Co. Wexford 12-15 May 2014

13 MAY 2014

After a leisurely journey by train, and enjoying the beautiful scenery of Killiney Bay, the group were taken by coach from Wexford Station a short distance to accommodation in the town.  Afternoon tea, browsing the locality and evening meal completed the first day’s activities.

A 9.00am start next morning had activities under way early with a tour of Hook Lighthouse, the oldest operational lighthouse in the world.

Seeing the bare stone walls and floors, and climbing the 150 steps to the upper balcony, it is possible to imagine the harsh conditions endured by the lighthouse keepers and their families over the centuries.

Next stop was at Loftus Hall, claimed by its staff to be the most haunted house in Ireland.  A welcome coffee and scone was followed by a tour of the creepy building where a number of members participated in a re-enactment of one of the ghostly stories.

An early plan on linen sheet shows how Loftus Hall may have looked four centuries ago.

Moving on to Duncannon Fort, lunch was enjoyed before a guided tour of the fort.

This fort is a smaller version of Charles Fort in Kinsale.  Being well armed, its many guns were able to defend the estuary leading to the port of Waterford.

The final visit of the day was to the attractive town of New Ross.  There the group saw the Ros Tapestry, consisting of 15 large embroidered panels which tell the story of the Normans in Ireland and the founding of the town of New Ross.

Some members of the group visited the Dunbrody Famine Ship.  This three-masted barque is a replica of an 1840’s emigrant vessel.