Wexford Harbour

Wexford Harbour

Features

Wexford Harbour is the natural sea harbour at the mouth of the River Slaney.

The harbour may be a good filming location for sailing scenes or as a base for other maritime activities. The harbour offers almost total protection for boats, and though the approach requires attention, the harbour is well marked. Some moorings are available at the quay in the town, and pleasure craft can also anchor in the harbour. It is possible for craft to travel up the River Slaney from the harbour. Fishing boats travel daily through the harbour going from the quay to the sea. Additionally, a local boat club has facilities and sails in the harbour.

Wexford Harbour is the lowermost part of the estuary of the River Slaney, a major river that drains much of the south-east region of Ireland. The sea boundary extends from the Rosslare peninsula in the south to the area just west of The Raven Point in the north. The harbour is crossed by the Wexford Bridge. When Vikings arrived from Norway in 819 AD and founded the city of Wexford, they called it Waes Fjord which means ‘inlet of the mudflats’. The modern name, Wexford, has evolved from this.

Wexford Harbour and the nearby Slobs are one of the most important ornithological sites in the country supporting internationally important populations of Greenland Whitefronted Goose, Light-bellied Brent Goose, Black-tailed Godwit and Bar-tailed Godwit.

More Info

For more information, including navigation guides, see the county council’s website for the harbour here.

Located in Wexford town.

Photographer: Alan Boland