Facts on Ireland and the Irish

Wexford is one of the twenty-six counties in the Republic of Ireland.

It is in the province of Leinster.

It has an area of approximately 909 sq miles.

It has a population of approximately 132,000.

It is the thirteenth largest county in Ireland.

The Irish name for Wexford is Loch Garman meaning Lake of the River Garman. Garman was the former name for that part of the River Slaney which flows through Wexford Town.

The name Wexford comes from a combination of Old Irish and Old Danish. Eiscir from the Old Irish meaning ridge of mounds and fjord meaning sea inlet giving us Eiscirfjord, Sea Inlet by the Ridge.

The county town of Wexford is Wexford.

The county takes its name from the town.

Wexford town was founded in the 9th century by Vikings.

The Normans landed in Wexford in 1169.

Robert FitzStephen captured the town making Wexford the first part of Ireland to be colonised from England.

Oliver Cromwell captured the town in 1649 and massacred the inhabitants.

Wexford town was held by rebels in the 1798 Rebellion.

Before they left they massacred a hundred of the Protestant inhabitants.

The first Anglo-Irish Treaty was signed in Wexford Town in 1169.

The Arctic explorer Robert McClure was born in Wexford.

The opening scenes from the movie Saving Private Ryan were filmed at Curracloe Beach in Wexford.

The highest point in Wexford is Mount Leinster at 2,610 feet.

Wexford is bordered by three counties.

These are Carlow, Kilkenny, and Wicklow.