County Wexford

County Wexford () is a county in Ireland. It is in the province of Leinster and is part of the Southern Region. Named after the town of Wexford, it was based on the historic Gaelic territory of Hy Kinsella (''Uí Ceinnsealaigh''), whose capital was Ferns. Wexford County Council is the local authority for the county. The population of the county was 163,527 at the 2022 census.

History

The county is rich in evidence of early human habitation.Stout, Geraldine. "Essay 1: Wexford in Prehistory 5000 B.C. to 300 AD" in ''Wexford: History and Society'', pp 1 – 39. ''Portal tombs'' (sometimes called dolmens) exist at Ballybrittas (on Bree Hill) and at Newbawn – and date from the Neolithic period or earlier. Remains from the Bronze Age period are far more widespread. Early Irish tribes formed the Kingdom of Uí Cheinnsealaig, an area that was slightly larger than the current County Wexford.

County Wexford was one of the earliest areas of Ireland to be Christianised, in the early 5th century. Later, from 819 onwards, the Vikings invaded and plundered many Christian sites in the county.Annals of the Four Masters (A.F.M.) Vikings settled at Wexford town near the end of the 9th century.

In 1169, Wexford was the site of the invasion of Ireland by Normans at the behest of Diarmuid Mac Murrough, King of Uí Cheinnsealaig and king of Leinster (Laigin). This was followed by the subsequent colonisation of the country by the Cambro-Normans.

The native Irish began to regain some of their former territories in the 14th century, especially in the north of the county, principally under Art MacMurrough Kavanagh. Under Henry VIII,
the great religious houses were dissolved, 1536–41; in County Wexford this included Glascarrig Priory, Clonmines Priory, Tintern Abbey, and Dunbrody Abbey.

On 23 October 1641, a major rebellion broke out in Ireland, and County Wexford produced strong support for Confederate Ireland. Oliver Cromwell and his English Parliamentarian Army arrived in 1649 in the county and captured it. The lands of the Irish and Anglo-Normans were confiscated and given to Cromwell's soldiers as payment for their service in the Parliamentarian Army. At Duncannon, in the south-west of the county, James II, after his defeat at the Battle of the Boyne, embarked for Kinsale and then to exile in France.

County Wexford was the most important area in which the Irish Rebellion of 1798 was fought, during which significant battles occurred at The Battle of Oulart Hill during the 1798 rebellion. Vinegar Hill (Enniscorthy) and New Ross. The famous ballad "Boolavogue" was written in remembrance of the Wexford Rising. At Easter 1916, a small rebellion occurred at Enniscorthy town, on cue with that in Dublin. During World War II, German planes bombed Campile. In 1963 John F. Kennedy, then President of the United States, visited the county and his ancestral home at Dunganstown, near New Ross.

Geography and subdivisions

Wexford is the 13th-largest of Ireland's thirty-two traditional counties in area, and 9th-largest in terms of population. It is the largest of Leinster's 12 counties in size, and fourth-largest in terms of population. The county is located in the south-east corner of the island of Ireland. It is bounded by the sea on two sides—on the south by the Atlantic Ocean and on the east by St. George's Channel and the Irish Sea. The River Barrow forms its western boundary. The Blackstairs Mountains form part of the boundary to the north, as do the southern edges of the Wicklow Mountains. The adjoining counties are Waterford to the south-west, Kilkenny to the west, Carlow to the north-west and Wicklow in the north.

Towns and villages

*County Town: Wexford
*Market Town: Gorey

* Adamstown
* Arthurstown
* Ballycanew
* Ballycullane
* Ballyedmond
* Ballyfad
* Ballygarrett
* Ballyhack
* Ballymitty
* Ballywilliam
* Bannow
* Barntown
* Blackwater
* Bree
* Bridgetown
* Broadway
* Bunclody
* Camolin
* Campile
* Castlebridge
* Castletown
* Cleariestown
* Clohamon
* Clonroche
* Coolgreany
* Courtown
* Craanford
* Crossabeg
* Cullenstown
* Curracloe
* Duncannon
* Duncormick
* Enniscorthy
* Ferns
* Fethard-on-Sea
* Foulkesmill
* Gorey
* Hollyfort
* Inch, County Wexford, Inch
* Killinierin
* Kilmore, County Wexford, Kilmore
* Kilmore Quay
* Kilmuckridge
* Kiltealy
* Monamolin
* Monaseed
* Murrintown
* Monageer
* Monbeg
* Newbawn
* New Ross
* Oulart
* Oylegate
* Poulpeasty
* Rathangan, County Wexford, Rathangan
* Rosslare Strand, Rosslare
* Rosslare Harbour
* Raheen, County Wexford, Raheen
* Rathnure
* Saltmills
* Taghmon
* Watch House Village
* Wellingtonbridge
* Wexford

Mountains and hills

Largely low-lying fertile land is the characteristic landscape of the county. The highest point in the county is Mount Leinster at , in the Blackstairs Mountains in the north-west on the boundary with County Carlow.

Other high points:
* Black Rock Mountain, County Wexford, Black Rock Mountain, , located near the Wexford-Carlow border, within County Wexford.
* Croghan Mountain (or ''Croghan Kinsella'') on the Wexford-Wicklow border –
*Annagh Hill, , near the Wicklow border
* Slieveboy,

Notable hills include: Carrigbyrne Hill; Camross (or Camaross) Hill, ;OSI, ''Discovery Series 77''. Carrigmaistia, ; Bree Hill, ; Gibbet Hill; Vinegar Hill; Slievecoiltia; Forth Mountain, ; and Tara Hill.

Rivers and lakes

The major rivers are the River Slaney, Slaney and the River Barrow, Barrow. At in length, the river Barrow is the second-longest river on the island of Ireland. Smaller rivers of note are the Owenduff, Pollmounty, Corrock, Urrin, Boro, Owenavorragh (also spelt Ounavarra), Sow and River Bann (Wexford), Bann rivers.

There are no significant fresh-water lakes in the county. Small seaside lakes or lagoons exist at two locations – one is called Lady's Island Lake and the other Tacumshin Lake.

The ''Wexford Cot'' is a flat-bottomed boat used for fishing on the tidal mudflats in Wexford. A canoe-shaped punt fitted with a gun, called a ''float'' in Wexford, is used traditionally to shoot game birds in the North Slob mud flats.

Islands

The Saltee Islands lie offshore from Kilmore Quay, while the smaller Keeragh Islands are offshore from Bannow.

Climate

County Wexford, sometimes dubbed Ireland's "sunny southeast", has in general a higher number of hours of sunshine recorded daily than in the rest of the country.
This has resulted in Wexford becoming one of the most popular places in Ireland in which to reside. The county has a mild, but changeable, oceanic climate with few extremes. The North Atlantic Current, North Atlantic Drift, a continuation of the Gulf Stream, moderates winter temperatures. There is a Weather station, meteorological station located at Rosslare Harbour. January and February are generally the coldest months, with temperatures ranging from on average. July and August are generally the warmest months, with average temperatures ranging from in coastal areas and in inland areas. The prevailing winds blow from the south-west. Precipitation falls throughout the year. Mean annual rainfall is . Generally, the county receives less snow than more northerly parts of Ireland. Heavy snowfalls are relatively rare, but can occur. The one exception is Mount Leinster, visible from a large portion of the county, and frequently covered with snow during the winter months. Frost is frequent in winter months, less so in coastal areas.

Soil

An ice sheet covered most, but not all, of the county during the last Ice age. As the ice retreated, County Wexford would have been one of the first areas to be covered with Moraine, glacial drift (a mixture of boulders, clay, sand and gravel) that blanketed the existing bedrock. This has led to high-quality soils, suitable for a wide range of agriculture. A very detailed soil survey of the county was published in 1964 as part of the 'National Soil Survey of Ireland'. It classifies each area of the county according to its specific soil type.

Most of the county is covered with soils called ''brown earths'', described as well-drained and having a wide use-range. After that, Gley soil, ''gleys'' (poorly to imperfectly drained with a limited use-range) are the next major soil type, primarily located in the south-east of the county and east of Gorey (along the coast). Gleys are dotted elsewhere around the county in small areas, and where they occur they generally form bogland. The last major soil type, ''brown podzolics'', occur mainly near the edges of the Blackstairs Mountains, Blackstairs Mountain range and around Bunclody and in the Barony (Ireland), baronies of East Shelmalier and South Ballaghkeen. Though there are areas covered with other soil types, these are of limited extent.

Flora

Common species of tree include oak, Fraxinus, ash, Acer pseudoplatanus, sycamore, alder, Prunus spinosa, blackthorn, Crataegus monogyna, hawthorn, beech and birch. Less common (but plentiful) species include Prunus avium, wild cherry and Scots pine (also called red deal). Elm is now far less common, due to the devastating effects of Dutch elm disease. Ulex europaeus, Gorse (or furze) is very common. A priority habitat in Wexford is the grey dune, on which many native wild flora grow, including Ophrys apifera, bee orchid and pyramidal orchid. Despite the designation of much of this habitat as a Special Area of Conservation, it remains threatened by destruction for agricultural intensification. There is very little natural forest in the county. Most natural trees and vegetation grow on hedgerows.

Fauna

South-eastern Wexford is an important site for wild birds—the north side of Wexford Harbour, the North Slob, is home to 10,000 greater white-fronted goose, Greenland white-fronted geese each winter (roughly one third of the entire world's population), while in the summer Lady's Island Lake is an important breeding site for terns, especially the roseate tern. The grey heron is also seen.

Throughout the county Common pheasant, pheasant, Common wood pigeon, woodpigeon and feral pigeons are widespread. Mute swan, mallard, Common kingfisher, kingfisher, and owls (the long-eared owl, the short-eared owl, and the Western barn owl, barn owl) are less common – but plentiful. Red grouse, once common, is now extremely scarce. The species has been in decline for some decades. Threats include habitat degradation, disease, predation and over-hunting. Red grouse in Ireland are now considered threatened. The corncrake, also once very common, is now almost never seen. Smaller birds—such as crows, swallows, robins, wrens and so on—are very common. The first Eurasian magpie, magpies in Ireland were recorded by Robert Leigh, of Rosegarland, County Wexford, as having appeared in the County of Wexford about 1676.
Land mammals include European badger, badger, European rabbit, rabbit, European otter, otter, hedgehog, red fox, American mink, mink, bats, squirrels (red squirrel, red and Eastern gray squirrel, grey), rats (brown rat, brown and black rat, black – both introduced species), and Mouse, mice (Wood mouse, wood (or field) and house mouse, house). Two types of hare—the Mountain hare, Irish (or mountain) hare and the less common European hare, brown (or European) hare—are found. Hare is not nearly as common as rabbit. The stoat (''Mustela erminea hibernica'') is also reasonably common. Locally the stoat is just as often incorrectly called a weasel.

Only two types of Pinniped, seal are found on County Wexford's coast—gray seal, Atlantic grey seals are very plentiful in coastal areas; the slightly smaller Harbor seal, common (or harbour) seal is less common, yet plentiful. The ''small tortoiseshell butterfly'' (reddish-orange colour, with black markings) is the most common species of butterfly in the county. Various types of moth are also common. The common frog – the only type of frog found – is plentiful.

Governance and politics

Local government

Wexford County Council has thirty-four members. The council has three representatives on the Southern Regional Assembly, where it is part of the South-East Region, Ireland, South-East strategic planning area.

National politics

County Wexford is represented by the Dáil constituency of Wexford (Dáil constituency), Wexford (5 seats).

The county is part of the European Parliament constituency of South (European Parliament constituency), South (5 seats).

Demographics

In 2022, the county had a total population of 163,919 people. Of these, 61.4% (91,969 people) lived in rural areas and 38.6% (57,753 people) lived in urban areas. 83.8% of the population stated their religion as Roman Catholic, 7.1% other religions, and 7.5% stated they had no religion. Between 2006 and 2011, the population increased by 10%, slowing to 3% between 2011 and 2016.

Urban areas and populations

Culture

Since 1951, an opera festival, Wexford Festival Opera, takes place every year in the Theatre Royal in Wexford town and runs for several weeks. In 2008, a new Opera House replaced the old one on the same site, once called the Wexford Opera House, but in 2014 being designated as Ireland's National Opera House (Ireland), National Opera House. It consists of two theatres, the O'Reilly Theatre and the Jerome Hynes Theatre.

There is a renowned singing tradition in County Wexford. Having an abundance of traditional songs, many of which relate to the Irish Rebellion of 1798, rebellion of 1798, the county has for many years had a strong presence in the Irish traditional singing scene. Noted singers include List of All-Ireland Fleadh champions, All-Ireland Fleadh Champions Paddy Berry, Seamus Brogan and Niall Wall. Paddy Berry has also collected and published a number of songs from Wexford.

Beaches in Curracloe, County Wexford were used to film the opening scenes of the movie ''Saving Private Ryan'', which depicted the Normandy landings, D-day assault on Omaha Beach. ''The Count of Monte Cristo (2002 film), The Count of Monte Cristo'', directed by Kevin Reynolds (director), Kevin Reynolds, was partly filmed in the village of Duncannon in 2000 – Duncannon Fort being used for one of the main scenes. The movie ''Brooklyn (film), Brooklyn'' was partially set and filmed in Enniscorthy and featured some of the locals as extras. Both ''The Violent Enemy'' and ''Underground (1970 film), Underground'' were shot in and around Enniscorthy in the 1960s.

Media

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

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

Places of interest

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

Ballyteigue Burrow, located near Duncormick, is one of the finest protected sand dune systems in Ireland. Rich in wildflowers, wildlife and butterflies, this 9 km (6 mile) coastal stretch is a protected nature reserve by the golden sands of Ballyteigue Bay, with spectacular scenery.

The Hook Peninsula is noted for its many beaches and spectacular scenery. It features the medieval Hook Head lighthouse and the historic townland of Loftus Hall.

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

Other places of interest include:

*Ferns Castle and Abbey
*Enniscorthy Castle and Museum
*Battle of Vinegar Hill, Vinegar Hill
*National 1798 Visitor Centre
*Boolavogue
*The Browne-Clayton Monument
*Battle of Oulart Hill, Oulart Hill
*Castleboro House
*The Seven 'Castles' of Clonmines
*Johnstown Castle
*Dollar Bay
*Loftus Hall – Abandoned Haunted House (the first Hall was built on this site in 1350) www.loftushall.ie
*Ballyteigue Castle
*Bannow Church (dates from the 13th century)
*Selskar Abbey, Wexford town
*Irish National Heritage Park (Ferrycarrig)
*Tacumshane, Tacumshin windmill (southeast County Wexford)
*St. Mary's Church, New Ross
*Dunbrody Abbey
*Tintern Abbey
*Slade Castle
* Ballyhack Castle
*J.F. Kennedy homestead and park
*Slieve Coilte
*Wells House (Wexford, Ireland), Wells House and Gardens
*Duncannon Fort
*Saltee Islands

Economy

Agriculture

The economy is chiefly agricultural. Cattle, Domestic sheep, sheep, pig rearing and some horse breeding are the main types of Animal husbandry, husbandry practised. Poultry rearing, once popular, has very much declined. Wheat, barley, rapeseed, and oats are grown, as are potatoes. Sugar beet is no longer grown due to the withdrawal of European Union, EU Subsidy, subsidies. The numbers involved in farming have been declining for many years and many of the seasonal workers are now eastern Europeans. Mushrooms are also grown indoors. Tomatoes are grown under glass, for example at Campile.

Wexford Garden strawberry, strawberries are famous and can be bought in shops and wayside stalls throughout the summer. Every year, near the end of June, a 'Strawberry Fair' Festival takes place in the town of Enniscorthy, and a ''Strawberry Queen'' is crowned. Dairy farming forms an important part of the agricultural industry. Locally produced milk is on sale in many supermarkets. Wexford Irish Cheddar cheese, Cheddar is a brand, and Carrigbyrne, a full-flavoured soft cheese, is produced near New Ross.

Forestry

Evergreen tree species are extensively cultivated, especially in more recent years—Norway spruce and Picea sitchensis, Sitka spruce are the most common varieties planted. These are generally sown on poorer quality soils (mainly in bogs and on hills or mountainsides). A small amount of deciduous trees are also planted, though these require better soils.

Mining

Silver was once mined at Clonmines—primarily in Tudor times. Lead was mined at Caim, 1818 – c. 1850—this mine also contains zinc; the two are usually found together. Copper ore (malachite) is found at Kerloge, just south of the town of Wexford. Iron is found in small quantities at Courtown Harbour. The county is not noted for mineral reserves. No significant mining activity is currently practised, with the exception of quarrying for stone. In 2007, a significant oil find was made off Hook Head in County Wexford.

Energy

Carnsore Point made the national headlines in the late 1970s after a proposal was made to build a nuclear power, nuclear energy plant there; the plans were abandoned after extensive protests from the public, due to environmental and health concerns.
Great Island Power Station opened in 1967 and was operated by the ESB Group, Electricity Supply Board (ESB) until it was sold to Endesa (Spain), Endesa in January 2009. It is an electricity-generating station fueled by Fuel oil, heavy fuel oil and rated at 240 MW. It is located at the confluence of the rivers River Barrow, Barrow and River Suir, Suir, near Campile. Before its sale, the station was scheduled to close by 2010. Endesa propose building a 430 MW combined cycle, combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) Natural gas, gas fired plant on the site. The project would need a new gas pipeline from the existing transmission network at Baunlusk, south of Kilkenny City. A wind farm has now been built on the site, featuring 14 wind turbines generating electricity. It was completed in November 2002 and was the first wind farm on the east coast of Ireland. Wind farms now exist at a few other locations in the county, such as Ballywater Wind Farm, at Cahore (near Kilmuckridge), on the county's east coast, and Richfield wind farm, located in the southeast of the county.

Transport

* Bus: Wexford and Dublin are linked by Bus Éireann route 2 and Wexford Bus routes 740 and 740A. While route 5 operates Waterford-New Ross-Enniscorthy-Dublin. There are numerous local bus routes radiating from Wexford town to places such as Kilmore Quay, Lady's Island Lake, Lady's Island, Kilmuckridge.
* Rail: The Dublin–Rosslare railway line, Rosslare–Dublin railway line runs through the county, serving Rosslare Europort, Rosslare Strand, Wexford, Enniscorthy and Gorey. Four trains run in each direction daily (three at weekends), with additional commuter services from Gorey. The Limerick–Rosslare railway line, Rosslare–Limerick railway line which traverses the southern part of the county is now mothballed but being maintained (it served stations at Bridgetown, Wellington Bridge, Ballycullane and Campile).
* Ferry: Rosslare Europort, located at Rosslare Harbour, operates a busy ferry service. There are regular sailings to Wales (Pembroke, Pembrokeshire, Pembroke and Fishguard) and France (Cherbourg-Octeville, Cherbourg and in the summer months to Roscoff) for passengers and vehicles. There is also ferry service in operation between Ballyhack and Passage East (County Waterford), crossing the River Barrow, Barrow estuary.

Sport and events

Gaelic games

In recent years the county Gaelic football, Football team has been making rapid advances. Camogie, a women's version of hurling, is also played, and Wexford won the All Ireland in 2007, 2010, 2011 and 2012. Wexford Park is the county's main Gaelic Athletic Association, GAA pitch, holding 25,000 supporters. Also, Gaelic handball, handball is played on a limited basis; there are a number of handball alleys located throughout the county.

As a county, Wexford are most noted for hurling have won the Leinster Senior Hurling Championships a total of 21 times, first in 1890 and most recently in 2019.

In the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship, All Ireland Senior Hurling Championships, Wexford have won 6 times, first in 1910 and most recently in 1996, beating Limerick in the final.

Football

Wexford Youths F.C., formed 2007, renamed as Wexford FC in 2017, is the major football club in the county, currently playing in the League of Ireland First Division.

Golf

There are numerous golf clubs in the county – including Rosslare Golf Club, Rosslare (a Links (golf), Links course), and Enniscorthy. Two more are located near Gorey – Ballymoney Golf Club and Courtown Golf Club – are 18 hole golf courses. Bunclody Golf and Fishing Club, boasting Europe's only golf lift, is situated just inside County Carlow. There are also a few others. New Ross Golf Club, however, is actually located in County Kilkenny – about 1 km (1,000 yards) from New Ross town.

There are also many par-3 courses in the county, such as Scarke Golf Course & Driving Range, located about east of New Ross, the 'Abbey Par 3' course, at Winningtown, Fethard-on-Sea, Blackwater Par 3 Golf Course, Kilnew, Blackwater, located a few kilometres northeast of Wexford town, Garrylough Golf Course and Driving Range, Screen, and Rathaspeck Manor Golf Course, Rathaspeck, near Rosslare (there are also few Par-4 holes on this course). There are also a number of other Par-3 courses in the county.

Fishing

Maritime activity takes at various locations in County Wexford, including at Kilmore Quay and Slade, County Wexford, Slade Harbour. Common fish species include herring, mackerel, cod, monkfish, Merlangius merlangus, whiting, Bass (fish), bass, perch, Sea robin, gurnard, haddock, Mullet (fish), mullet, pollock, John Dory, Sole (fish), sole, European conger, conger eel, shad, salmon, trout, Northern pike, pike, carp, and tench. Shellfish include mussels, Cockle (bivalve), cockles, Common periwinkle, periwinkles, clams, and oysters.

Racing

Wexford Racecourse (horse racing) is in Wexford, Wexford town
and there is a Greyhound Racing track at Enniscorthy.

People

*Bunny Ahearne – president of the International Ice Hockey Federation
*Michael William Balfe, Michael Balfe – 19th-century composer, grew up in Wexford
*John Banville – novelist (2005 Booker Prize and 2013 Austrian State Prize for European Literature)
*Major Gerald Edwin Hamilton Barrett-Hamilton, G. E. H. Barrett-Hamilton – zoologist, grew up in Kilmanock
*John Barry (naval officer), John Barry – Commander United States Navy
*Paddy Berry – Traditional Irish Singers, singer, song collector and folklorist
*Wallis Bird – musician
*Des Bishop – New York-raised comedian, went to school in County Wexford
*Jim Bolger ONZ – former Prime Minister of New Zealand.
*Jim Bolger (racehorse trainer) – horse trainer.
*Myles Byrne – participant in the Irish Rebellion of 1798
*Thomas Cloney – participant in the Irish Rebellion of 1798
*John Henry Colclough – participant in the Irish Rebellion of 1798
*Eoin Colfer – best-selling writer of children's literature
*Brendan Corish – Labour Party (Ireland), Irish Labour Party leader and Tánaiste
*Richard Corish – Trade Unionist
*Gordon D'Arcy- Rugby player, Leinster Rugby, Leinster & Ireland national rugby union team, Ireland
*Tadhg Furlong- Rugby player, Leinster Rugby, Leinster & Ireland national rugby union team, Ireland
*Francis Danby – 19th-century painter
*Chris de Burgh – Argentinian-born singer-songwriter, based in County Wexford
*Pádraic Delaney – actor
*John Doran (British Army officer)
*Anne Doyle – RTÉ newsreader
*Kevin Doyle (footballer), Kevin Doyle – football player
*Mary Fitzgerald (trade unionist)
*Nicholas French – former RC Bishop of Ferns
*Nicholas Furlong (writer), Nicholas Furlong – writer, journalist and historian
*Eileen Gray – 20th-century Irish furniture designer and architect and a pioneer of the Modern Movement in architecture, raised in Enniscorthy
*Anna Maria Hall (Mrs. S.C. Hall) – 19th-century novelist, raised in Bannow
*John Harrison (VC 1857), John Harrison – recipient of the Victoria Cross
*Bagenal Harvey, Beauchamp Bagenal Harvey – participant in the Irish Rebellion of 1798
*Edward Hay (County Wexford), Edward Hay – writer of a history of the Irish Rebellion of 1798
*Herbert F. Hore, Herbert Hore – historian
*William Kehoe (businessman), William Kehoe – iron founder
*Bridget Murphy (Kennedy) – great-grandmother of John F. Kennedy (former president of the United States).
*Patrick Kennedy – great-grandfather of John F. Kennedy (former president of the United States).
*John Murphy (priest), Father John Murphy – participant in the Irish Rebellion of 1798.
*Col Joshua Nunn – veterinarian and barrister
*Aidan O'Brien – horse trainer
*Joseph O'Brien (jockey) – son of Aidan O'Brien and horse trainer, formerly jockey
*Thomas O'Connor (rancher) – Irish rancher and landowner
*Michael O'Hanrahan – Irish rebel executed for fighting in the 1916 Easter Rising.
*Chris O'Neill (YouTuber), Chris O'Neill – animator/musician and online entertainer
*Nicky Rackard – hurling player
*John Redmond – 19th- 20th-century nationalist politician
*Billy Roche – playwright
*Dick Roche – politician
*Patrick Roche (Wisconsin politician), Patrick Roche – politician
*James Ryan (Irish politician), James Ryan – politician and Irish Revolutionary
*Martin Storey – hurling player
*Colm Tóibín – novelist (2006 International Dublin Literary Award)
*Maverick Sabre – singer/songwriter
*Joseph Whitty - Irish Republicanism, Irish Republican died on Hunger Strike

Twinning

County Wexford is town twinning, twinned with the following places:
* Yanga, Veracruz, Mexico

See also

*List of towns and villages in the Republic of Ireland, List of towns and villages in Ireland
*List of abbeys and priories in the Republic of Ireland#County Wexford, List of abbeys and priories in Ireland (County Wexford)
*Lord Lieutenant of Wexford
*High Sheriff of Wexford

References

Bibliography

*Byrne, Francis J. ''Irish Kings and High Kings''. Dublin, 1973–2001
*Carlyle, Thomas. ''"Oliver Cromwell's Letters and Speeches"''. Vol. 1. New York: Wiley & Putnam, 1845
*Gerald of Wales, Cambrensis, Giraldus. ''Expugnatio Hibernica – The Conquest of Ireland''. Dublin: R.I.A., 1978
*Colfer, Billy. ''The County of Wexford''. County Wexford: Foillsitheoirí Cois Sláine, n.d. – 1980 or 1981.
*
*
*Ordnance Survey Ireland (OSi). ''Discovery Series 77 – Co Wexford (part).'' Scale 1: 50,000. Dublin: OSI, Phoenix Park, 1997.
*''The Times Atlas of the World – Reference Edition''. London: Times Books, 1995–2002.
*Whelan, K.(ed) & W. Nolan (assoc. ed.). ''Wexford: History and Society''. Dublin: Geography Publications, 1987

External links

*

Late 19th-century map of County Wexford

History Articles

County Wexford,
Leinster, Wexford
Counties of the Republic of Ireland, Wexford
Local government areas of the Republic of Ireland, Wexford