About the tour
Practical Details
This full day tour brings you to some of the best Wexford tourist attractions by the coast.
The tour departs at 9:15am from The Crescent Wexford (opposite TK MAXX), and returns at 6:30pm. Learn about Wexford Town’s history and how it derived its names as we depart the town through the backstreets heading to our first stop.
PRICING:
Adult: €55
Senior Citizen / Student: €50
Child Under 14 Years: €45
Family – 2 Adults & 2 Children: €180
Ticket prices includes all admission fees and guided tours
(Children 14 years & under MUST be accompanied by an adult. Lunch is NOT included in the price.)
Heritage Park
The Heritage Park sits on 35 acres. Here we will have an audio visual presentation followed by a guided tour, and experience Irish history from prehistoric times to early Christian times right up to the Norman invasion, a span of some 9,000 years.
Bannow Bay
See where the Anglo Normans first landed in Ireland aboard three ships, commanded by Robert Fitzstephen. This was at the request of Diarmuid Mac Murchada, King of Leinster, who wanted to regain his confiscated lands. Bannow itself was a thriving port and town from the late 12th century until the 14th century when it went into decline and by the 17th century it no longer existed.
Tintern Abbey (1st May - 31st Aug only)
Here we get a guided tour of the partially restored ruins of a 13th century Cistercian abbey, which was founded by William Marshall, Earl of Pembroke. William Marshall was also patron of Tintern Abbey in Monmouthshire in Wales and brought monks from there to resettle in Wexford’s Tintern Abbey. With the dissolution of the monasteries between 1536 and 1541 under the reign of King Henry VIII, Tintern Abbey was dissolved and became home to Staffordshires Colclough family from 1576 until 1959.
We only stop at Tintern Abbey from 1st May to 31st August. During those times, this is our lunchtime stop.
Hook Lighthouse
Upon arriving at the world’s oldest intact operational lighthouse, we are treated to a guided tour of this magnificent structure keeping mariners safe for over 800 years. Originally operated by monks, it is still keeping seafarers safe and is now fully automated and operated by Irish Lights. The views from the top are unrivalled. After your tour, why not take a stroll around Hook Head or relax with a coffee and snack in The Hook Cafe.
From 31st Aug to 1st May, this is our lunchtime stop.
J.F.K. Homestead (1st Sep - 30th Apr only)
The Kennedy Homestead was the birthplace of Patrick Kennedy, great grandfather of the 35th President of The United States of America, John Fitzgerald Kennedy. The Visitor Centre was officially opened in 2013 by Caroline Kennedy, daughter of President Kennedy.
Here in the interpretative exhibit, you can trace the family steps from Patrick Kennedy’s departure from the Emerald Isle during The Great Famine to President Kennedy’s visit to his ancestral home in 1963, right up to the present day. The Kennedy Homestead is still farmed by Patrick Kennedy’s descendants.
We only stop at the J.F.K. Homestead from 1st September to 30th April.
Getting to Wexford
Bus Éireann
Bus Éireann operate a comprehensive service to Wexford Town from nationwide including Rosslare Harbour and the airports of Dublin, Cork and Shannon.
Ph: LoCall 0818 836611.
Irish Rail
Irish Rail operate daily train services to Wexford Town from Dublin and Rosslare Harbour.
Ph: +353 (0)1 8366222.