Enniscorthy (Irish: Inis Córthaidh, meaning Island of the rocks) is the second-largest town in County Wexford, Ireland. With a history going back to 465, Enniscorthy is one of the longest continuously-occupied sites in Ireland.

It is situated on the River Slaney in the centre of the county, 24 km north of the county town, Wexford. The town lies on the N11 road (part of European route E1) from Dublin to Wexford. The N30 connects the town to New Ross and Waterford to the west. Enniscorthy has a railway station on the Dublin–Wexford–Rosslare Europort railway line, giving access to seaports and airports.

The name Inis Corthaidh derives from the Irish Gaelic word for island (Inis)Island of the Rocks (Córthaidh). The town is situated at the tidal extreme of the River Slaney - which has gouged steep sides in surrounding rock over the millennia to create the distinctive hilly feel of the town.

Enniscorthy Castle

Enniscorthy Castle is an imposing Norman stronghold, which dates from 1205 and was a private dwelling until 1951. The poet Edmund Spencer lived in the castle for a period and it is said that Queen Elizabeth I gave him the castle because of all the good things he said about her in the poem "The Faerie Queene". The Castle was also once owned by Sir Henry Wallop, whose maltreatment of his labourers gave rise to the English word "wallop". The castle was the site of many fierce battles during the Cromwellian years and also the 1798 Rising. The castle houses the Wexford County Museum, which contains extensive 1798 rebellion-related material, as well as items of local and agricultural interest.

Vinegar Hill

Vinegar Hill (Cnoc Fíodh na gCaor in Irish which translates as hill of the wood and gorse), a pudding-shaped hill overlooking the town, was the largest camp and headquarters of the rebels of 1798 who controlled County Wexford for thirty days against vastly superior forces, before their defeat on June 21. However, many managed to flee south through a gap left in the British lines by General Needham (now known as Needham's Gap). During this time, Beauchamp Bagnell Harvey was declared as President of the Wexford Republic. The former Congregation of Christian Brothers monastery now houses a 1798 Visitor Centre which tracks the path to modern independence and the part the rebellion played.

National 1798 Visitor Centre

One of the most noted interactive museums in Ireland, the 1798 Visitor Centre is devoted to the 1798 Rising. Its history, European context and aftermath are all revisited using audio-visual technology. Highlights include a mock debate between the English Thomas Paine and the Anglo-Irish Edmund Burke and a reconstruction of the Rebellion as a game of chess with six-foot-chess pieces. For children, there's a 1798 themed play area and games presenting history as a game of chance.

Saint Aidan's Cathedral

, St. Aidan’s Cathedral, was designed by Augustus Welby Pugin who also designed London's Houses of Parliament. Augustus Welby Pugin created Enniscorthy’s cathedral in the same Neogothic style. Notable features include the striking façade, a reredos carved from Caen stone and a great north window with intricate stone tracery. The cathedral was much "renovated" over the centuries but restored to its original design in 1994 when authentic colours, materials and techniques were used. The restoration took a year.

1916 Rising

In 1916, Enniscorthy patriots again took their place in history, when James Connolly requested that the Enniscorthy Volunteers take and hold the railway line to prevent reinforcements from reaching Dublin. 600 Volunteers took the town, led by Robert Brennan, Seamus Doyle and J R Etchingham, they surrounded the police station, but did not attempt to take it. The RIC barracks was held by a police inspector and five constables while an RIC sergeant and one constable prevented the rebels from taking over a bank in the town. They established headquarters at the Athenaeum, and held control until asked to surrender by Padraig Pearse.

The Volunteers also established a strong position on Vinegar Hill, overlooking the town. The railway line was cut and men dispatched to Gorey and Ferns. The government responded by sending a force of more than 1,000 men to retake Enniscorthy and the rebels retired to their positions on Vinegar Hill. Before hostilities could develop the news of the Dublin surrender arrived, but the Volunteers refused to believe it. The army commander, Col FA French, was a Wexford man and in order to avoid bloodshed he offered a safe conduct for the Wexford leaders so that they could go to Dublin and hear of the surrender directly from Pearse. There were no fatalities.

Source: Wikipedia