ENNISCORTHY
& GOREY
BACKING UP THE STEEP HILL FROM THE RIVER SLANEY,
ENNISCORTHY'S MEDIEVAL CASTLE IS THE COUNTY MUSEUM.
Enniscorthy
(Inis Córthaidh) is a town of many contrasts with the
old mills at the north east end of the town giving entirely the wrong
impression. Behind them, working backwards up the steep slopes from
the river is a fascinating town, with much crammed into a small area.
Down at the river where the two bridges cross (each is one way) the
River Slaney there is a relaxed atmosphere, a mini-boulevard
on the eastern side with pleasant little bars overlooking the tree-lined
banks of the river.
Across the bridge is the town proper and part-way up the steep slope
is The Castle, now the County Museum. This 13th century
castle was rebuilt in 1568 and the museum covers the history of the
town and area, particularly focusing on the Uprising of 1798 and the
1916 Easter Rising. Admission charge. Open June-Sept, Mon.-Sat. 10am
- 1pm and 2pm - 6pm. Oct.-Nov. 2pm - 5.30pm, Dec.-Jan. Sun. only 2pm
- 5pm.
Enniscorthy has strong links with the 1798 Uprising as many inhabitants
of the city suffered at Vinegar Hill, a site adjacent to the
city just across the river. It was here that the English forces inflicted
great losses on the Irish insurrectors who had their encampment, along
with their families, at Vinegar Hill.
In the town square there is a memorial to the 1798 Uprising and close
by is St Aidan's Cathedral built in 1846 under the design of
Augustus Pugin (who was also responsible for St Mary's, Killarney and
St Coleman's, Cobh).
In summer, window boxes are rife, adding welcome spashes of colour everywhere
and giving a different look to the distinctive brown pebble dash and
roughcast finish of most of the buildings.
There are quite a few individualistic premises — one decidely out
of keeping with the local architecture is the mock Tudor premises of
the Antique Tavern at the corner of Slaney Street, but a welcome
refuge nonetheless.
