Tuskar Rock and Hook head, famous
Wexford lighthouses.
The treacherous Tuskar cluster of rocks lying 11.3 km (7 miles) off the south-east corner of Ireland has probably claimed more ships than any other navigational hazard around our coast.
It also lies off a large sheet of relatively shallow, almost land-locked, water known as Wexford Harbour, recognised by Norsemen who established a base on the west side of the lake for plundering the hinterland and as a trading port. Wexford comes from the Danish Weisfjord, west fjord or bay. The Irish Loch Garman literally means Garman's or Garma Lake. During the four-year construction of this lighthouse, ten workmen were washed off the rock during a violent storm and another man fell 72 feet to his death. This was the third offshore Irish lighthouse to be electrified (in 1938). Tower Height: 116
The Hook
One of the most famous and probably the first lighthouses.
If your going onward to the West or Cork, Waterford; then you should factor in the time to take in a trip to the famous Hook light house. Hook head is a fascinating place with blow holes fossils wild waters. You can often see whales from the shore and the visitor centre for the lighthouse has many useful attractions and amenities. Click here for their pages.
If you like fossils click here for a great page that will tell you all about the geology of this famous place. Have a fossil hunting holiday in Wexford.
The original lighthouse at Hook Head was built in the 5th century. According to tradition, it was established by a Welsh monk named Dubhad whose church still exists at nearby Churchtown. His successors continued to keep the light until 1641. The tower built in 1172 was later enclosed by a larger structure; a spiral stairway was installed between the outer wall of the 1172 tower and the inner wall of the new tower. The present lantern dates from 1864.
Tower Height: 115
While you at the Hook check out,
Tintern Abbey.
Situated on the west shore of Bannow Bay in Co. Wexford, Tintern Abbey was one of the most powerful Cistercian foundations in the South East until the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1536.
Conservation and consolidation works started at Tintern in the early 1980s and archeological excavations between 1982 and 1994 exposed many of the features of the original Cistercian abbey.
The abbey is now open for visitors and has a great walk throught the woodland gardens. Constructed to the standard Cistercian plan, the abbey church was located to the north of an enclosed cloister garth which was surrounded on all sides by covered walks and a sequence of domestic buildings.
| Abbey/Friary/Monastic Site/Church |
| Address |
Saltmills New Ross, Co Wexford |
| Directions |
16 km south of New Ross of the R734 or 29 km from Wexford off the R733. |
|
| Opening Times |
| Date |
Day |
Time |
| Mid June - Late September |
Daily |
09:30-18:30 |
|
|
Last admission 45 mins. before closing. Bookings from September - Mid June under 056-24623. |
| Visit Length |
1hr |
|
| Admission |
| Adult |
€2.00 |
Child |
€0.75 |
| Student |
€0.75 |
Senior |
€1.25 |
| Family |
€5.50 |
Group |
€1.25 |
*Pay direct |
|
| Information |
|
|
|
| Leaflets: Yes |
Guided Tours: Yes |
Audio Visual: Yes |
Exhibition: Yes |
| Facilities |
@ |
@ |
@ |
| Restaurant: Yes |
Car Park: Yes |
Coach Park: Yes |
Disabled Access: Yes |
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