Unless you are prepared for a lot of travel and conjuring images of the ruins, you won’t get a better comprehensive look at Ireland’s past than at the Irish National Heritage Park. From prehistoric times to the invasions of the Vikings and Anglo-Normans (although the last bit is a bit, well, run down).
Located north of Wexford Town on the Ferrycarrig, and close to an imposing (original) tower house, the park aims to present a few thousand years of Irish history. And it actually succeeds: the rebuilt buildings, arranged in chronological order in fabulous forests and wetlands, convey a unique sense of the past. However, you will get the best of your visit on a guided tour and especially at times when the reenactors are active, giving you a slice of living history.
The Pros and Cons of the Irish National Heritage Park
The park offers a fascinating glimpse into Ireland’s past, in spacious natural surroundings. The authentic reconstructions of buildings from the pre-Celtic period to the Anglo-Norman period allow a true “practical experience” of the past. If you want more, frequent tours offer a wealth of insider knowledge, but full presentations on bulletin boards near buildings should be enough on their own. And all of this is just a short drive from Wexford Town.
That said … the park can feel a bit deserted outside of the tourist season (but this will give the true foodie more free time to explore individual buildings). So even in winter it is an experience not to be missed
The Irish National Heritage Park in a nutshell
The tour of the park will take you on a historical timeline, past reconstructed Irish, Viking and Norman buildings from prehistoric times to Anglo-Norman times. These bring the past to life like no conventional museum can. Add to that that Ireland’s National Heritage Park includes tracks through woods and wetlands, and it all makes for a great day out.
The construction methods and building materials were kept as authentic as possible (although we did see some earth moving machinery during the rebuilding phase of the Celtic fort … which made sense, and the site was off limits to regular visitors anyway at that time).
There’s just one regular reminder that you haven’t traveled back in time in an Irish Tardis… fun fact: the park is traversed by the Wexford-Dublin railway, leading to occasional anachronistic photos.
The Irish National Heritage Park – Is It Worth A Visit?
Basically the park is worth visiting, whatever the season or the weather. And the fewer visitors there are in the day, the better the feeling of being truly immersed in history.
However, visitors should note that this is a theme park… but not Disneyland: the materials and construction methods used are as original as possible. Starting with the roads (uneven and “dirty” at times) and ending with the buildings themselves (low doors and dark interiors abound). Instead of a sanitized version of Irish heritage, you actually get a presentable yet authentic open-air museum.
As the reconstructions cover a wide period and everything from megalithic tombs to a ‘Norman fortress’, choosing favorites is difficult. Among the highlights are
- a crannog , a Bronze Age farm on an artificial island – during 2013 we saw this in serious decline, so archaeologists could study how a settlement would have fared after the inhabitants moved out,
- a rath or ring-fort,
- a horizontal water mill
- A monastic settlement complete with painted high cross and
- a Viking shipyard and a lakeside farm overlooking a fake round tower (actually a 19th century monument, but it fits in nicely).
The museum has a souvenir shop and restaurant to complete your visit. Please note: Sunday lunchtime is fierce as the restaurant offers a decent Sunday lunch at a competitive price. People travel here just for lunch, get there early, queue, or go hungry!
More information
Visit the Irish National Heritage Park website for current opening hours and admission prices.
