New Ross Voyage Tips and guide

New Ross is a town in County Wexford on the River Barrow. Old Ross was Ros mhic threoin, a defensive earthwork amidst the woods, and 13th century English settlers built a bridge and new town. The river is tidal and navigable so the town was an important port in medieval times; a battle of the 1798 rebellion was fought here. There was much emigration from New Ross in the famine years, including by the ancestors of US President John F Kennedy. Nevertheless the town grew to straddle the river, with its western edge in County Kilkenny, and in 2022 its population was 8600.

52°22′37″N 6°56′24″W

Map of New Ross

By road from Dublin take N7 / M9, leaving at junction 11 for R704 east. You could also follow N11 / M11 down the coast to Enniscorthy then N30 southwest. From Rosslare ferry port follow N25 past Wexford then west.

No direct bus from Dublin, travel via Wexford or Waterford.

Expressway Bus 40 trundles the width of the country twice a day from Rosslare Europort to Wexford, New Ross and Waterford, thence hourly to Dungarvan, Youghal, Cork, Killarney and Tralee.

Bus Éireann 370 runs four times M-Sa from Waterford to New Ross, Duncannon and Wellington Bridge, with two continuing to Rosslare Harbour.

The main bus stop is on The Quay just south of the bridge.

You need your own wheels to reach the sights out of town.

• 52.3937-6.94771 Dunbrody Famine Ship, Quay St Y34 A786, ☏ +353 51 425 239. Daily 9AM-5PM. This vessel is a three-masted barque, a 2001 replica of the original Dunbrody. That barque built 1845 carried many thousands away to North America in the famine years. It was considered a good vessel as few passengers died - many would be already moribund from starvation and disease when they boarded. A typical "coffin ship" of that era could suffer 50% mortality. The ship is permanently moored and you visit by guided tour, then view the museum of the emigrant experience in your own time. The original ship was converted to freight after 1851, but sank off Labrador in 1875. Adult €15, conc €14, child €10. (updated Dec 2025)
• St Marys on Church St is Church of Ireland (Anglican), built in 1812 within the ruin of a 13th century abbey church. The old chancel and transepts survive, and there's a bosky overgrown graveyard.
• Tholsel means "tolls hall", a mix of tax collection, council office, market hall and courtroom, before those evolved into separate premises. Only half a dozen survive intact and this example on Quay St by the bridge was built in 1749 and rebuilt in 1806.
• 52.4172-6.9312 Woodville House is a Georgian mansion 3 km north of town. The gardens are open May-Aug daily 10AM-2PM, adult €5.
• 52.3465-6.98023 Kennedy Homestead, Dunganstown Y34 KW31 (7 km south of town), ☏ +353 51 388 264. Mar-Oct daily 9:30AM-5:30PM. This farm was the birthplace in 1823 of Patrick Kennedy, the great-grandfather of US President John F Kennedy (1917-1963). Patrick emigrated to Boston in 1848 and married Bridget Murphy, also from New Ross. The family were almost wiped out by cholera, but one son Patrick Joseph Kennedy survived to become a US businessman and politician, and to found a dynasty. The family still farm here, and JFK came to have tea with them in 1963. Adult €11, conc €10, child €8. (updated Dec 2025)

• 52.321-6.93374 John F Kennedy Arboretum, Ballysop Y34 KA48 (11 km south of town), ☏ +353 46 942 6090. Daily Oct-Mar 10AM-5PM, May-Aug 9AM-8PM, Apr & Sep 10AM-6:30PM. 250 hectare park with 4500 species of trees and shrubs, dogs welcome. It was planned as a memorial after his assassination, and opened in 1968. Adult €5, conc €4, child €3. (updated Dec 2025)
• Kilmokea Gardens are part of Kilmokea Country House, see Sleep. They're open to non-resident visits April to October. The House is on Greatisland, which was an island in medieval times, and there's the remains of a 6th-century monastery. Take care not to trip over the "High Cross", probably the world's smallest example of one.
• 52.2837-6.95945 Dunbrody Abbey, Dunbrody Y34 YX74, ☏ +353 86 275 9149. May-Sep daily 11AM-5:30PM. Substantial remains of a Cistercian abbey founded in 1182 and dissolved in 1536. There's also a museum and a yew hedge maze, buy the combi ticket for these. Adult €5 (combi €11). (updated Dec 2025)

• St Michael's Theatre on South St has live performances and a 3D cinema, box office +353 51 421 255.
• The Apex sports and leisure centre is on Bosheen, 500 m east of the river. It has gym, pool and fitness classes.
• Three Sisters boat trips putter along the river to Waterford.
• New Ross Golf Club is 1 km west of town on R704. It's a parkland course, white tees 5759 yards, par 70.

• The retail strip is along R723, which orbits the south side of town. Tesco on the east edge is open M-Sa 8AM-10PM, Su 10AM-8PM.
• Several banks with ATMs are on South St, a block back from The Quay.

• Il Primo, 18 South St Y34 P409, ☏ +353 51 425 262. Su-Th 3-10PM, F-Sa 3-11PM. Reliable restaurant serving Italian classics. (updated Dec 2025)
• Raymondo's is a pizzeria at 11 North St Y34 F893, open Su-W 4-10PM, Th-Sa noon-10PM.
• Ann McDonald's is a cafe at 8 Mary St Y34 TD40, open Tu-Sa 9AM-7PM, Su 9:30AM-5:30PM.
• Bearú, 52 South St Y34 YR02, ☏ +353 51 420 735. Tu-Th 9AM-3PM, F Sa 9AM-3PM, 6-9PM. Upscale inventive local cuisine. (updated Dec 2025)
• The New Swan is a Chinese across the river at 9d Rosbercon Y34 AP48, open M-Sa 4-11PM, Su 1-10:30PM.
• The Captain's Table is within the Dunbrody Famine Ship complex, open daily 9AM-6PM.
• The Holy Grail is an Indian at 8 The Brewers, Irishtown Y34 W628, open Tu-Su 4-10PM.

• Spider O'Brien's at 13 South St Y34 K722 is a buzzing bar with TV sports and decent bar food. It's open 11:30AM-midnight.
• Dempsey's is at 11 Quay St Y34 Y234.
• Murray's is at 2 North St Y34 H732, open M-F 10:30AM-11:30PM, Sa 10:30AM-2AM, Su 12:30-11PM.
• Theatre Tavern at 24 South St Y34 EA07 is open daily 10:30AM-midnight.

• Downtown Accommodation, 6 Quay St Y34 DK73 (by bridge), ☏ +353 86 390 2948. The name suggests a flop-house, but it's a clean friendly B&B right in town centre. No dogs. (updated Dec 2025)
• Inishross House is a friendly B&B nearby at 96 Mary St Y34 P309.
• Glenbarry B&B, Mountgarrett Rd Y34 YK19 (500 m north of bridge), ☏ +353 51 422 153. Pleasant B&B north side of town. (updated Dec 2025)
• 52.4105-6.93491 Beaufort House, Mountgarrett Y34 XH74, ☏ +353 87 388 4861. Welcoming stylish guesthouse. B&B double €110. (updated Dec 2025)
• Brandon House Hotel, Southknock Y34 KR62, ☏ +353 51 421 703. Well-run family-friendly hotel 700 m south of centre, with 78 rooms, conference facilities, Solas Croí Spa and good restaurant. B&B double €110. (updated Dec 2025)
• 52.3616-6.94212 Creacon Wellness Retreat, Creakan Lower Y34 NH61, ☏ +353 51 447 666. Upscale modern spa hotel, where your main task is to conjure up ailments amenable to their cranio-sacral reflexology, McLoughlin scar tissue release, Enagic Kangen water therapy, and dozens more. B&B double €250. (updated Dec 2025)
• 52.4332-6.92323 Riverhollow Campsite, Tintine, The Rower R95 PD36. This is the closest campsite to town, 5 km north across the river in County Kilkenny. Glamping it's not, very basic natural site but friendly helpful owner. No caravan pitches. (updated Dec 2025)
• 52.296-6.9934 Kilmokea Country Manor, Greatisland Y34 TH58, ☏ +353 86 664 1946. Upscale hotel and spa in a Georgian Rectory, dog-friendly. Its extensive gardens are open to non-residents. B&B double €200. (updated Dec 2025)

As of Dec 2025, New Ross and its approach roads have 5G from all Irish carriers.

• Waterford is Ireland's oldest city, with Viking, medieval and Georgian heritage.
• Fethard-on-Sea is the main village on the scenic Hook Peninsula to the south.
• Wexford has the National Heritage Centre, and Johnstown Castle with the Agricultural Museum.