New Ross
GUIDES
New Ross
There is much more to New Ross than first meets the eye. New Ross town is steeped in history. As far back as the 5th century, it was a renowned location of Christian learning.
Then the Normans arrived in the 13th century, the town and port developed into a major international trading centre under “the greatest knight”, William Marshall .
The town was the site of many battles through Cromwellian times and the 1798 Rebellion. The Dunbrody Famine Ship, first launched in 1845, now tells the tale of widespread starvation that forced more than a million people to flee the country.
The descendants of one of those emigrants, the Kennedy family became one of the most influential political families of the 20th century in America.
The Kennedy homestead just outside the town is a unique cultural museum dedicated to the Kennedy family story. There is much to explore and enjoy in New Ross.
Enjoy your visit!
Browse through the town.
New Ross is full of interesting boutiques, coffee shops and restaurants. The main street is just a five minute walk from the marina where you disembark from the Barrow Princess.
Packed with hidden gems & stories that will take your breath away!
Guided walking tours.
There is no better way to find out about the story of New Ross than to spend some time in the company of Myles Courtney of New Ross Street Focus.
A guided walking tour around the town reveals the fascinating story of the town. If you prefer to explore at your own pace, make sure to pick up one of New Ross Street Focus’s free walking guides and maps available on board and throughout the town.
Dunbrody Famine Ship Experience
Just a two-minute walk from where we dock in New ross marina, you will find theDunbrody Famine Ship Experience. Open daily, a visit to the ship is a must. The Dunbrody is an authentic reproduction of an 1840’s sailing ship.
The experience includes a living museum of Irish history that will tell you everything you need to know about life for emigrants during the Irish famine.
Tickets can be booked here – Buy Tickets
St Mary’s Church & The Norman Way
Built in the early 13th century, St Mary’s was one of the largest medieval town churches in Ireland.
It is long associated with William Marshal and his wife Isabel, the founders of the town of New Ross. The “bambino stone” is one of the well-known monuments at the site dating back to the 13th century.
St Mary’s marks the starting point on the Norman Way which leads you across the south of County Wexford taking in over thirty locations and landmarks associated with the Normans in this area.
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