Page 157 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Ireland

SOUTHEAST IRELAND  155

l Rosslare
Road map D5. Co Wexford. * 2,000.
£ @ n (053 912 3111).
∑ rosslareharbour.ie
Rosslare replaced Wexford as
the area’s main port after the
decline of the original Viking
city harbour. The port is so
active today that people tend
to asso-ciate the name
Rosslare more with the ferry
terminal for France and Wales
than with the town lying 8 km
(5 miles) further north.
Rosslare town prides itself on
being the sunniest place in
Ireland and draws many
holiday-makers. It boasts a fine
Vast crescent of sand and shingle beach at Rosslare beach stretching the length of
the southern peninsula, some
public. However, it is possible impressive array, from gannets 9.5 km (6 miles). There are a few
to visit the Irish Agri culture and gulls to puffins and Manx lively pubs and an excellent
Museum, housed in the castle’s shearwaters. Great Saltee golf course fringed by sand
farm buildings. Reconstructions particularly is famous for its dunes plus some great trails
illustrate traditional trades and colonies of cormorants. It also and walks north to Rosslare
there is an excellent exhibition has more than 1,000 pairs of Point. Rosslare Watersports
on the Famine. There are also guillemots and is a popular Centre rents kayaks and
interesting exhibitions on stopping-off place for spring windsurfing equipment, and
traditional village crafts and and autumn migrations. A bird- runs summer camps for
country kitchens. monitoring programme is in children in July and August.
The real glory are the beautiful progress, and a close watch is
castle grounds, from the Italian also kept on the colony of more E Rosslare Watersports Centre
garden to the lakes. Azaleas and than 100 grey seals. Tagoat. Tel 053 913 2202.
camellias flourish along side an The two uninhabited islands ∑ rosslareholidayresort.ie
array of trees including Japanese are privately owned, but visitors
cedars and redwoods. The lakes are welcome. Boat trips are run
are home to a wide range of in fine weather from Kilmore
waterfowl – mute swans, water Quay. These leave in late
hens, little grebes and heron. morning and return mid-
Hidden among the dense afternoon. Kilmore Quay is
woods west of the house lurk a fishing village built on
the ruins of Rathlannon Castle, Precambrian gneiss rock – the
a medieval tower house. oldest rock in Ireland. Pretty
thatched cot tages nestle
E Irish Agriculture Museum above a fine sandy beach
Johnstown Castle. Tel 053 918 4671. and the harbour.
Open Apr–Oct: 9am–5pm daily (till
4pm Nov–Mar). & - 7 limited.
∑ irishagrimuseum.ie

k Saltee Islands
Road map D5. Co Wexford. @ from
Wexford to Kilmore Quay: Wed & Sat.
g from Kilmore Quay: Apr–Sep
(weather permitting). Tel 053 91
29637. ∑ salteeislands.info
These islands off the south coast
of Wexford are a haven for sea
birds. Great and Little Saltee
together form Ireland’s largest
bird sanctuary, nurturing an Colony of gannets nesting on the cliffs of Great Saltee Island

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