WEXFORD FESTIVAL TOURS 2026
Wexford Festival Tours, in association with Wexford Festival Opera and the National Opera House, are curated by Bernard Browne on behalf of Wexford Historical Society. The Festival
Tours, which have been running since the first Festival in 1951, are led by expert guides who take you to interesting and intriguing places throughout Wexford town and County, some
known, some lesser-known, but all of great interest.
The tours are open to everyone and are free of charge. The tours leave the Talbot Hotel car
park, at 10:30 am sharp and are scheduled to return to Wexford at 1:00pm, in time to enjoy the afternoon Festival events. If you don’t have a car, don’t worry. People with cars make room for those without; an opportunity to explore Co. Wexford’s ‘Hidden Gems’ and make
new friends.
FESTIVAL TOUR 2026
Friday, October 16
Oulart Hill
A welcome visit to the historically significant Oulart Village and hill, most famously
associated with the 1798 Rebellion. Learn about St. Mochua’s restored Chapel,
built in 1753, visit Tulach a’tSolais, built to commemorate the bicentenary of this Rebellion, Mise
Éire memorial and Bygone Days Storyhouse led by Author and Historian Brian Ó Cléirigh.
Saturday, October 17
Fethard-on-Sea
A mile of history in Fethard-on-Sea. A guided walking tour through Killarney to Grangeville as well as through the graveyard of St. Mogues and surroundings. If energy levels hold up, a trip to the inscribed stone of Baginbun and the Norman fortifications will complete this historic mile. An intriguing and unique tour with Fethard-on-Sea Author and Historian Liam Ryan.
Monday, October 19
Ardcavan
This tour will take us along part of William Dargan’s Sea Wall that he and John Edward
Redmond Sr. built in 1847 to take in 2000 acres of land from the sea. The intake is called
the North Slob and is now the winter home of many thousands of waterfowl, including nearly half the population of Greenland White-fronted Geese which adopted these big fertile fields of farmland as a winter home when World War Two fuel shortages led to huge-
scale industrial turf-cutting and destruction in their natural bogland habitats in the midlands and west. The geese and other birds usually arrive around Festival time. Fresh air,
spectacular 19th century engineering and the sights and sounds of wild geese and other
waterfowl all await with Dominic Berridge, former National Parks and Wildlife Service staff member in the Wexford Harbour and Raven Wood area.
Tuesday, October 20
Lady’s Island
A guided 1.6km (1 mile) walk along the grassed path around the perimeter of Lady’s Island,
a site of long-standing and significant importance since the pre-Celtic period. Discover the area’s rich heritage and history with local naturalist Jim Hurley.
Wednesday, October 21
Ferns
As the European Year of the Normans approaches, explore the thriving town’s unique place in Irish history, the political base of Diarmait Mac Murchada, King of Leinster, and the castle
Thursday, October 22
Tomhaggard
A tour of three ruined medieval churches, led by an architectural historian, Dr Richard Gem.
Amongst the sites to be visited are:
Tomhaggard, St Moshagra – one of the county’s earliest buildings (10th or 11th century), also St Anne’s holy well and 18th-century Mass chapel.
Kilmore, St Patrick – where the old church is lost in ivy, but many interesting monuments remain.
Killag, St Decuman – which demonstrates, by way of contrast, what can be achieved
with the recent careful conservation of the ruined church.
Friday, October 23
Wexford Town
Learn about the architecturally significant and iconic William Tate School, built on an
elevated site in the mid-1860s designed by Sandham Symes with esteemed historian John
McCormick.
Saturday, October 24
Castlebridge
A festival first! The birthplace of the Guinness World Records tour to Castlebridge promises
to be something very special this year. The Castlebridge story has become a global site for inspiration. The tour will be led by our guide, John Ryan, in a chauffeur driven 1951 MG,
crossing the Wexford Quays to the Castlebridge Community Hall. View the Guinness World
Records Book collection and other memorabilia, as well as the ambitious future plans for
Castlebridge House. Ample parking available. The tour will also visit the Mill, the Guinness
donated Reading Rooms, the community gardens and the remnants of Castlebridge House.
This promises to be a tour full of other surprises and should not be missed! Weather and
crowd/numbers permitting, there will be an optional 1-hour Castlebridge town tour.
Monday, October 26
Artramon
Visit the well-preserved four-story 13 th century tower house with its protected doorway
overlooking the River Slaney. The tour will also visit Artramon House, built in the 1780s with its stunning views of the river Slaney, as well as St Bridget’s Well and Artramon
Graveyard. With local expert guide, author and historian John Foley.
Tuesday, October 27
Crossabeg
This tour north will take place just north of Wexford town, visiting the formidable Deeps
Castle on the River Slaney with its 14 th century tower house, held by the Quaker Randall
family following the turbulent Cromwellian Wars. Learn about Francis Randall, a Quaker who famously aided James II during his flight into exile, and the newly discovered Randall burial ground with Author and Religious Society of Friends and Quakerdom historian Paddy Kinsella.
Wednesday, October 28
Wexford Town
When Wexford Festival Opera launched its first season 75 years ago, it embraced other
activities such as historical tours as well as the visual arts, by including an exhibition of
paintings from the National Gallery – thus the name, ‘Wexford FESTIVAL Opera’ rather than ‘Wexford Opera Festival’. Ever since, the streets of the town have been illuminated during
the day by the biggest hosting of art exhibitions anywhere in Ireland. This tour will visit
major exhibitions and displays at venues including Wexford Arts Centre, Wexford Co.
Library, Greenacres Gallery and the Arts Council of Ireland funded Wex-Art group show,
comprising work by eight of the region’s emerging artists, at the Westgate Heritage Centre.
The tour will be conducted by Tom Mooney, programmer of Wex-Art.
Thursday, October 29
Wexford Town
St Brigid’s: The Story of a medieval parish in Wexford town from its beginning to the
present day. This tour will bring us through St Duologues and a bit of St Mary’s. Learn about the Viking house in Bride Street, town gate and walls, the Normans attack on Wexford, the story of the Adoration Convent, Kerlogue Altar Stone originally part of a Knights Templar foundation, Quaker burial grounds, the unique Harry Clarke and other interesting windows,
the salt tolerant holm oaks trees, native to the Mediterranean region and other local surprises. All related by the expert Author and historian Monica Crofton.
Friday, October 30
Clonmines
A rare opportunity to visit one of the finest examples of a deserted medieval borough
located on the estuary of the Owenduff River, near the village of Wellingtonbridge. This once thriving medieval town, famous for the seven castles of Clonmines, is an iconic site and not normally open to the public. Discover the intriguing history of the numerous historically
significant sites with local historians Domini Codd and Jarlath Glynn.
Saturday, October 31
Wexford Town
The story of Wexford town during the summer weeks of May 1798, when United Irishmen occupied the town. These so-called rebels were politically and militarily far more sophisticated than these accounts would have us believe. They set up a democratic dimension in parts the county under rebel control. Explore the people and places around Wexford town with tour guide Maura Bell, Manager of the National 1798 Visitor Centre and
Enniscorthy Castle.
FESTIVAL LECTURE
Wexford Historical Society
Dr George Hadden Memorial Lecture
Friday, October 30th, 8pm
Presentation Secondary School
James Ryan and the Development of Independent Ireland, 1892-1970 -Michael Loughman
