Wexford (town):

town in County Wexford, south-eastern Republic of Ireland. It stands on the southern bank of the Slaney estuary. Wexford is an ancient Viking town that was an important trading centre from the 9th century onward. It was settled by the Anglo-Normans in the 12th century. The town was captured by Oliver Cromwell in 1649, who massacred several hundred townspeople; it also played a major role in the rebellion of 1798. Wexford’s port is no longer in commercial use and ferries dock at Rosslare to the south. Tourism is now an important part of the local economy and Wexford is famous for its Opera Festival held annually in October. The Westgate, built in the 14th century, is the only one of the medieval walled city’s five gates still in existence; it is now a heritage centre. Population (1991) 9,544.



Wexford Bay :

widemouthed inlet of St George's Channel at the mouth of the River Slaney, County Wexford, south-east Ireland, with Wexford town, an ancient trading port, at its head. The bay is about 7 km (4 mi) wide but is penetrated on the south side by Wexford harbour, and by Beggerin Island (Little Éire)—site of an early monastic church, and in 1171, hideout of the Irish from the Anglo-Normans—now joined to the mainland by land reclamation.