County Wexford, Administrative division in southeastern Ireland
County Wexford is an administrative division in southeastern Ireland within the province of Leinster, extending from the sea to the interior. The county contains sandy beaches along the coast, farmed lowlands, and wooded hills at the western edge where the Blackstairs Mountains rise.
The area was once part of the Gaelic kingdom of Hy Kinsella with its capital at Ferns before Norman lords built strongholds here in the 12th century. In 1798 this region became the scene of a major rebellion that began in the town of Wexford and spread quickly across the southeast.
The name Wexford comes from the Old Norse word Veisafjǫrðr, meaning inlet of the mud flats, a reminder of the Vikings who once landed here. Today visitors find fishing villages and harbor towns along the coast where boats still follow old sea traditions.
On clear days the hills in the west offer wide views over farmland and coast, while the beaches are best explored at low tide. Small roads wind through rural villages where cafes and local shops often close over midday.
The harbor at Rosslare connects the island to mainland Europe and Wales through regular ferry links that carry travelers and goods across the Irish Sea in all seasons. Some visitors begin or end their Irish journey here, stepping from the ship directly onto the county roads.
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