Town in County Wexford, Ireland
Photo: 1798deputy, CC0 via Wikimedia Commons
Enniscorthy (Inis Córthaidh) is a town in County Wexford, with a population in 2022 of 12,000. Standing on the River Slaney, it's best known as the redoubt of the rebels of 1798: their headquarters and last stand were on Vinegar Hill to the east of town.
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County Museum
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.
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.
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.
Father John Murphy (1753-1798) was a middling sort of country priest until the Wexford rebellion of 1798, when he revealed an unexpected talent as a military leader. He was among those who escaped from Vinegar Hill. His group spent several days trying to rally support around Kilkenny and Carlow, while dodging loyalist troops, but he was captured on 2 July, tortured and put to death. This volunteer-run museum depicts his life and times, in a rebuild of his cottage.
Victorian Tudor-Gothic mansion built in 1830 by Daniel Robertson, who also built Powerscourt, Kilruddery and Johnstown Castle. Visit by guided tour then stroll the extensive grounds.
Great little place for breakfast or lunch.
Relaxed cafe bar in a converted malt barn.
Small Portuguese restaurant with good food and ambiance.
Trad pub, feels like a country pub in town centre, great atmosphere.
Friendly sports pub does decent bar food.
Buzzing little pub in town centre. No food.
Boxy modern place between bus and railway stations, scores well on comfort, service and value for money. With Thai restaurant.
Slick, friendly, squeaky-clean place, very central. With pool and fitness centre.
Spa hotel, adults only, in a Georgian mansion. Pricey but gets rave reviews for comfort and service.
Luxury hotel in a Victorian mansion, often a wedding venue.
By bus
By bus there's competition on the route from Dublin.
By road
From Dublin follow N11 / M11 south along the coast. From the west, eg Cork or Waterford, follow N25 onto N30.
The town sights are within walking distance. For Ferns, use the hourly Wexford Bus 740, taking 10 min on its way to Dublin.
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