Enniscorthy

Understand

The 18th century Society of United Irishmen watched France and the United States overthrow monarchy and colonialism; they sought to unite Catholics and Protestants to likewise free and reform Ireland. Rebellion broke out in May 1798 but soon collapsed, except in County Wexford - by the end of May the rebels held the entire county and proclaimed a revolutionary republic. Now it only remained to liberate the rest of Ireland. On 5 June 1798 they assaulted New Ross and captured it for a few hours, then were driven back with great slaughter. On 9 June they attacked Arklow but were repulsed by gunfire. They retreated to Wexford as government troops converged upon them. Their last stand was on Vinegar Hill in Enniscorthy on 21 June. Many then escaped through a gap in the surrounding forces, but thereafter they could only mount pinprick attacks. The Wexford rebels had been hunted down before their long-promised French support landed in Aug 1798 in County Mayo. It's become known as "The Year of the French" but the French incursion only lasted 12 days, sustaining light casualties, while their Irish supporters were cut down. Perhaps some 10,000 died in the course of the rebellion.

Getting there

By train Five trains a day run from Dublin Connolly, taking 2 hours 15 min via Dún Laoghaire, Bray, Wicklow Town, Rathdrum, Arklow and Gorey. They continue from Enniscorthy to Wexford, Rosslare Strand and Rosslare Europort the ferry terminal. See Irish Rail for timetables and tickets. 1 Enniscorthy railway station is on the east river bank 200 m north of the bridge.

By bus By bus there's competition on the route from Dublin. Expressway Bus 2 / X2 runs hourly from Dublin Airport and Busáras via Arklow and Gorey, taking 2 hr 40 min to Enniscorthy, and continuing to Wexford. Wexford Bus 740 also runs hourly from the airport, with several stops in central Dublin (but not Busáras), Arklow bypass, Gorey and Enniscorthy, continuing to Wexford; similar times and fares. Change at Gorey for buses to Wicklow Town, and at Wexford for the cross-country bus to Waterford, Dungarvan, Youghal, Cork, Macroom, Killarney and Tralee. Wexford Bus 376 runs thrice a day from Carlow via Enniscorthy to Wexford. 2 Templeshannon is how the bus station is shown on timetables. It's on Shannon Quay on the east riverbank.

By road From Dublin follow N11 / M11 south along the coast. From the west, eg Cork or Waterford, follow N25 onto N30.

Getting around

The town sights are within walking distance. For Ferns, use the hourly Wexford Bus 740, taking 10 min on its way to Dublin. Taxi firms are TK Kabs (+353 53 923 7888) and Imran's (+353 89 233 6267).

See

Enniscorthy Castle (County Museum), Castle Hill Y21 AW90, ☏ +353 53 923 4699. M-F 9:30AM-5PM, Sa Su noon-5PM. Built by the Normans from 1176, the castle was well wrecked by the 16th century. In 1581 the lands were awarded to Edmund Spenser for his flattering depiction of Elizabeth I as "The Faerie Queen". He never lived here, but in the following years the castle was rebuilt to the original four-towered floor plan. It now hosts the County Wexford Folk Museum. Adult €10, conc €8, child €6. (updated Dec 2025) St Aidan's Cathedral, Cathedral St Y21 DK10, ☏ +353 53 923 5777. This Roman Catholic cathedral was built from 1843 to a design by Augustus Welby Pugin, when the congregation outgrew the previous building. It was restored in 1994. Its patron St Aidan is Máedóc of Ferns who died in 626, he's not the later St Aidan of Lindisfarne. (updated Dec 2025) 1 National 1798 Rebellion Centre, Parnell Rd Y21 PY03, ☏ +353 53 923 7596. Jan-Nov M-F 9:30AM-5PM, Sa Su noon-5PM. Interactive museum shows the 1798 rising of the United Irishmen, and especially their last stand on Vinegar Hill across the river. Some visitors find the displays difficult to read. Adult €10, conc €8, child €6. (updated Dec 2025) 2 Vinegar Hill was the main camp of the rebels of 1798, who proclaimed the "Republic of Wexford". A month later, encircling loyalist troops moved in for the kill, and town and camp were re-captured on 21 June. This wasn't the final act as the late arrival of one encircling contingent enabled many rebels to flee through "Needham's Gap". But they were scattered, poorly armed, and could only mount pinprick guerrilla attacks. Their leaders were hunted down, and "The Year of the French" was ended by the capture of Wolfe Tone in Donegal. 3 Ferns is a village 12 km northeast along the old road to Gorey, which in the 6th century was the capital of Leinster. In 1169 King Diarmuid MacMurrough was having a scrap with the O'Connors, so he sought help from Henry II of England, a tactic akin to

Do

Presentation Arts Centre stages live music and theatre on Convent Rd. The Waterfront is a swimming pool and leisure centre at 4 Templeshannon just south of the railway station. Greyhound racing is on Monday and Thursday at 8PM. The stadium is on Ross Rd 300 m west of town centre. 1 Enniscorthy Golf Club is 2 km southwest of town. It's a parkland course, blue tees 6104 m, par 72. Strawberry Fair at the end of June marks the arrival of the local strawberry crop. Blackstairs Mountains form the boundary with County Carlow, 20 km west of town. The highest is Mount Leinster at 794 m / 2605 ft, with a TV mast on top: you can stroll up the paved lane from Nine Stones car park on the Carlow side. A more interesting hike is from Ballycrystal, off R746 on the Wexford side: first ascend north to Black Rock, then head over the east top to the main summit, reckon 4 hours return.

Buy

Aldi and Lidl are 1 km northwest up Bellefield Rd, both open daily to 10PM.

Eat

Cotton Tree Cafe, Slaney Place Y21 K2N4 (by the Old Bridge), ☏ +353 53 923 4641. M-Sa 8:30AM-5PM, Su 9AM-3PM. Great little place for breakfast or lunch. (updated Dec 2025) The Bailey, Barrack St Y21 N524, ☏ +353 53 923 0353. Su-Th 11AM-10PM, F Sa 11AM-12:30AM. Relaxed cafe bar in a converted malt barn. (updated Dec 2025) Chang Thai is open W-Su 5:30-10PM. It's within Treacy's Hotel, see Sleep. The Holy Grail is a tapas bar at 15 Market Square, open M-Th 10AM-9PM, F-Su 10AM-10PM. Golden City is a Chinese at 9 Market Square, open M-Sa 5-11PM, Su 1-11PM. Casa d'Galo Chargrill, 19 Main St Y21 YX00, ☏ +353 53 923 8077. W Th 5-9PM, F-Su noon-2:30PM. Small Portuguese restaurant with good food and ambiance. (updated Dec 2025) Abbey Restaurant on Mill Park Rd is open M-Sa 9AM-5PM. Ai by Ahmad is Japanese, at 2 Templeshannon. It's open Tu-Th 4-10PM, F-Su 2-10PM. The Alamo is a steakhouse within Riverside Park Hotel.

Drink & nightlife

D Bar is within Treacy's Hotel, see Sleep. It's open F-Su until late and often caters for stag and hen parties. Brennans is opposite Treacey's, open M-Sa 10:30AM-11:30PM, Su 12:30-11PM. Holohans, 3 Slaney Place Y21 PX26, ☏ +353 53 923 5743. Su-Th 5-11:30PM, F Sa 4-12:30AM. Trad pub, feels like a country pub in town centre, great atmosphere. (updated Dec 2025) Rackards, 23 Rafter St Y21 YD59, ☏ +353 53 923 3747. M-Th 9AM-11:30PM, F Sa 9AM-1AM, Su noon-11PM. Friendly sports pub does decent bar food. (