County-Wexford Travel Guide
Wexford Town is 142km (88 miles) S of Dublin, 63km (39 miles) E of Waterford, 90km (56 miles) S of Wicklow, 187km (116 miles) E of Cork, and 214km (133 miles) SE of Shannon Airport
County Wexford is most remarkable for the long stretches of pristine beach that line its coast, and for the evocative historic monuments in Wexford Town and on the Hook Peninsula. The Blackstairs Mountains dominate the western border of the county and provide excellent hillwalking. Bird-watchers can find an abundance of great sites, including Wexford Wildfowl Reserve and Great Saltee Island.
The modern English name of Wexford evolved from Waesfjord, which is what the Viking sea-rovers called it when they settled here in the 9th century. It means "the harbor of the mud flats." Like the rest of Ireland, Wexford was under Norman control by the 12th century, and some stone reminders of their dominance in this region survive.
With a population of about 10,000, Wexford is a hard-working Irish harbor town with a surprisingly sophisticated social calendar, highlighted by the opera festival in late October.
The Simpson's Fascination: Ireland
Homer catches a leprechaun to beat a gypsy curse.
Homer blags into a U2 concert by wearing a green vest, yelling, "Potato Man!" and delivering a bag of spuds.
Flanders's Vegas wife wants him to "Irish up the coffee." Flanders says they do not use the "I-word" in their house.
One of Bart's chalk lines is "I did not invent Irish dancing."
Bart discovers that Springfield's "Whacking Day" was dreamed up "as an excuse to beat up the Irish." An Irishman responds: "But 'twas all in good fun."
Apu and his backup dancers do Riverdance at a disco.
St. Patrick's Day Parade floats include "The Drunken Irish Novelists of Springfield" and "2,000 Years of Irish Cops."
Grandpa Simpson says he chased the Irish out in 1904. An Irishman responds: "And a fine job you did, too."
Compiled by: That's Ireland! A Miscellany
