Rosslare Strand

Getting there

By boat Rosslare Europort has ferries from Fishguard and Pembroke in south Wales, from Cherbourg and Roscoff in France, and from Bilbao in Spain.

Stena Line sail twice a day from Fishguard, 3 hr 15 min. Irish Ferries sail twice a day from Pembroke, 4 hours, and in summer from France. Brittanny Ferries sail April-Sep twice a week overnight from Cherbourg and Bilbao; their ferry from Roscoff sails to Cork.

By train Five trains a day run from Dublin Connolly, taking 3 hours via Dún Laoghaire, Bray, Wicklow Town, Rathdrum, Arklow, Gorey, Enniscorthy and Wexford to Rosslare Strand (for the beach) and Rosslare Europort (for the ferry terminal). See Irish Rail for timetables and tickets, and look especially for rail-ferry packages. This is the only railway route to Rosslare. 1 Rosslare Europort station is the terminus, within 200 m of the ferry piers and port amenities. 2 Rosslare Strand station is a block inland from the beach strip.

By bus

No direct bus from Dublin, change in Wexford. Expressway Bus 40 treks the width of Ireland from Rosslare Europort to Wexford, Waterford, Dungarvan, Youghal, Cork, Macroom, Killarney and Tralee. It doesn't serve Rosslare Strand. It's twice a day. From Wexford to Rosslare Strand use Wexford Bus 878, which runs M-Sa thrice.

By road From Dublin follow N11 south to Wexford, then N25. There are no car rental agencies in Rosslare Europort or Strand. Take the train to Wexford, which has a Hertz outlet.

Getting around

Public transport will get you between the port, Strand, and Wexford town. You need wheels to get further afield. The countryside is flat and suitable for cycling, though the breeze will get in your face.

See

1 The Marina for small craft is 1 km west of Europort. The latter is an ugly, industrial and restricted zone, no place for strolling or sight-seeing. 2 Rosslare Beach or Strand is a 3 km expanse of sand from around the railway station to "The Point". A spit used to stretch another 2 km, leaving just a narrow channel to Wexford harbour. It eroded in the 19th century, while the harbour behind it silted up, and it broke into sandbars after winter storms in 1924/25. With it disappeared Rosslare Fort - nowadays the scraps are only visible on an islet at the very lowest tides. 3 Carnsore Point is the headland marking the boundary between the Irish Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. In the 1970s there were plans to build a series of nuclear power plants here: these were dropped after protests were got up, with rallies and concerts. (A counter-protest by the British & Irish Communist Organisation maintained that socialism could only be achieved in Ireland with nuclear energy.) There's now a windfarm. South Wexford Coastal Trail stretches 2 km along the beach to the sandbar at Lady's Island Lake. 4 Lady's Island Lake is a brackish lagoon with no overt outflow, but fresh water seeps out and sea water seeps in through the sandbar. Atlantic storms and heavy rains can alter its salinity markedly, so wildlife must be able to cope. The lake is an important breeding ground for terns, both the Sandwich tern and the rare roseate tern. The "island" has long been a peninsula, with a castle, a tower leaning precariously, church ruins and a graveyard. The ruined church is a Marian shrine, with a pilgrimage in August. It's part of the Church of the Assumption on the mainland, built in the 19th century to a design by Pugin.

5 Tacumshane village 1 km west of the lake has a restored 19th century windmill, but the castle has been demolished. Another 2 km west, Tacumshane Lake is a wildlife reserve. In 1972 it became closed off by a sandbar like Lady's Island Lake, but a channel was cut to keep it t

Do

1 Rosslare Golf Club, Bearlough Y35 P573, ☏ +353 53 913 2203. Daily 8AM-11PM. The Old Course is 6549 yards (white tees), par 72. The Burrow Links is 12 holes with no bunkers. Visitor €55. (updated Dec 2025) Rosslare Sports Centre is 200 m south of the golf club on the Strand Y35 CC9N near the golf club. 2 St Helens Bay Golf Club, Rosslare Y35 X293, ☏ +353 53 913 3234. Links course of 6417 yards off white tees, par 72. Visitor €50. (updated Dec 2025) 3 Hazelwood Stables by St Helen's Bay has riding lessons and treks along the beaches. Beaches: Rosslare Strand and Carne Beach are the best of them.

Buy

Murphy's Supervalu is within the shopping centre at St Patrick's Rd Y35 D4C6, the main road exiting from the ferry terminal. It's open M-Sa 7:30AM-8PM, Su 8:30AM-7PM. Texaco filling station is opposite the shopping centre on St Patrick's Rd, open daily 6AM-10PM. The Bank on St Martin's Rd near the harbour has an ATM. Centra is at Strand Rd Y35 EN2A in Rosslare Strand, 300 m south of Kelly's. It's open daily 8AM-9PM.

Eat

La Marine Bistro is within Kelly's Hotel on the Strand, see below. It's open daily 12:30-2:15PM & 6-9PM. Wild and Native Seafood, Strand Road Y35 D4C6 (200 m south of Kelly's), ☏ +353 53 913 2668. Mar-Oct daily 6-11PM. This seafood restaurant gets great reviews. No bookings, walk-in only. (updated Dec 2025) 1 The Lobster Pot, Ballyfane, Carne Y35 CH79, ☏ +353 53 901 5069. W-F 5-10PM, Sa noon-midnight, Su 1PM-8PM. Seafood, steak, burgers and pizza. (updated Dec 2025) Meyler's Millhouse, Faythe, Tacumshane Y35 ET89 (by windmill), ☏ +353 53 913 1700. M-Sa 4-11PM, Su 12:30-11PM. Trad food majoring on seafood. (updated Dec 2025)

Drink & nightlife

1 Redmond's (Bay Bar), Cliff Road, Rosslare Strand Y35 K034, ☏ +353 53 913 2340. Su-Th 1-11:30PM, F Sa 1PM-12:30AM. Trad pub with music at weekends, child-friendly. No food but there's a chipper next door. (updated Dec 2025) 2 Kilrane Inn, Churchtown Y35 KV1Y, ☏ +353 53 913 3661. Daily noon-11:30PM. Pub with good bar food. (updated Dec 2025)

Sleep

1 Kelly's Resort Hotel, Strand Rd Y35 Y83V, ☏ +353 53 913 2114. Relaxing beachfront hotel and spa open Mar-Nov. Great reviews for comfort, dining and service, but it's pricey. B&B double €350. (updated Dec 2025) 2 Coast Rosslare Strand, Strand Rd Y35 Y93X, ☏ +353 53 913 2010, [email protected]. A mid-range place, comfort and service variable. B&B double €100. (updated Dec 2025) 3 Fortview Camping is a basic but pleasant site at the end of the Burrow road. 4 IOAC Campsite, Sixacre, Tagoat Y35 RH76, ☏ +353 53 918 9022. Campsite and activity centre open Mar-Oct, all 70 pitches and 14 RV stands have power hook-up. Dogs on leads only. They also have glamping cabins. It's by N25 with traffic noise at all hours. Tent or caravan €32. (updated Dec 2025) Ferryport House is a B&B at St Patrick's Rd Y35 KNV0. Tuskar House by the Sea is a B&B at St Martin's Rd Y35 P6X0. Clifford House, 4261 St Martin's Rd, ☏ +353 53 913 3226. This B&B near the ferry terminal is closed for renovation ufn. B&B double €90. (updated Dec 2025) 5 Carne Beach Caravan Park is right by the beach at Carne Y35 YE2R. 6 St Margaret's Beach is a roomy well-run site 500 m north, open Mar-Oct. 7 Killiane Castle, Drinagh Y35 E1NC, ☏ +353 53 915 8885. Charming B&B in working dairy farmhouse, next to a 15th century castle. Open March-Nov. B&B