Located on the most southeasterly tip of Ireland, is a gem best known as the ‘County of Wexford’, the home of the ancestors of John F. Kennedy and ‘Father of the American Navy’ Commodore John Barry. The county is offering an invitation for you to join in their celebrations of U.S. and Irish links for the Gathering Ireland 2013.
A series of events and festivals have been organized for 2013 to celebrate the unique links of the county and the U.S.
In June 2013, the memory of Wexford man Commodore John Barry, known as 'The Father of the American Navy', will be honoured in his hometown at the second annual John Barry Maritime Festival in Wexford town. From June 24 to July 3, in the town of New Ross, the memory of President John F. Kennedy will be honoured and remembered during a series of events for the JFK50 – fifty years on from the visit of the President to his ancestral homestead in the town.
For the 50th anniversary of this historic visit, the Kennedy Homestead Visitor Centre will be officially opened in Dunganstown where the Kennedy family legacy will be celebrated in a new state of the art exhibition. Also opening, is a dramatic new Quayside development adjacent to the Dunbrody Famine Ship in New Ross, which will include a boardwalk linking the JFK statue to the ship and a sculpted podium marking the spot where JFK delivered his homecoming speech in 1963.
A packed program of U.S. style events will take place for the second annual 'Irish America Day' on July 4th. The day recognizes the strong ties between Ireland and the United States.
The wonderful 62nd international Wexford Festival Opera will take place from October 23 to November 3 in 2013. Thousands of visitors will make their pilgrimage to Wexford Festival Opera in search of buried operatic treasure. The 2013 festival will include three major productions and a packed programme of morning events, lunchtime concerts, afternoon short works and recitals, and late night revues. As if this wasn’t enough, a vibrant fringe festival will offer everything from art exhibitions to singing and swinging pubs.
The physical beauty of the Wexford landscape is also something not to be missed; the pretty coastal villages speckled with thatched cottages are a sight to behold. Visit the peaceful fishing village of Kilmore Quay and take a short trip to the Saltee Islands, taking in the sea life whilst gaining an alternate view of the rugged coastline. If Curracloe Beach looks familiar, it is, as it served as the spectacular Omaha Beach in the film Saving Private Ryan. Wexford is waiting to be explored and offers a wonderful variety of accommodation from pretty cottage rentals, bed and breakfasts to five star destinations spas.
For everything you need to know about holidaying in Wexford, Ireland see www.visitwexford.ie