The Waters of Wexford Exhibition at Enniscorthy Castle

What to Expect

The Waters of Wexford draws on maritime and river-faring material from the Wexford County Council Archives to tell the story of the county’s rivers and coastline. The exhibition covers the Slaney cotmen, the Barrow barges, and the rescue services that still work these waters, including the RNLI and Slaney Search and Rescue, alongside the myths and legends attached to the rivers themselves.

Two objects anchor the display: the masthead recovered from the wreck of the emigrant ship Pomona, and a blue whale rib bone. The castle’s own staff have contributed original artwork to the exhibition, which is unusual for a county museum display and gives it a different texture to a purely archival hang. The material also feeds a Heritage Week talk on 16 August that runs through the piracy, shipwrecks and folklore in more detail, including the Saltee Islands, the sacking of Wexford town and stories connected to Fionn Mac Cumhaill.

Good to Know

• Runs until October 2026 at Enniscorthy Castle, Castle Hill, Enniscorthy
• Opening hours Monday to Friday 9.30am to 5pm, weekends and bank holidays 12pm to 5pm
• Last admission 4.30pm daily
• Admission was not stated on the listing, so contact the castle on 053 923 4699 to check current rates
• A companion talk, The Waters of Wexford: Goddesses, Pirates and Shipwrecks, runs on Sunday 16 August 2026 at 1.30pm
• Highlights include the masthead of the wrecked emigrant ship Pomona and a blue whale rib bone

Getting There

Enniscorthy Castle stands on Castle Hill in the middle of Enniscorthy, a few minutes’ walk from the town centre and the Slaney bridge. Enniscorthy is on the M11 and N30, roughly 20 minutes north of Wexford town and about 90 minutes from south Dublin. Enniscorthy railway station is on the Dublin Connolly to Rosslare Europort line, a short walk across the river from the castle, and there is parking in the town centre car parks nearby.