Wexford (Loch Garman in Irish Gaelic) is the capital of County Wexford in the Republic of Ireland. This harbor town near Rosslare Europort boasts authentic charm, as well as numerous tourist attractions.

History of Wexford

A town founded by the Vikings

Wexford was founded around 800, at the time of the Viking Invasions. At the time, the town was essentially Viking, and named “Veisafj?rðr”. A true city-state, it acted independently of the Kingdom of Ireland, and paid only a symbolic tax to the Kings of Leinster.

However, in 1169, the city was besieged by Dermot MacMurrough, King of Leinster, who was determined to take the city back from the Vikings. With the help of the Normans, the Irish king reached an agreement with the Vikings and took the city.

A town involved in the nationalist struggle

As early as 1640, Wexford became heavily involved in the nationalist struggle, hosting the first meetings of the Irish Confederacy during the Confederate Wars. Men gathered here to assemble an army capable of taking on the English Parliamentarians. Unfortunately, Wexford was later sacked and burned by Oliver Cromwell, who was in charge of suppressing the Irish rebels. Such was the scale of the massacre that it remains in Irish memory to this day.

Although weakened, Wexford was the scene of new confrontations during the Rebellions of 1798. The town was then held by Irish rebels and witnessed the bloody massacre of loyalist locals, executed by the United Irishmen on the town center bridge.