Things to do when in Wexford - with and without Ca$h!

WexfordWarrior

Friend recently came to visit with his family and asked me to write him a list of some activities and things to do in wexford, also some things that didn't involve paying cash, so mixed up a bit of both! I went a bit mad but this might come in useful for some looking for ideas Im sure there's alot more other people can add to the list.

Things to do in Wexford town for Visitors :

A list of Immediate things to do in Wexford Town with some choices no more than 5-10 min drive away.

(General)
Wexford Walking Tours (Historic sights/stories & more)
World Famous Opera House
Selskar Abbey (King Henry II served penance, First Treaty between Ireland and England signed here & Strongbow's sister married here).
Westgate Heritage Tower
Twin Churches - (Renowned Artist Harry Clarke's Stain Glass Window)
Friary Church
Redmond memorial Park
Bullring & 1798 Pikeman Statue.
CornMarket (Handcrafts and street food, Weekends)
St.Iberius Church
John Barry Memorial
Wexford quayfront
Wexford Boat Trips to see Seals(Weather Dependant)
Wexford Gaol & Garden of Rememberance
Irish National Heritage Park (5-10mins away)
Curracloe Beach(Saving Private Ryan Filmed) (5-10mins away)
Raven forest Nature Reserve (5-10mins away)
Eden Vale Nature Walk (5-10mins away)
North Slob Bird Sanctuary (5-10mins away)
Johnstown Castle, Gardens & Irish Agricultural and Famine Museum (5-10mins away)
Yola Farmstead (15-20mins away)
Ballycross Applefarm (10-15mins away)
Ferrycarrig Castle (5-10mins away)
Carrickbyrne Hill - a historic and scenic 5km long forest trail (10-15mins away)
CarrickByrne Mini Farm - llamas,exotic pets and kids play centre(10-15mins away)
Train Trip from wexford to Rosslare - cheap n cheerful for kids, beach, rosslare playground, trampolines etc.


(Indoor Activity)

Leisure Maxx(Bowling, indoor soccer, arcade)
Playzone
Wexford Omniplex
R-One Karting
Dunn Mhuire Theatre
147 Snooker Hall
LaserTag
Casinos


(Sports)

Wexford Racecourse
Wexford Youths(Airtricity League Side who have also hosted Wolves and Charlton, Famous ex player being Irish International Kevin Doyle)
Wexford Wanderers Rugby/Cricket Club(Irish Rugby International Gordon Darcy's Home Club)
Wexford Park G.A.A.
Sailing & Tennis at Wexford Harbour Boat & Tennis Club.
Ferrybank Swimming Pool/Gym (Public)
Fishing off Ferrybank/Wexford Bridge
5 a side Soccer Artificial Floodlit Pitches, Wexford Youths Complex + more venues.
Basketball indoor courts - Peters College.
Wexford Golf Club.
Rathaspeck Pitch n Putt Course.
The Arena - MMA Venue.
Asylum Airsoft Forth Mountain Wexford.
Nature Trail and Mountain walking - Forth Mountain.
Surfing/Watersports Rosslare.
Host of Gyms/Day spa's around town.
Various Dance Classes and Exercise classes.

(Arts)

Art Centre (Music, Theatre, Gallery)
Wexford Library
Denis Collins Gallery
Mick Mulcahy Gallery,
Blue Egg Gallery,
Greenacres Gallery.


(Shopping)

Lots of great high street shopping on our pedestrianised main street. Lots of cool independent stores and boutiques but also lots of the usual nationwide stores of note within the town centre and also shopping hubs at Clonard Retail village including indoor market saturday & sundays and also Drinagh retail centre.


(Restaurants)

Lots of great restaurants from Modern Irish to Thai, Indian and everything inbetween.Hotels are left out of this list for obvious reasons and also lots of bistros and barfood and restaurants a little bit outside the centre of wexford are left out but plenty of websites offering a full list.

Main ones in wexford for evening/night dining are: descriptions of restaurant type are off the top of my head.

Emerald Gardens - Chinese (South End)
Nonna Rosa - Italian (South End)
Cistin Eile - Modern Irish (South End)
Lotus House - Chinese (South End)
Robs Ranch House - Steakhouse, BBQ + more. (Central)
Westgate - European (Daytime)
Jacques - French (Quays)
Thomas Moore Tavern - Bistro and Spires Restaurant - Contemporary (Central)
Opera - European (Central)
Chans - Chinese (North End)
The Vine - Thai (North End)
The Yard - European (North End)
Spice - Indian (North End)
Greenacres - French/ Seafood/ Contemporary (North End)
La Dolce Vita - Italian (North End)
Taste - Irish / European (North End)
Dragon Heen - Chinese (North End)
Fords - European (Quays)
Pasja - Polish / European (Central/Quays)
The Potatoe Market - Contemporary (Crescent Quays)

Fast Food :

McDonalds (Drinagh)
KFC (Clonard Retail)
Dominoes
Apache Pizza
Abra
Subway
O'Briens
Traditional chippers and Independant fast food Outlets.



(Pubs & Clubs)

Lots of good quality nights out with a mix of alternative music on in the Red Chair Sessions Bean&Berry Cafe, Dynamic Music Centre and the Arts Centre. Music and comedy from international acts performing at the Opera House and loads of pubs and clubs with regular International Artists/ DJ's/Performers, live/trad bands and more to keep everyone happy.

Recommended Pubs & Clubs : John Barry, Sky and the ground, Buglar Doyles, Mackens/The Cape, Thomas Moore Tavern, Chocolate, Metro 17, Maggie Mays, Loch and Quay, T Morris, The Stores Bar(Trad Sunday Morning), The Stores Nightclub, Metropolis Nightclub.


(Enniscorthy)
Enniscorthy Castle including famous designer Eileen Grey exhibition.
1798 Rebellion Centre
Vinegar Hill

(New Ross)
The Ros Tapestries (as shown to barack and michelle obama)
Dunbrody Famine Ship
JFK Memorial Statue
JFK gardens and Homestead

(Gorey)
Kia Ora Mini Farm
Gravity Extreme Adventure centre
pirates cove crazy golf and entertainment centre

You can also go on the south east coastal drive, tintern abbey, ring of hook, hook head lighthouse, lotfus hall, dunncannon beach, duncannon fort(filmed for count of montycristo starring guy pearce), hook safari, dolphin/whale watching off hook head, ww2 memorial adamstown, ww2 bunkers rosslare, quad attack enniscorthy, paintballing rathnure, Our Ladys Island Broadway - nice scenic walk and birdwatching, rosslare golf club, St.Helens Golf Club and if adventurous day trips by ferry from rosslare europort to fishguard wales, day trips to oakwood funpark wales.

vicwatson

Yola was closed when I passed last weekend. Might be for the winter but looked like it was gone forever.

Maybe Navarre can sticky this?

vicwatson

Wexford Public Library deserves a special mention for a freebie activity especially with children on a wet day, plentyyyy of great books for them and you and free internet access etc, the newspapers are there free to read also.

Could pass an hour or two in the bad weather with children. It's a great place

Lola92

Great idea for a thread! Agree wholeheartedly with the library suggestion, they also have a great free story session on Friday mornings for kids of preschool age.

RadioRetro

Yola's closed until March.

WexfordWarrior

Indoor market at drinagh retail centre also, saturday and sundays!

Horse riding at shelmalier stables.

WexfordWarrior

lots more info on things to do including archery, kayaking etc here http://www.visitwexford.ie/index.php?contentid=adventure

McLoughlin

WexfordWarrior wrote: »

Indoor market at drinagh retail centre also, saturday and sundays!

Not since last December. Its sadly gone for good.

coolhull

Yola Farm has been closed for about 4 years now

allthedoyles

Is Pirates Cove in Courtown value for money ( €50 family fun day ) ?

Lagoona Blue

Great thread thanks for this . I'm planning on spending most of the summer in Wexford with the kiddies so I'll be referring back to this thread.

vicwatson

McLoughlin wrote: »

Not since last December. Its sadly gone for good.

Has it moved up to where woodies is? or is that a different market ?

vicwatson

coolhull wrote: »

Yola Farm has been closed for about 4 years now

Website still up and running

http://homepage.eircom.net/~yolawexford/aboutyola.htm

McLoughlin

vicwatson wrote: »

Has it moved up to where woodies is? or is that a different market ?

Thats a differant market a few traders from Drinagh have gone up there but most of those with stalls out in Drinagh had no were to go and donate stock to charity. Its an ok market though could do with some quality control.

vicwatson wrote: »

Website still up and running

http://homepage.eircom.net/~yolawexford/aboutyola.htm

Pretty sure its been closed for some years now

WexfordWarrior

sorry about that I actually meant the retail centre in Clonard... by KFC...there is an indoor market there which is on weekends saturdays and sundays since the one in drinagh closed down...

coolhull

WexfordWarrior wrote: »

sorry about that I actually meant the retail centre in Clonard... by KFC...there is an indoor market there which is on weekends saturdays and sundays since the one in drinagh closed down...

Its small, but you'd always find something you'd want

Decoda

vicwatson wrote: »

Website still up and running

http://homepage.eircom.net/~yolawexford/aboutyola.htm

Yola's been closed for at least 4 years. A For sale sign has been erected at the front gate this week. Hopefully something will be developed on the site. It's such a shame to see it falling into disrepair.

DC

WexTex

LaserTag is closed (if you're talking about the one by Tesco).

There are some I hadn't heard of and need to check out!

DubiousV

Took the family to Wells House yesterday and honestly can't recommend it enough. Lovely walks, craft shops, huge play area for kids, archery, picnic area and all for the six euro per car entry. Staff were lovely as well, will be returning to this one.

vicwatson

DubiousV wrote: »

Took the family to Wells House yesterday and honestly can't recommend it enough. Lovely walks, craft shops, huge play area for kids, archery, picnic area and all for the six euro per car entry. Staff were lovely as well, will be returning to this one.

It's a good spot alright when the weather suits. 6 quid per car? Was this not €4 last year?

SLenihan

Aldridge Lodge for fine dining at a reasonable price too!! Near Duncannon beach

havetoquit

Dunbrody House for delectable dining in perfect surroundings .Kevin Dundon and his staff never fail to offer a dining experience to remember. They have created something there which just makes us want to return for all our special occasions.

I have no hesitation in highly recommending Dunbroady House.

fpllad

You can add the local Wexford Kettlebell Club and Weightlifting Club to the Sports section.

vicwatson

fpllad wrote: »

You can add the local Wexford Kettlebell Club and Weightlifting Club to the Sports section.

Looks like you have already

fpllad

vicwatson wrote: »

Looks like you have already

No I haven't this **** needs to be edited...

coolhull

fpllad wrote: »

No I haven't this **** needs to be edited...

And the whole thing badly needs updating.

oldyouth

coolhull wrote: »

And the whole thing badly needs updating.

That will give somebody "Something To Do In Wexford" if they are interested :P

vicwatson

fpllad wrote: »

No I haven't this **** needs to be edited...

Then make a post with the details instead of telling others to go and update the thread perhaps

feargale

Some years ago there was an annual Liars Competition somewhere in Wexford. Does anybody know anything about it? Does it still happen?

oldyouth

feargale wrote: »

Some years ago there was an annual Liars Competition somewhere in Wexford. Does anybody know anything about it? Does it still happen?

Yep, polling stations open at 7am this Friday to choose the winners :P





Apologies Feargale, I couldnt resist. I dont know the answer to your question

feargale

oldyouth wrote: »

Yep, polling stations open at 7am this Friday to choose the winners :P

Apologies Feargale, I couldnt resist. I dont know the answer to your question

Ok. Thanks. Now seriously, does anybody know? It got national coverage at the time so I'd be surprised that nobody from Wexford would know anything about it.

vicwatson

feargale wrote: »

Some years ago there was an annual Liars Competition somewhere in Wexford. Does anybody know anything about it? Does it still happen?

I know loads about it*










*I'm the founding member

feargale

vicwatson wrote: »

I know loads about it*

*I'm the founding member

There's a large gap on my screen between the two sentences of your post. If this relates to a picture or something it's not showing. Could you let me have some more information please?
Thanks.

vicwatson

Apologies, I was trying to be funny by telling a lie:o

bigron2109

Was down in Ballycross apple farm today.Lovely spot. Its very reasonable. 3.50 for a adult, or 12 for 2 adults and 4 Kids. Loads of things to do for Kids and adults and loads of animals too. Would highly recommend it, as its a cheap enough day out. You could even bring a picnic if you did not want to purchase anything from their Cafe.

vicwatson

Meh, ain't going there anymore since they started charging in the gates. Ah there was a time when you'd get a large bag of apples for 4 yo's (the horses would get fed on them too) and you'd get to see the animals free.....

mummyc

Gorey has so much to do for families,
Kia Ora Mini Farm
Adventure Alley, Gorey
Pirates Cove
Kidzone
Gravity Extreme Adventure
Wexford Lavender Farm
Walks in Courtown woods and Courtown Beach
Courtown Amusements,
Flanaghan's Wharf

mummyc

DubiousV wrote: »

Took the family to Wells House yesterday and honestly can't recommend it enough. Lovely walks, craft shops, huge play area for kids, archery, picnic area and all for the six euro per car entry. Staff were lovely as well, will be returning to this one.

Its now €8 per car

john47

Something to do that's free. Try your hand at a game of Scrabble. The club meets every Tuesday at 8pm in the Gaelic Bar on Distillery Road (go past Tesco's and its just after Domino's). All Welcome. Phone John for more info 086 3953846

vicwatson

john47 wrote: »

Something to do that's free. Try your hand at a game of Scrabble. The club meets every Tuesday at 8pm in the Gaelic Bar on Distillery Road (go past Tesco's and its just after Domino's). All Welcome. Phone John for more info 086 3953846

Great idea

jennifer.cox24

Highly Recommend Secret Valley Wildlife Park in Clonroche, Fully licenced zoo

Del.Monte

Heritage Tours Wexford - what can I say! The indefatigable Cathy Keane invited my youngest and myself for a freebie tour of Historic Ferns yesterday afternoon. I have to say that I was of two minds - it clashed with the Munster v Ulster rugby match and I didn't think that Ferns Castle in particular would be worth the visit. I couldn't have been more wrong.

Cathy is a relative blow-in to County Wexford and a self-taught tour guide, but she is the real deal and we had the benefit of the full tour commentary.

First stop the ruins of Ferns Castle now managed by the OPW and although only a remnant of what was once stood here, it is quite dramatic up close and personal. The Castle was reputedly built by William Marshall (son of the 1st Earl of Pembroke) in the early 13th century and was eventually destroyed by Cromwellian forces in 1649.



Just down the road through Ferns Village is the Church of Ireland Cathedral and early Monastic site - more history than you could shake a stick at - and the adjoining graveyard contains the remains of Dermot MacMurrough, King of Leinster, who invited the Normans to Ireland in 1169.





In another part of the graveyard is the resting place of Father Murphy, the rebel priest of 1798 fame, but as he was hung drawn and quartered in Tullow only his head is said to have been buried in Ferns.

Down the road from Cathedral is St.Mogue's Well - credited with restorative properties - including hair loss - but the water was too murky for my liking. Still judging by the rosary beads and photographs, it's still attracting the faithful.



The original well with a small stone roof and cross can be seen from the road but is now locked off - who knows why?

Back on the bus and on to Enniscorthy via the Harrow - just outside of which is the spot where the first serious incident of the 1798 rebellion took place on the 26th May. At a place now known as Bookey's Stream a party of the Camolin Cavalry were attacked by locals angered by the burning of nearby farmsteads. The aforementioned Lieutenant Bookey and another soldier were killed and the rebellion was underway....



Just a tiny snippet from one of six guided tours run by Cathy and well worth a day-out for locals and tourists alike.

Check-out Cathy's site here for more information: http://www.bualadhbuscabs.com/page5.htm

Glenomra

I am going to wexford for a few days when lockdown ends. I love books especially our of print etc. Someone told me that there's an interesting book stand on some wexford but I can't find any mention of it online. Does anyone know if there's such a place.

RachelsCousin

Glenomra wrote: »

I am going to wexford for a few days when lockdown ends. I love books especially our of print etc. Someone told me that there's an interesting book stand on some wexford but I can't find any mention of it online. Does anyone know if there's such a place.

If you're interested in books, Red Books on St Peters Square is a place to spend hours. You need time and patience, but a great place for book lovers. Wally is the owner, and somehow seems to know where everything is! He has over 50,000 books in stock.
You'll find them on Facebook.

Glenomra

Thanks Rachel. I appreciate your reply. I intend going to Red Books as I've heard a lot of positive things about both the shop and the owner.
I am still intrigued whether the other market place exists or not.

RachelsCousin

There is a small market just off the Bullring in Wexford, and there are a few book stands in there. Interesting, but not a huge quantity.

There's another 2nd hand bookshop, Readers Paradise, in Selskar.

I can't think of any others.

Glenomra

RachelsCousin wrote: »

There is a small market just off the Bullring in Wexford, and there are a few book stands in there. Interesting, but not a huge quantity.

There's another 2nd hand bookshop, Readers Paradise, in Selskar.

I can't think of any others.

Thanks you have been very helpful. I hope Davy leads ye to the Promised Land!!!!!!!!!!

Del.Monte

Visit Enniscorthy home of the Brooklyn movie, admire the standard of maintenance at the 'Brooklyn Bench', site of the very shortlived bee hotels (hacked down by the village idiots), and note the council's ongoing efforts to eradicate botanical diversity.

CRI0ST0IR

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117539104#Comment_117539104

Never even knew this was located here.

Also there is load's of great walks with amazing views throughout County Wexford which are free to enter such as Curracloe, The Rocks in Wexford town, The trespan rocks walking trail, JFK (Was free when i visited) and Kilmore Quay and the list goes on.

jordata

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117806090#Comment_117806090

If you are interested in walking routes look at the maps https://wexfordwalkingtrail.ie/trails-maps/

Gives into on the length and grade for each way-marked route. It's a great resource.