Johnstown Castle is a gem of Gothic architecture, but only in the last few years has it been opened to the public.
Located just ten minutes from the town of Wexford, the castle was donated to the Irish state in 1945. It later became home to An Foras Talúntais, which has since become Teagasc - the Irish Agriculture and Food Development Agency.
Under his leadership, Johnstown Castle Manor began its journey to becoming a visitor attraction. In 1974, Dr. Austin O'Sullivan began collecting materials relating to agriculture and rural life in Ireland, and in 1979, the Irish Agricultural Museum was opened in the estate's farm buildings by President Patrick Hillery.
Wexford was originally a Viking town (10th century), as the "deep lake" at today's Crescent Quay allowed for the safe mooring of drakkars. In those days the town was called Veisafjörðr, which meant "bay on the sink". When the Norman conquest took place in the 12th century, the town was enclosed by a stone wall. In the following centuries, Wexford became a successful port. However, in the twentieth century, the silting up of Wexford's wharf made the town unnavigable. Only pleasure and fishing boats docked at Wexford's shore.
Wexford has always held a prominent place in Irish history. The town has always been sought to be conquered because of its fortunate position. It was attacked by the Vikings and the most tragic was the invasion in 1649 by Oliver Cromwell, whose troops killed half the population. In 1798 Wexford was the scene of a rebellion which failed. Subsequently, the heads of many of the rebel leaders were displayed on Wexford Bridge. This event was immortalized in the songs "Boys of Wexford" and "Boolavogue," which are still taught in many Wexford elementary schools to this day.
After overcoming economic decline in the mid-twentieth century, Wexford got back on its feet, becoming a vibrant and up-and-coming town. Wexford's natives are proud of their town, where you can experience the joy of life like nowhere else in Ireland. Wexford is one of Ireland's cosmopolitan towns, probably due to its maritime past, or the occasional invasion of invaders, or the annual world-famous opera festival. It's also one of the cleanest cities, having been designated "litter-free" by the Irish Businesses Against Litter Association.
15 окт 2023
