Culture & Heritage
Wexford Festival Opera has taken place every October since 1951. Little known operas are revived for an International audience. The Opera House is an award winning and unique purpose built venue, which plays host to music, theatre and concerts all year round, as well as to the Festival Opera itself.
Wexford Fringe Festival runs alongside the Opera Festival and showcases comedy, music, plays and entertainment of all kinds.
Wexford Arts Centre, has both year around exhibitions and entertainment programmes.
The Irish National Heritage Park, 15 minutes away, allows you to experience the adventure of 9,000 years of Irish history in this 35acre park containing replica dwellings, places of ritual, water mill, a Ringfort and other culturally unique Irish structures dating back to the stone age. Gift shop and restaurant.
Kilmore Quay Seafood Festival is held every year in mid-July and is a good opportunity to eat the freshest seafood, explore the quay-side markets, hear music or take part in the family fun day.
Kilmore Spud Fest takes place in the village of Kilmore each August and celebrates the local crop of floury spuds (potatoes) with fun events over the weekend. Keep an eye out for the “Mr Spud” beauty pageant!
The Hook Lighthouse at over 800 years old, is one of the oldest operational lighthouse in the world. You can go right to the top – it’s 115 steps. It also has a visitor centre, gift shop and café.
Tintern Abbey was a Cistercian Abbey, founded around 1200 AD. The remains consist of nave, chancel, tower, chapel and cloister. If you visit the remains, the trails surrounding the Abbey are well maintained and form a series of walks which cater for varying fitness levels.
Dunbrody Famine Ship is a pretty cool way to understand why 40 million+ Americans claim Irish heritage. It’s a full-size replica of a famine ship, on which Irish emigrants left for America during the famine of the 1840’s. it provides a world-class interpretation of the famine emigrant experience. Your visit to the ship can incorporate a guided tour, costumed performers and themed exhibitions of the highest quality.
The Norman Way is a heritage trail that runs along the south coast of Wexford, and the sites that are scattered along the way contain a wealth of authentic Irish medieval history.
