Rosslare Voyage Tips and guide

Rosslare is in County Wexford in south-east Ireland, to the south of Wexford city. It's two distinct towns, 8 km apart by road. Rosslare Europort or Harbour developed from 1906 with the arrival of the railway, when it was obvious that Wexford harbour would become silted up. With a population in 2022 of 1800, it handles freight and ferries from Wales and from the continent. The continental freight increased from 2021 when Brexit made the UK "land bridge" to Europe less convenient. Rosslare town to the north has a long sandy beach and was a holiday resort from the late 19th century: it became known as Rosslare Strand once the harbour was established. Its population was about 2250 in 2022.

52°15′0″N 6°23′24″W

Map of Rosslare

Rosslare Europort has ferries from Fishguard and Pembroke in south Wales, from Cherbourg and Roscoff in France, and from Bilbao in Spain.

• Stena Line sail twice a day from Fishguard, 3 hr 15 min.
• Irish Ferries sail twice a day from Pembroke, 4 hours, and in summer from France.
• Brittanny Ferries sail April-Sep twice a week overnight from Cherbourg and Bilbao; their ferry from Roscoff sails to Cork.

Five trains a day run from Dublin Connolly, taking 3 hours via Dún Laoghaire, Bray, Wicklow Town, Rathdrum, Arklow, Gorey, Enniscorthy and Wexford to Rosslare Strand (for the beach) and Rosslare Europort (for the ferry terminal). See Irish Rail for timetables and tickets, and look especially for rail-ferry packages. This is the only railway route to Rosslare.

52.251189-6.337771 Rosslare Europort station is the terminus, within 200 m of the ferry piers and port amenities.

52.2718-6.39152 Rosslare Strand station is a block inland from the beach strip.

No direct bus from Dublin, change in Wexford.

Expressway Bus 40 treks the width of Ireland from Rosslare Europort to Wexford, Waterford, Dungarvan, Youghal, Cork, Macroom, Killarney and Tralee. It doesn't serve Rosslare Strand. It's twice a day.

From Wexford to Rosslare Strand use Wexford Bus 878, which runs M-Sa thrice.

From Dublin follow N11 south to Wexford, then N25.

There are no car rental agencies in Rosslare Europort or Strand. Take the train to Wexford, which has a Hertz outlet.

Public transport will get you between the port, Strand, and Wexford town. You need wheels to get further afield. The countryside is flat and suitable for cycling, though the breeze will get in your face.

• 52.2524-6.34931 The Marina for small craft is 1 km west of Europort. The latter is an ugly, industrial and restricted zone, no place for strolling or sight-seeing.
• 52.29-6.392 Rosslare Beach or Strand is a 3 km expanse of sand from around the railway station to "The Point". A spit used to stretch another 2 km, leaving just a narrow channel to Wexford harbour. It eroded in the 19th century, while the harbour behind it silted up, and it broke into sandbars after winter storms in 1924/25. With it disappeared Rosslare Fort - nowadays the scraps are only visible on an islet at the very lowest tides.
• 52.171-6.3563 Carnsore Point is the headland marking the boundary between the Irish Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. In the 1970s there were plans to build a series of nuclear power plants here: these were dropped after protests were got up, with rallies and concerts. (A counter-protest by the British & Irish Communist Organisation maintained that socialism could only be achieved in Ireland with nuclear energy.) There's now a windfarm. South Wexford Coastal Trail stretches 2 km along the beach to the sandbar at Lady's Island Lake.
• 52.208-6.3824 Lady's Island Lake is a brackish lagoon with no overt outflow, but fresh water seeps out and sea water seeps in through the sandbar. Atlantic storms and heavy rains can alter its salinity markedly, so wildlife must be able to cope. The lake is an important breeding ground for terns, both the Sandwich tern and the rare roseate tern. The "island" has long been a peninsula, with a castle, a tower leaning precariously, church ruins and a graveyard. The ruined church is a Marian shrine, with a pilgrimage in August. It's part of the Church of the Assumption on the mainland, built in the 19th century to a design by Pugin.

• 52.207-6.415 Tacumshane village 1 km west of the lake has a restored 19th century windmill, but the castle has been demolished. Another 2 km west, Tacumshane Lake is a wildlife reserve. In 1972 it became closed off by a sandbar like Lady's Island Lake, but a channel was cut to keep it tidal.
• 52.2029-6.20746 Tuskar Rock is a notorious hazard 11 km off Carnsore Point, close to the ferry routes from Wales. "Tuskar" is Old Norse for "big rock" but from shore you may struggle to see it, and almost 200 ships have been lost by failing to do so. But you'll spot the 37 m lighthouse, which has a beam range of 44 km. It was built 1812-15, with 10 workmen losing their lives when the construction site was overwhelmed by a storm. In 1821 the lighthouse keepers were found to be involved in smuggling. In wartime the rock was sometimes struck by drifting sea mines, which in 1941 killed one of the keepers. In 1968 an Aer Lingus flight from Cork to London crashed into the sea some 10 km northeast of the rock, with the loss of all 61 aboard: the likeliest cause was metal fatigue causing failure of the left tailplane, sending the Vickers Viscount into a spin. The lighthouse was automated in 1993.

• 52.2841-6.39441 Rosslare Golf Club, Bearlough Y35 P573, ☏ +353 53 913 2203. Daily 8AM-11PM. The Old Course is 6549 yards (white tees), par 72. The Burrow Links is 12 holes with no bunkers. Visitor €55. (updated Dec 2025)
• Rosslare Sports Centre is 200 m south of the golf club on the Strand Y35 CC9N near the golf club.
• 52.2319-6.32482 St Helens Bay Golf Club, Rosslare Y35 X293, ☏ +353 53 913 3234. Links course of 6417 yards off white tees, par 72. Visitor €50. (updated Dec 2025)
• 52.2285-6.34333 Hazelwood Stables by St Helen's Bay has riding lessons and treks along the beaches.
• Beaches: Rosslare Strand and Carne Beach are the best of them.

• Murphy's Supervalu is within the shopping centre at St Patrick's Rd Y35 D4C6, the main road exiting from the ferry terminal. It's open M-Sa 7:30AM-8PM, Su 8:30AM-7PM.
• Texaco filling station is opposite the shopping centre on St Patrick's Rd, open daily 6AM-10PM.
• The Bank on St Martin's Rd near the harbour has an ATM.
• Centra is at Strand Rd Y35 EN2A in Rosslare Strand, 300 m south of Kelly's. It's open daily 8AM-9PM.

• La Marine Bistro is within Kelly's Hotel on the Strand, see below. It's open daily 12:30-2:15PM & 6-9PM.
• Wild and Native Seafood, Strand Road Y35 D4C6 (200 m south of Kelly's), ☏ +353 53 913 2668. Mar-Oct daily 6-11PM. This seafood restaurant gets great reviews. No bookings, walk-in only. (updated Dec 2025)
• 52.1988-6.37441 The Lobster Pot, Ballyfane, Carne Y35 CH79, ☏ +353 53 901 5069. W-F 5-10PM, Sa noon-midnight, Su 1PM-8PM. Seafood, steak, burgers and pizza. (updated Dec 2025)
• Meyler's Millhouse, Faythe, Tacumshane Y35 ET89 (by windmill), ☏ +353 53 913 1700. M-Sa 4-11PM, Su 12:30-11PM. Trad food majoring on seafood. (updated Dec 2025)

• 52.2685-6.38521 Redmond's (Bay Bar), Cliff Road, Rosslare Strand Y35 K034, ☏ +353 53 913 2340. Su-Th 1-11:30PM, F Sa 1PM-12:30AM. Trad pub with music at weekends, child-friendly. No food but there's a chipper next door. (updated Dec 2025)
• 52.2418-6.35492 Kilrane Inn, Churchtown Y35 KV1Y, ☏ +353 53 913 3661. Daily noon-11:30PM. Pub with good bar food. (updated Dec 2025)

• 52.2755-6.38781 Kelly's Resort Hotel, Strand Rd Y35 Y83V, ☏ +353 53 913 2114. Relaxing beachfront hotel and spa open Mar-Nov. Great reviews for comfort, dining and service, but it's pricey. B&B double €350. (updated Dec 2025)
• 52.2797-6.39272 Coast Rosslare Strand, Strand Rd Y35 Y93X, ☏ +353 53 913 2010, [email protected]. A mid-range place, comfort and service variable. B&B double €100. (updated Dec 2025)
• 52.3031-6.39643 Fortview Camping is a basic but pleasant site at the end of the Burrow road.
• 52.2438-6.38114 IOAC Campsite, Sixacre, Tagoat Y35 RH76, ☏ +353 53 918 9022. Campsite and activity centre open Mar-Oct, all 70 pitches and 14 RV stands have power hook-up. Dogs on leads only. They also have glamping cabins. It's by N25 with traffic noise at all hours. Tent or caravan €32. (updated Dec 2025)
• Ferryport House is a B&B at St Patrick's Rd Y35 KNV0.
• Tuskar House by the Sea is a B&B at St Martin's Rd Y35 P6X0.
• Clifford House, 4261 St Martin's Rd, ☏ +353 53 913 3226. This B&B near the ferry terminal is closed for renovation ufn. B&B double €90. (updated Dec 2025)
• 52.1997-6.35565 Carne Beach Caravan Park is right by the beach at Carne Y35 YE2R.
• 52.2065-6.35586 St Margaret's Beach is a roomy well-run site 500 m north, open Mar-Oct.
• 52.2921-6.44837 Killiane Castle, Drinagh Y35 E1NC, ☏ +353 53 915 8885. Charming B&B in working dairy farmhouse, next to a 15th century castle. Open March-Nov. B&B double €150. (updated Dec 2025)

As of Dec 2025, Rosslare Europort, Rosslare Strand and their approach roads have 4G from Eir and Vodafone, and 5G from Three.

• Kilmore Quay for boat trips to the Saltee Islands.
• Wexford for its ruined abbey, National Heritage Park, and Johnstown Castle which houses the Agricultural Museum.
• Fethard-on-Sea for Hook Peninsula.
• New Ross for the Dunbrody famine ship, Kennedy Homestead and JFK Arboretum.

END ←	W  E	→ Fishguard
END ←	W  E	→ Pembroke
END ←	NW  SE	→ Cherbourg
END ←	N  S	→ Roscoff
END ←	N  S	→ Bilbao
Dublin/Waterford ← Wexford ←	NW  SE	→ ENDS AT ROSSLARE HARBOUR