Page 101 - (DK Eyewitness) Back Roads Travel Guide - Ireland

DRIVE 8: The Sunny Southeast 99

park passes along the brow of the
hill, on a path marked with stones
engraved with the names of people
and places associated with the 1798
Rebellion in Wexford. At the end is
Tulach a’ tSolais (meaning “mound of
light”), a grassy mound bisected by
a striking and austere concrete
memorial, erected to commemorate
the bicentenary of the Rebellion,
designed by leading architect Ronald
Tallon and enclosing an oak sculpture
by Michael Warren. The central shaft
of the monument, cut through the
hill, is aligned with Vinegar Hill. There
are great views of the surrounding Above Typical Wexford-style thatched cottage
countryside and Wexford Bay. 5 Curracloe Beach near Blackwater village
ª Return to Oulart village and turn Co Wexford
left. At the junction with the R741 turn The D-Day landing scenes in Steven
right. At the junction with the R744 Spielberg’s film Saving Private Ryan
turn left, heading for Blackwater. were shot on Curracloe’s 16 km
(10 miles) of golden sands. The easy,
4 Blackwater waymarked Raven Point Loop trail here
Co Wexford passes through an area that is home to
This village features many of the grey seals and wild orchids. Stay on the
thatched cottages for which path and allow at least two
County Wexford is famous, hours. The Wexford Wildfowl
some decorated in Reserve (open daily),
patterns with seashells. where thousands of birds
Turn left, then right, overwinter, is nearby.
down a pretty road with ª Take the R742 to the
more thatched cottages, junction with the R741
to reach Ballyconnigar. Curracloe village (signposts point left to the
The beach here runs all farm sign Wildfowl Reserve). Cross
the way to Wexford Town. the bridge at Wexford,
ª Return to Blackwater and head turn right onto the R730 towards the
south on the R742, signed Curracloe. N11, then take the left turn signed to
Take a left turn signed to Bently Cottage/ the Irish National Heritage Park.
Ballinesker down a narrow road through
sand dunes to Curracloe Beach. 6 Irish National
Heritage Park
Below The dunes behind sandy Curracloe Beach, Ferrycarrig, Co Wexford
location for the film Saving Private Ryan A trail within the 14 ha (35 acres)
of the park (open daily) takes visitors
through superb reconstructions
of Irish settlements dating from
the Stone Age to the arrival of the
Normans in the 12th century.
ª Return to the R730 towards EAT AND DRINK IN
Wexford Town. Turn left for Wexford ENNISCORTHY
Town and park on the quayside. Toffee and Thyme inexpensive
A busy, bright lunch place serving
Wexford Wildfowl wholesome, home-cooked food.
Around 10,000 Greenland white- 24 Rafter St; 053 923 7144
fronted geese overwinter here, but Via Veneto moderate
others to look out for in the marshes A good, authentic Italian restaurant
and grasslands include dunlins, offering fish and rice dishes, polenta,
godwits, plovers, scoters, pochards broths and stews as well as pasta.
and shovelers, and listen out for Stylish and informal.
warblers and cuckoos in season. 58 Weafer St; 053 923 6929;
www.viaveneto.ie; closed Tue
Eat and Drink: inexpensive, under €25; moderate, €25–€50; expensive, over €50

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