyrne, a soft cheese, is made near New Ross.

Forestry and Trees

Many evergreen trees are grown, especially in recent years. Norway spruce and Sitka spruce are the most common types planted. These are usually grown on poorer soils, like in bogs or on hills. Some deciduous trees are also planted, but they need better soil.

Energy Production

Ballywater Wind Farm near Kilmuckridge, the largest wind farm in County Wexford.

Carnsore Point was in the news in the late 1970s because there was a plan to build a nuclear energy plant there. However, the plans were stopped after many public protests due to environmental and health worries.

The Great Island Power Station opened in 1967. It uses heavy fuel oil to make electricity. A wind farm with 14 wind turbines has now been built on the site. It was finished in 2002 and was the first wind farm on Ireland's east coast. Other wind farms now exist in the county, such as Ballywater Wind Farm near Kilmuckridge.

Transportation

• Bus: Bus Éireann route 2 connects Wexford and Dublin. Route 5 goes from Waterford to New Ross, Enniscorthy, and Dublin. There are also many local bus routes from Wexford town to places like Kilmore Quay and Kilmuckridge.
• Rail: The Rosslare–Dublin railway line runs through the county, stopping at Rosslare Europort, Rosslare Strand, Wexford, Enniscorthy, and Gorey. Four trains run each way daily.
• Ferry: Rosslare Europort, at Rosslare Harbour, has busy ferry services. There are regular trips to Wales (Pembroke and Fishguard) and France (Cherbourg and Roscoff in summer) for people and vehicles. There is also a ferry between Ballyhack and Passage East (County Waterford), crossing the Barrow estuary.

Sports and Events

Gaelic Games

Wexford is well-known for hurling. The county has won the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship 21 times, first in 1890 and most recently in 2019. In the All Ireland Senior Hurling Championships, Wexford has won 6 times, with the last win in 1996.

Camogie, a women's version of hurling, is also played. Wexford won the All Ireland in camogie in 2007, 2010, 2011, and 2012. Wexford Park is the county's main GAA pitch, holding 25,000 fans.

Football

Wexford Youths F.C., formed in 2007 and renamed Wexford FC in 2017, is the main football club in the county. They play in the League of Ireland First Division.

Golf

The colorful lodge at the entrance to Rathaspeck Manor golf course.

There are many golf clubs in the county, including Rosslare (a Links course) and Enniscorthy. Two more are near Gorey: Ballymoney Golf Club and Courtown Golf Club. Bunclody Golf and Fishing Club has Europe's only golf lift.

Fishing

The Marina at Kilmore Quay.

Fishing happens in many places in County Wexford, like Kilmore Quay and Slade Harbour. Common fish include herring, mackerel, cod, monkfish, whiting, bass, perch, gurnard, haddock, mullet, pollock, John Dory, sole, conger eel, shad, salmon, trout, pike, carp, and tench. Shellfish like mussels, cockles, periwinkles, clams, and oysters are also found.

Racing

Wexford Racecourse (for horse racing) is in Wexford town. There is also a Greyhound Racing track in Enniscorthy.

Famous People from Wexford

See also

In Spanish: Condado de Wexford para niños