History

The history of Wexford dates back to pre-Christian times, with Gaelic invaders attacking and conquering the south-east naming the area Uí Cheannselaig about 350 BC. However, they did not inhabit the sea flats near the present day town of Wexford. In 2AD Ptolemy drew maps which showed a settlement in the location of the present day Wexford Town.

In the late eighth and early ninth centuries, raids by the Vikings began. In 819 Vikings raided the Wexford area and later set up a trading post. In 839 Viking Attacks are reported at Ferns, Co. Wexford. These Vikings were mainly Norwegians and Wexford takes its name from the Norse "Waesfjord - the fjord of the flats".

A second period of intensified Viking raids began in the early-mid tenth century as settlements began to be established. These Viking trading towns and their populations were gradually absorbed into the social and political system that surrounded them and the Vikings settled into Irish life as merchants and seamen.

After being ousted from his kingship in Leinster, and seeking help from King Henry II of England, Dermot MacMurrough enlisted the assistance of Richard FitzGilbert de Clare, Earl of Pembroke, better known as Strongbow. Anglo-Normans invaded Ireland in A.D. 1169 led by Strongbow. Norman barons Maurice FitzGerald and Robert FitzStephen were promised Wexford town and two adjoining cantreds for their services. Strongbow was promised the whole of Leinster upon Dermot's death. Dermot MacMurrough died in May 1171, and Strongbow established himself as lord of Leinster, after crushing a general revolt of the Leinster Irish and Ostmen within two years. In his Irish campaign Henry received recognition and hostages from the Ostmen (Vikings) of Wexford, who had captured Robert FitzStephen, as well as from many other kings in Ireland. Monarch, Henry II, armed with the authority of the Pope, proceeded to grant fiefs in Ireland to Norman nobles until they held extensive tracts of land in the east of Ireland that became known as the Pale.

Like the Vikings before them, the Anglo-Normans assimilated into the local population until By the sixteenth century Markets, towns and cities had round the Gothic-style castles and cathedrals of the Anglo-Norman aristocracy who had become more Irish than the Irish themselves. Their fortified tower house residences became a common feature of the Irish landscape.

Henry VIII broke with the Pope in Rome in 1536 to declare himself "supreme head on earth" of the Churches of England and Ireland. Systematic repression of Catholicism came with the Reformation and began with the dissolution of the monasteries. By 1541, Henry VIII had assumed the title of King of Ireland, and the Tudor policies of surrender and regrant and planatation began dispossessing the Irish in favour of loyal English settlers.

The county suffered Cromwell's attacks in 1649, when he attacked the town and murdered 200 people.

English rule continued and complete political, cultural and religious oppression of the native Irish by penal laws that forbade them the right to own land, vote, hold public office, maintain schools, practise their faith, speak the Irish language or play Irish music, marked the eighteenth century. This eventually led to rebellion by the native Irish starting in County Wexford May 23, 1798.

The Potatoe Famine saw the population of Wexford decline between 1845 and 1850 from 202,033 to 180,000, a drop of 11%. There was considerable emigration, particularly from the north of the county, which continued through out the 19th century and by 1891 the population had dropped to round 112,000.

Johnstown Castle

Once owned by the Grogan family who were the biggest untitled landowners in Ireland.

It was donated to the state after the death of the last resident Lady M Fitzgerald in 1942 on condition that it be used for agricultural education and research. The castle itself a gothic revival style masion is not open to the public but the wonderful 50 acre gardens are.

The Irish Agricultural Museum

This Museum is located in the old farmyard buildings of Johnstown Castle, which were built about 1810. These have been restored and converted to provide facilities for Ireland's largest Agricultural Museum. There is also a new display of lawn and garden equipment. The exhibitions cover farm and rural transport, rural crafts, all the major farming activities as well as the activities on the farmyard and farm dwelling. A large permanent exhibition on the story of the potato and of the Great Famine of 1845-47 has recently opened.

National Heritage Park

Located at Ferrycarrig, the National Heritage Park traces the habitation of man in Ireland, from the first settlers to the arrival of the Normans in the twelfth century.

It demonstrates this through life size reconstruction of homesteads, burial modes and places of ritual. Your senses are sure to come alive with sites and sounds stretching back almost nine thousand years. Celtic Banquets are held on selected evenings where a lordly Celtic Chief fills vats with liquor, and prepares great quantities of food. Traditional Bards are also provided to entertain.

Hook Lighthouse

His successors were appointed custodians of Marshal's Tower and continued to keep the light for several centuries. Visitors to the oldest operational lighthouse in both Ireland and Great Britain will experience a journey through time from the story of the sixth century beacon up to present day light keeping.

Arranged in botanical sequence, it covers 252 hectares of the Southern slopes and summit of Slieve Coillte. It includes 200 forest plots, rhododendrons, dwarf conifers, hedges, lake and viewing point.