New Ross brings together the pictorial story of the Ros Tapestry, the history of emigration conveyed by the Dunbrody Famine Ship, and a path along the River Barrow. These different themes sit side by side: medieval town history, the Great Irish Famine and a walk through marshland.
Town history in tapestry and stone
The Ros Tapestry consists of 15 large embroidered panels and tells the story of the founding of New Ross by William Marshal and Isabel de Clare. The Ros Tapestry Exhibition Centre is at The Waterfront, The Quay, in New Ross, County Wexford, Y34 CX76. The tapestry offers a distinctive narrative approach to the town’s history.
St Mary’s Church offers another glimpse of medieval New Ross. It was originally built in the 13th century by William Marshal and his wife, Isabel. Beneath the south transept lies the medieval crypt; it is the only part of the medieval church whose roof has survived. The story of the town’s founding and a specific surviving architectural feature thus offer different ways of exploring its history.
The story of emigration at the quay
The Dunbrody Famine Ship is moored at the quay in New Ross, County Wexford. The Dunbrody Famine Ship Experience is based on an authentic reproduction of an emigrant ship from the 1840s. Actors in period costume dramatise the arduous emigrant voyages during the Great Irish Famine. While the Ros Tapestry tells the story of the town’s founding, the Dunbrody experience focuses on emigration during the famine.
The Emigrant Flame stands beside the Dunbrody Famine Ship Experience at the quay. It adds a distinctive memorial to the site. Together, the ship, the dramatisation and the Flame give the visit a clear historical focus, distinct from the town’s medieval history.
Out and about along the River Barrow
The Riverside Walkway starts at New Ross Marina and runs alongside the River Barrow. It passes through marshland, whose natural beauty and wildlife shape the character of the route. The walk offers a landscape-based way to experience New Ross, complementing the town’s historical themes with a different perspective.
When looking for hotels in New Ross, it may help to consider whether you want to focus your stay more on the town’s history or on the River Barrow. The Ros Tapestry, St Mary’s Church, the Dunbrody experience and the Riverside Walkway offer different points of interest to help you decide.
County Wexford as a wider setting for exploration
Beyond the local town setting, County Wexford offers other distinct themes. In County Wexford, the Irish National Heritage Park is a 35-acre open-air museum with 16 reconstructed sites. It offers activities, reconstructions, workshops and courses for visitors of all ages. Its sites and varied offerings provide a different focus from the town’s history and waterfront in New Ross.
Also in County Wexford, Hook Lighthouse stands at the tip of the Hook Peninsula. Guided tours there introduce visitors to 800 years of lighthouse history. As booking requirements may change, check them before making specific plans.
The Ferns Tapestry is also part of the wider County Wexford context: it is 15 metres long and consists of 25 picture panels. By comparison, the Ros Tapestry in New Ross consists of 15 large embroidered panels. If you are interested in pictorial textile works, these details can help you tell the two apart.
Discover more destinations
Discover more destinations: Ferns, Adamstown, Gorey, Bannow Bay, Wellingtonbridge, Arthurstown, Taghmon, Saint Helen’s.
Go to the main travel overview: County Wexford.
