Wexford
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2008-07-16T17:51:20Z
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robot Adding: [[ru:Уэксфорд (город)]]
{{otheruses4|the Irish town|other uses|Wexford (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox Irish Place
| name = Wexford
| gaeilge = Loch Garman
| motto = 'Per Aqua et Ignem' <br> 'Through Water and Fire'
| map image = Ireland map County Wexford Magnified.png
| pin coords = left: 74px; top: 85px
| north coord = 52.3342
| west coord = 6.4575
| irish grid = T051213
| area =
| elevation = 1 m
| province = [[Leinster]]
| county = [[County Wexford]]
| dailconstituency = [[Wexford (Dáil Éireann constituency)|Wexford]]
| EU constituency = [[East (European Parliament constituency)|East]]
| stdcode = 053, +353 53
| town pop = 18,163 <ref>{{PDFlink|[http://www.cso.ie/census/documents/census2006_volume_1_pop_classified_by_area.pdf Census 2006 — Volume 1 - Population Classified by Area (Dublin: Stationery Office, 27 April 2007) - p. 119.]|4.22 [[Megabyte|MB]]}} – [[Central Statistics Office (Ireland)]]. This is the Total population (including suburbs or environs). Retrieved on 2008-05-19.</ref>
| rural pop = <!--Can be left blank-->
| census yr = 2006
| web = www.wexfordcorp.ie
}}
'''Wexford''' (derived from [[Old Norse]] ''Veisafjǫrðr'' (in some sources spelled "Waes Fiord") – ''veisa'' meaning "mudflat, stagnant pool", also [[Irish language|Irish]]: ''Loch Garman'', [[Latin]]: ''Menapia'') is the county town of [[County Wexford]] in [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]]. It is situated near the south-eastern tip of [[Ireland]], close to [[Rosslare Europort]]. The town is connected to the capital [[Dublin]] via the [[N11 road|N11]] [[Roads in Ireland#National Primary Routes|National Primary Route]] ([[European route]] E1), and the [[rail transport in Ireland|national rail network]]. Recently Wexford enjoyed a building boom resulting in new developments across the county and town.
==History==
Wexford lies on the south side of [[Wexford Harbour]], the estuary of the [[River Slaney]]. According to a local legend, the town got its Irish name, Loch Garman, from a young man named Garman Garbh who was drowned on the mudflats at the mouth of the River Slaney by flood waters released by an enchantress. The resulting lake was thus named, Lake of Garman. The town was founded by the [[Vikings]] in about 800 AD. They named it ''Veisafjǫrðr'', inlet of the mud flats, and the name has changed only slightly into its present form. For about three hundred years it was a Viking town, a city state, largely independent and owing only token dues to the Irish kings of Leinster.
However, in 1169 Wexford was besieged by [[Dermot MacMurrough]] Kavanagh, King of Leinster,and his Norman ally, Robert Fitzstephen. The Norse inhabitants resisted fiercely, until the Bishop of Ferns persuaded them to accept a settlement with Dermot. It is largely accepted that the Murphy Clan of Wexford descended from the King's brother.
Wexford in the Middle Ages was an [[Old English (Ireland)|Old English]] settlement. An old dialect of English, known as [[Yola language|Yola]], was spoken uniquely in Wexford up until the 19th century.
By a disputed theory, [[Mary Seymour]] - daughter of [[Thomas Seymour]], Baron Seymour of Sudeley, and [[Catherine Parr]], widow of [[Henry VIII of England]] - was removed in infancy to Wexford and raised under the care of a Protestant family there, the Harts, who had been engaged in piracy off the Irish coast under the protection of a "profit-sharing arrangement" with her father Thomas Seymour.
County Wexford produced strong support for [[Confederate Ireland]] during the 1640s. A fleet of Confederate [[privateers]] was based in Wexford town, consisting of sailors from Flanders and Spain as well as local men. Their vessels raided English Parliamentarian shipping, giving some of the proceeds to the Confederate government in [[Kilkenny]]. As a result, [[Sack of Wexford|the town was sacked]] by the English Parliamentarians during the [[Cromwellian conquest of Ireland]] in 1649 - many of its inhabitants were killed much of the town was burned.
[[County Wexford]] was the centre of the [[1798 rebellion]] against English rule. Wexford town was held by the rebels throughout the fighting and was the scene of a notorious massacre of local [[Ulster loyalism|loyalists]] by the [[Society of United Irishmen|United Irishmen]], who executed them on the bridge in the centre of Wexford town.
Redmond Square, near the [[Wexford railway station|railway station]], commemorates the elder [[John Edward Redmond (1806–1865)|John Redmond]] who was [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]] [[Member of Parliament|MP]] for the city of Wexford between 1859-65. The inscription reads: "My heart is with the city of Wexford. Nothing can extinguish that love but the cold soil of the grave." His nephew [[William Archer Redmond (1825–1880)| William Archer Redmond]] sat as an MP. in [[Isaac Butt]]'s [[Home Rule League|Home Rule Party]] between 1872 and 1880. The younger [[John Redmond]], son of William Archer Redmond was a devoted follower of [[Charles Stewart Parnell]] and leader of the [[Irish Parliamentary Party]] till his death in April 1918. He is interred in the Redmond family vault, St. John's cemetery, Upr. St. John's St. It is kept in a very neglected condition by the Wexford Borough Corporation. ''Redmond Park'' was formally opened in 1931 as a memorial to [[William Hoey Kearney Redmond| Willie Redmond]], the younger brother of [[John Redmond]]. He was also an Irish Parliamentary Party MP. and was killed in 1917 while serving with the [[16th (Irish) Division]] on the [[Western Front (WWI)|Western Front]] during the [[Battle of Messines|Messines offensive]], where he was buried. Willie Redmond had sat as a Parnellite MP. for Wexford from 1883-1885.
Wexford's success as a sea port declined in the twentieth century, because of the constantly changing sands of Wexford Harbour. By 1968 it had become unprofitable to keep dredging a channel from the harbour mouth to the quays in order to accommodate the larger ships of the era so the port closed. The port had been extremely important to local economy, with coal being a major import and agricultural machinery and grain being exported. The port is now used exclusively by mussel dredgers and pleasure craft. The woodenworks which fronted the quays and which were synonymous with Wexford were removed in the 1990s as part of an ambitious plan to claim the quay as an amenity for the town as well as retaining it as a commercially viable waterfront. Against all the odds, as well as bankruptcy of the contractor, the project was a success.
In the early 20th Century, a new port was built, about 20 kilometres (12 miles) south, at Rosslare Harbour, now known as [[Rosslare Europort]]. This is a deepwater harbour unaffected by tides and currents. All major shipping now uses this port and Wexford port is used only by fishing boats and leisure vessels.
==Modern Wexford==
[[Image:JFK-John Barry Memorial.jpg|right|thumb|280px|[[John F. Kennedy]] visiting the [[John Barry (naval officer)|John Barry]] Memorial at Crescent Quay, Wexford town, Ireland - 27 June 1963.]]
The town of Wexford closely follows the quays, which run in a northwest to southeast direction and are built upon re-claimed land. The main street runs more or less parallel to the river and is about a mile long from Redmond Square at the northwest end to Barrack Street at the southeast end. It starts as Selskar Street, then North Main Street from the junction with George's Street, runs into the square called the Bull Ring, then proceeds as South Main Street. Almost all the shops in Wexford lie along this one line, although new retail centres on the town's outskirts are now attracting the larger multiples. Wexford serves a large hinterland in South County Wexford, including townlands and villages such as [[Ballycogley]] and Castlebridge. Other important Wexford towns include [[Gorey]], [[Enniscorthy]] and [[New Ross]], the ancestral home of the Kennedy family whose members include [[John F. Kennedy|JFK]], [[Bobby Kennedy]] and senator [[Ted Kennedy]]. The scenic Bannow Drive, a short distance from Wexford, is popular with tourists. It's a signposted route through four Wexford villages including [[Duncormick]], Cullenstown, Bannow and Wellingtonbridge.
A modern bridge connects Wexford town with the northern part of the county. It is one of the longest bridges in Ireland.
Over the last decade, Wexford has witnessed some major developments such as the Key West centre on the Quays, the redevelopment of the Quayfront itself, Whites Hotel and the huge new residential development of Clonard Village, roughly 4km from the town centre. Recently, [[Tesco Ireland|Tesco]] opened up a new store in the town, on the former site of the Pierce Foundry. The store is the supermarket chain's largest in Ireland outside Dublin.
Modern building developments in Wexford have not shirked from the architectural cutting edge, as attested to by buildings such as Whites Hotel, the new Theatre Royal (currently under construction) and the new headquarters of Wright's Insurance group. Developments currently in the pipeline include the development of a large new residential quarter at Carcur, a new river crossing at that point, the new town library, the refurbishment of Selskar Abbey and the controversial redevelopment of the former site of Wexford Electronix. Also, the relocation of a government department (most likely the Department of the Marine) has been mooted for the currently wasted reclaimed land at Ferrybank.
From an employment point of view, major employers in and around the town are Carl Zeiss Vision (formerly Sola Optical), Wexford Creamery, Wexford Viking Glass, Snap-Tite, Waters Technology, Kent Construction, Equifax and PFPC. In the public sector, employment is provided by the [[Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland)]], the Department of Agriculture and the usual public services located in a county town, such as the Revenue Commissioners.
Notable churches within the town include St Iberius, and Rowe Street with its distinctive spire, and the impressive St Peter's College, with a chapel designed by [[Augustus Welby Pugin]].
==Culture==
Wexford town hosts the internationally recognised [[Wexford Opera|Opera Festival]] every autumn. [[Eoin Colfer]], the author of the [[Artemis Fowl (series)|Artemis Fowl series]] of children's books, is from Wexford, and is sometimes seen in the Wexford Book Centre on Main Street, signing books or promoting children's literature. Singer and playwright [[Larry Kirwan]] of the Celtic-Rock band [[Black 47]] is a native of Wexford. Similarly, award-winning novelist [[John Banville]] was born and educated there. The playwright [[Billy Roche]] hails from the town and has set all of his stage plays there. Actor [[Padraic Delaney]] also hails from the area.One of Wexfords most influential sons was Johnny Reck (1919–2004). A musician of note who gave a lot of young musicians a chance to cut their teeth in the Showband Era of the 1960s, amongst those who started out under Johnny were; Larry Kirwan (Black 47), Pierce Turner, Robbie Furlong and Billy Roche amongst others. An early example of the [[Mummers play]] is known from Wexford from about 1817. [http://www.wexfordartscentre.ie.(Wexford Arts Centre)] which hosts exhibitions, theatre music and dance events since 1976 is situated in 1760's building where John Wesley, founder of the Methodist Church spoke and praised the speaking facilities as the best he had visited and Percy French also performed here. Today various concerts are held in St Iberius's Church (Church of Ireland). The church, on Main Street, is over three hundred years old.
Until about 150 years ago, the [[Yola language]] could be heard in Wexford, and a few words still remain in use. The present dialect is said to be similar to Andaluz, where the final edge of a word ceases to exist. [http://freespace.virgin.net/peter.millington1/Modern/wexford.htm]. The food of Wexford is also distinct from the rest of Ireland, due to the local cultivation of seafood, smoked cod being a token dish in the region.
==Transport==
[[Wexford railway station]] opened on [[17 August]] [[1874]].<ref>{{cite web | title=Wexford station | work=Railscot - Irish Railways | url=http://www.railscot.co.uk/Ireland/Irish_railways.pdf | accessdate=2007-09-07}}</ref> The [[Dublin-Rosslare railway line|railway line]] from Dublin to Rosslare Harbour runs along the quayside south of the town.
==Sport==
===Tenpin Bowling===
November 2007 will see a new state of the art Bowling & leisure centre opening in the town. The [[Leisure Max]] Centre is due to open by the end of November. The centre is planning to offer a pro shop & coaching from former GB Bowler Simon Brown.
===Golf===
Wexford Golf Club has an extensive membership and boasts a top-class course and clubhouse, both of which were built in 2006, while the course was completed in 2007. It is regarded as one of the best parkland courses in the south-east.
===Football===
In 2007 a new football team, [[Wexford Youths]], was admitted to the [[FAI League of Ireland|FAI National League]]. This is the first time Wexford has had a team in the competition. Wexford Youths are the brainchild of construction magnate [[Mick Wallace]], who has funded the construction of a state-of-the-art complex for the new team's home at Newcastle, Ferrycarrig. Their first home game in the league was a 1-0 win against [[Roy Keane]]'s first club, Cobh Ramblers.
===Gaelic games===
Wexford is also home to several [[Gaelic Athletic Association]] clubs. Though the town was traditionally a [[Gaelic football]] hotbed, with six teams providing ample outlets for its youngsters, it wasn’t until 1960 that hurling took its foothold, with much due to local man Oliver “Hopper” McGrath’s contribution to the county’s All-Ireland Hurling Final triumph over the then-champions [[Tipperary]]. Having scored an early second-half goal to effectively kill-off the opposition, McGrath went on to be the first man from the town of Wexford to receive an All-Ireland Hurling winner’s medal.
The town’s local hurling club [[Faythe Harriers]] holds a record fifteen county minor championships, having dominated the minor hurling scene in the 1950s, late 1960s & early 1970s. However, the senior side has only enjoyed briefly successful periods, having won only five county senior championships.
Although the team has not achieved county senior football success since 1956, Volunteers (“the Vols”) of Wexford town hold a record eleven county senior titles, as well as six minor titles. Other notable Gaelic football clubs in the town are Sarsfields, St. Mary’s of Maudlintown, Clonard and St. Joseph’s.
===Boxing===
Ireland’s [[boxing]] head coach and former Irish Olympian Billy Walsh is native of Wexford town and has contributed greatly to the success of underage level boxers with local club St. Ibars/Joseph’s.
==Twinning==
*{{flagicon|France}} [[Coueron]], [[France]]
==Trivia==
{{Trivia|date=December 2007}}
* ''[[Saving Private Ryan]]'': the opening scenes of the film were filmed on Curracloe Beach, Co. Wexford. The beach lies a few miles to the north across the bridge at the village of [[Curracloe]].
* ''[[Meteorologist]]'' and TV presenter Gerald Fleming, was born in Wexford.<ref>http://www.wexfordcbs.org/pastpupilsgfleming.htm Wexford Christian Brothers' Schools</ref>
*The skeleton of the blue whale at the ''[[Natural History Museum]]'' of London was found in Wexford Bay
==See also==
*[[List of towns in the Republic of Ireland]]
*[[Market Houses in the Republic of Ireland]]
*[[Yola language|Yola Dialect]]
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Refbegin}}
{{Refend}}
==External links==
* [http://www.wexfordtourism.com Official Tourism Website]
* [http://www.corkuniversitypress.com/cgi-bin/corkuniversitypress.storefront/EN/product/9781859184295 Wexford: A Town and its Landscape]
* [http://kilmoregenealogy.com/hidden_wexford_genealogy/ Hidden Wexford Genealogy], A genealogy website devoted to those researching Wexford institutions
*[http://wexford.gaa.ie/ Wexford GAA]
*[http://www.wexfordweb.com/ The Web Portal for Wexford]
*Parkes, H.M. and Scannell, M.J.P. 1969. A list of marine algae from the Wexford coast. ''Ir. Nat. J.'' '''16''': 158 - 162.
*[http://www.wexford.ferns.anglican.org Wexford Union and Kilscoran Union, Church of Ireland]
[[Category:Wexford| ]]
[[Category:County towns in the Republic of Ireland]]
[[Category:Viking Age settlements]]
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