National 1798 Rebellion Centre

LoginSave

This exhibition does a fine job of explaining the background to one of Ireland's pivotal historical events. It covers the French and American revolutions, which helped spark Wexford's abortive uprising against British rule in Ireland, before chronicling the Battle of Vinegar Hill. One of the most bloodthirsty battles of the 1798 Rising and a turning point in the struggle, it took place just outside Enniscorthy. A visit here provides context for a walk up Vinegar Hill itself.

Joint tickets for the centre and Enniscorthy Castle are available (adult/child €10/5) from April to September.

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

  • Kells Priory

    Kells Priory

    29.59 MILES

    This fortified Augustinian monastery is the best sort of ruin, where you can amble around whenever you like, with no tour guides, set hours or fees. Most…

  • Altamont Gardens

    Altamont Gardens

    17.71 MILES

    One of Ireland's most magnificent landscaped gardens, Altamont covers 16 hectares on the banks of the River Slaney. Carefully selected plantings are…

  • Medieval Museum

    Medieval Museum

    28.02 MILES

    Housed in a stunning modern structure that incorporates several medieval buildings and part of the city wall in its basement (all on display), this museum…

  • House of Waterford Crystal

    House of Waterford Crystal

    28.04 MILES

    This large modern complex combines a retail shop and cafe with a factory offering a 90-minute tour that shows how world-famous Waterford crystal is…

  • Hook Lighthouse

    Hook Lighthouse

    29.95 MILES

    On its southern tip, Hook Head is capped by the world's oldest working lighthouse, with a modern light flashing atop a 13th-century tower. Access is by…

  • Jerpoint Abbey

    Jerpoint Abbey

    24.83 MILES

    One of Ireland’s finest Cistercian ruins, Jerpoint Abbey was established in the 12th century, with the tower and cloister dating from the late 14th or…

  • Johnstown Castle Gardens

    Johnstown Castle Gardens

    14.27 MILES

    Parading peacocks guard the splendid 19th-century Johnstown Castle, the former home of the once-mighty Fitzgerald and Esmonde families (the estate was…

  • St Mullins Monastery

    St Mullins Monastery

    15.15 MILES

    This important monastic site, founded in the 7th century by St Moling, was the burial place of the Kings of Leinster. Its remains include four church…

View more attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Athenaeum

0.34 MILES

Built as a theatre and town hall in 1892, the Athenaeum became the headquarters for Enniscorthy's volunteers during the 1916 Easter Rising. A small museum…

2. Enniscorthy Castle

0.34 MILES

This stout, four-towered keep was originally built by the Normans; like much else in these parts, it was surrendered to Cromwell in 1649. During the 1798…

3. St Aidan's Cathedral

0.41 MILES

Restored to its original glory (check out the star-spangled roof), this dazzling Roman Catholic cathedral (1846) was designed by Augustus Pugin, the…

4. Vinegar Hill

0.78 MILES

Scene of one of the most important battles of Ireland's 1798 rebellion against British rule, this hill just outside Enniscorthy is topped with a memorial…

5. Ferns Castle

7.13 MILES

Ferns Castle was built around 1220, but parliamentarians destroyed the castle and executed most of the local population during Cromwell's rampage through…

6. St Edan's Cathedral

7.21 MILES

Built in early Gothic style in 1817, Ferns' 'modern' cathedral is thought to be the smallest in Europe. Its graveyard contains a high cross, said to mark…

7. Irish National Heritage Park

10.51 MILES

Over 9000 years of Irish history are squeezed together at this open-air museum 5.5km west of the town centre. After a short audiovisual presentation, take…

8. Curracloe Beach

11.49 MILES

Soft white sand, gentle surf and lack of development are the big draws of the 11km-long, Blue Flag–rated Curracloe Beach. Families flock here on sunny…